Catalytic Wet Oxidation pH-Adjusted Catalyst Recycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Catalytic wet oxidation systems face inefficiencies in catalyst solubility and recycling, leading to suboptimal destruction of organic contaminants at varying pH levels, which affects the overall destruction removal efficiency and energy requirements.
Innovation Solution
A catalytic wet oxidation process that involves adjusting the pH level of the oxidized aqueous mixture to precipitate and recycle a catalyst, such as copper, to enhance solubility and reuse, thereby improving the wet oxidation process by maintaining catalyst solubility and increasing the destruction removal efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If catalyst is used in catalytic wet oxidation, then destruction removal efficiency of organic contaminants is improved, but catalyst solubility and recycling becomes complex requiring pH adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting pH levels to control catalyst solubility and precipitation. The process involves raising pH to precipitate the catalyst for separation, then lowering pH to redissolve it for recycling. This systematic parameter manipulation resolves the contradiction by making catalyst recycling feasible without compromising destruction removal efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements discarding and recovering by separating the catalyst from the oxidized aqueous mixture through precipitation, filtering out the solid catalyst, and then recovering it by redissolving in acidic solution. This allows the catalyst to be reused in subsequent oxidation cycles, maintaining high destruction removal efficiency while enabling practical catalyst recycling.
2Loss of substance
If pH adjustment is performed to precipitate catalyst, then catalyst recycling is enabled, but additional process steps and energy requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by utilizing the inherent chemical properties of the catalyst system. The catalyst naturally precipitates at higher pH levels and redissolves at lower pH levels without requiring external energy input for phase changes. This self-service mechanism reduces energy requirements while enabling effective catalyst recycling and minimizing catalyst loss.
3Productivity
If catalyst solubility is maintained, then destruction removal efficiency increases, but catalyst recycling becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the catalyst solubility state changeable through pH adjustment. The catalyst transitions from a soluble state during oxidation (maintaining high destruction removal efficiency) to an insoluble precipitated state for easy separation and recycling. This dynamic control of solubility resolves the contradiction between maintaining catalyst solubility for efficiency and enabling catalyst recycling.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The pH-adjusted catalyst recycling method significantly increases the destruction of organic contaminants, achieving high percentages of COD and TOC destruction, and reduces energy requirements by maintaining catalyst solubility and facilitating efficient recycling.
Implementation Method 1
adjusting a pH level of the oxidized aqueous mixture to form a precipitated catalyst
Implementation Method 2
at least a portion of the catalyst is precipitated by adjusting a pH level of the oxidized aqueous mixture
Implementation Method 3
Catalytic wet oxidation processes generally allow for greater destruction to be achieved at a lower temperature and pressure
Implementation Method 4
aqueous phase oxidation of undesirable constituents by an oxidizing agent, generally molecular oxygen
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for the treatment of process streams. A catalyst mediates a wet oxidation process at elevated temperatures and pressures for treating at least one undesirable constituent in an aqueous mixture. The aqueous mixture may be contacted with a catalyst and an oxidizing agent at an elevated temperature and a superatmospheric pressure. At least a portion of the catalyst may be precipitated by a pH adjustment and recycled back to contact the aqueous mixture.