Abstract
ABSTRACT
The Advanced Electric Reactor (AER), is an electrically heated, pyrolytic process which uses a unique graphite reactor core to heat reactants to 2100°-2500°C using intense thermal radiation in the near infrared. Three test series were conducted to demonstrate the AER's capability to treat dioxin-contaminated soil. One test series, conducted at Times Beach, MO using a transportable AER with a 3-inch diameter core (AER-3), represents the first time 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) has been destroyed in the field. This test series is supported by tests conducted at Huber's Borger, TX research facility with the AER-3 and a 12-inch pilot unit (AER-12) using octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) as a waste surrogate. Tests conducted at Times Beach and Borger with the AER-3 yielded destruction and removal efficiencies (DRE) ≥99.998% with dioxin concentrations at the process stack which were below detection limits in all cases. Higher DREs could not be demonstrated due to low feed dioxin concentrations (80 -250 ng/g) and low feedrates. The AER-12 test series, conducted with high OCDD concentrations (17,200 - 18,900 ng/g) and high feedrates, yielded DREs from 99.99996% - ≥99.999994%, demonstrating the AER's capability to obtain very high DREs for dioxins. Treated feed dioxin concentrations were <0.45 ng/g for all test series. Chlorine and particulate loading were below detection limits for all test series.
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