Wet oxidation of high strength liquors with high solids content

Disclosed is a process for wet oxidation treatment of high strength liquor or wastewater to destroy a substantial portion of the pollutants and produce an effluent stream containing a high solids content for recovery or disposal. The liquor is treated by wet oxidation and separate vapor and liquid streams are removed from the wet oxidation reactor. The vapor stream is cooled and separated to give a liquid condensate phase and a gaseous phase. The liquid stream from the reactor is cooled and divided, with a portion of the liquid effluent sent to recovery or disposal, and a portion combined with the condensate phase. This low pollutant content stream is used to dilute the raw feed liquor and maintain a high solids concentration in the liquid effluent stream.