In the application of supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) to the
treatment of aqueous solid
wastes, particle size will be an important processing parameter.
The particle size will impact
feed preparation requirements such as slurry concentration, pumping
requirements, and, in
terms of the destruction of the solid particles, rate of reaction and
reactor size. To address
these issues, an experimental research program was undertaken to
evaluate the effect of particle
size on the reaction kinetics in SCWO of solid particulates (wheat
straw and cellulose particles
in this case). The experiments also included evaluation of the
effects of temperature, pressure,
and agitation rate. A two-step reaction mechanism was revealed,
with a very rapid initial
dissolution period followed by a longer particle reaction period.
Empirically based mathematical
relationships were developed that can be used for SCWO system
design.
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