CATALYTIC METHODS USING MOLECULAR OXYGEN FOR TREATMENT OF PMMS AND ECLSS WASTE STREAMS

CURRENT TREATMENT METHODS SUCH AS PHASE CHANGE, SORPTION AND MEMBRANE SEPARATION TECHNIQUES DO NOT REMOVE LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT POLAR ORGANIC MOLECULES SUCH AS ALCOHOLS, KETONES AND AMIDES. A CATALYTIC OXIDATION METHOD USING MOLECULAR OXYGEN IS PROPOSED THAT WILL OXIDIZE THESE TYPES OF MOLECULES TO SPECIES THAT CAN BE REMOVED BY EXISTING TREATMENT METHODS. THE PROPOSED CATALYTIC OXIDATION METHOD ELIMINATES MOST OF THE DISADVANTAGES OF OTHER OXIDIZING SCHEMES THAT HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED SUCH AS UV/OZONE AND SUPERCRITICAL OXIDATION. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP A METHOD USING O2 IN CONJUNCTION WITH A CATALYST TO EFFECT THE OXIDATION OF A WIDE VARIETY OF ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS. CATALYSTS AND CONDITIONS WILL BE IDENTIFIED IN THE PHASE I PROGRAM WHICH WILL LEAD TO A PHASE II EFFORT RESULTING IN A BREADBOARD SYSTEM FOR WASTE WATER TREATMENT.