METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPOSAL OF A BROAD SPECTRUM OF WASTE FEATURING OXIDATION OF WASTE

The present invention relates to a method of wet oxidation of organic waste materials in waste water. The method is comprised of flowing a stream of waste water including organic waste materials into an insulated well; injecting a flow of oxygen into the flowing stream of waste water; extending the flow of waste water to a depth such that pressure in the insulated well is increased to the pressure required for supercritical water and initially heating with a control unit the waste water at the bottom of the insulated well by flowing an electric current through the water at the bottom of the insulated well to generate resistance heat for the water to initiate hydrocarbon oxidation for sustaining supercritical conditions in the insulated well. The method further comprises the steps of oxidizing the organic waste materials in the waste water to liberate heat in the insulated well to sustain the temperature required for supercritical water wherein the initial heating step with the control unit is ended after the oxidized wastes sustain exothermic oxidation; and over a period of time, injecting the flow of oxygen into the insulated well with the waste water and also removing water from the insulated well to enable continuous oxidation of waste in the insulated well at supercritical conditions to sustain supercritical temperatures.