A NOVEL IDEA FOR PHOTO-CONVERSION OF HAZARDOUS CHLOROCARBON INDUSTRIAL WASTES TO USABLE HYDROCARBON

HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL IS ONE OF THE MAIN CONCERNS OF EPA. THE DOMINANT PROCESS FOR TOXIC WASTE TREATMENT, SPECIFICALLY CHLOROCARBONS, HAS BEEN INCINERATION. HOWEVER,THE INTOLERABLE QUANTITIES OF POLYCHLORINATED HALOCARBONS (PCHC) DETECTED IN EFFLUENTS OF INCINERATORS HAVE RAISED SERIOUS DOUBTS AS OF THE WIDE APPLICATION OF THIS TECHNOLOGY. UTILIZATION OF A REDUCING ATMOSPHERE CAN DRAMATICALLY DECREASE THE CONCENTRATIONS OF PCHC IN THE EMISSION, BUT IT CREATES UNACCEPTABLE AMOUNTS OF SOLID CARBON. THE INVESTIGATORS PROPOSE A NOVEL METHOD FOR SAFE CONVERSION OF HALOCARBONS THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO ALLEVIATE THESE PROBLEMS. THIS METHOD INVOLVES A PHOTO-INITIATED REACTION BETWEEN CHLORINATED HYDROCARBONS (C1HC) AND METHANE (OR HYDROGEN) TO PRODUCE CHLORINE-FREE USABLE HYDROCARBON FUELS. THE PROCESS WILL BE CONDUCTED AT TEMPERATURES BELOW 600K. THIS WILL CIRCUMVENT SOOT FORMATION WHICH IS CHARACTERISTIC OF HIGHER TEMPERATURE THERMAL PROCESSES AND WILL SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE ENERGY COST.