Thermal Destruction of Some Chlorinated C₁: and C₂ Hydrocarbons

Abstract

Although hazardous waste incinerators attain high destruction efficiencies during steady-state operation, off-design conditions may pose emissions problems. Our goal has been to stimulate certain incinerator failure modes and investigate their impact on destruction efficiency and evolution of byproducts from chlorinated wastes. The experimental simulation involves injecting a small quantity of the chlorinated hydrocarbon (CHC) of interest into the post-flame region of a turbulent combustor. The temperature and environment to which the compound is exposed are characteristic of incinerator failure conditions. The chlorinated C₁ and C₂ compounds studied include CH₃C1, C₂H₅Cl and 1,1, I-C₂H₃Cl₃,. We observe the breakdown of each compound under varying temperature conditions. In the highest temperature cases destruction of the CHC is quick, and observed product species are HCl, CO. H₂0 and CO₂,. As the injection temperature is decreased, both chlorinated and non-chlorinated byproducts are observed. The reactions are modeled, assuming plug flow and the measured temperature profile, using CHEMKIN with the SENKIN driver program. Our chemical kinetic mechanism distinguishes between the isomers of all the C₂, chlorinated species. We examine and compare the influence of temperature, chlorine loading and molecular structure on destruction efficiency and by product distributions for the C₁, and C₂ compounds.

Key words:

• chlorinated hydrocarbons
• thermal destruction
• incineration.