Direct Catalytic Oxidation of Halogenated Hydrocarbons

Halogenated hydrocarbon emissions are facing increasingly stringent controls due to both regulatory constraints and public concerns. A new catalytic conversion process is described which can catalytically oxidize halogenated hydrocarbons selectively to hydrochloric acid and carbon dioxide. The hydrochloric acid can then be removed in a simple brine scrubber. No other products of incomplete oxidation are observed at 5ppb levels of sensitivity. Mixtures of VOCs and halogenated hydrocarbons are converted by the catalyst equally easily, without the aldehyde formation found with noble metal catalysts. The low temperature catalytic combustion of halogenated hydrocarbons is shown to have inherent advantages relative to a thermal incinerator, the principal destruction alternative. In addition, the catalytic oxidation process is cost-effective and robust at small scale, allowing application for remote locations or for multiple installations in a plant near each emission source.