Method for producing hydrocarbon gas from waste

• US 5,395,405 A
• Filed: 04/12/1993
• Issued: 03/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quantum Catalytics LLC
• Original Assignee: Molten Metal Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Nagel, Christopher J., Griffin, Thomas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carpenter, Robert
• Application Number:
  US08/046,693
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 48/92, 48/197 R, 48/197 A, 110/346, 423/210.5, 423/DIG. 12, 585/240, 588/201, 588/205, 588/226
• US Class Current: 48/197.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A62D 2101/20 Organic substances
• CPC Class Codes: A62D 2203/10 Apparatus specially adapted for treating harmful chemical agents; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A62D 3/32 by treatment in molten chemical reagent, e.g. salts or metals
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 10/005 carried out at high temperatures in the presence of a molten material
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0004 Processes in series
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0009 Coils
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00155 using insulating materials or refractories
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 1/00 Preparation of hydrocarbons from one or more compounds, none of them being a hydrocarbon
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 49/14 with hot liquids, e.g. molten metals
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 53/00 Destructive distillation, specially adapted for particular solid raw materials or solid raw materials in special form wet carbonising of peat C10F
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/0946 Waste, e.g. MSW, tires, glass, tar sand, peat, paper, lignite, oil shale
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/57 Gasification using molten salts or metals C10J3/02, C10J3/46 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F27B 3/04 of multiple-hearth type; of multiple-chamber type; Combinations of hearth-type furnaces
• CPC Class Codes: F27B 3/08 heated electrically, with or without any other source of heat
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 2003/162 the fluid being an oxidant or a fuel
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 2003/164 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 3/1518 Tapholes
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 3/16 Introducing a fluid jet or current into the charge porous elements for gas flushing of molten metals B22D1/005
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 3/18 Charging particulate material using a fluid carrier
• CPC Class Codes: F27M 2001/05 Waste materials, refuse
• CPC Class Codes: F27M 2003/11 : Incineration

Abstract

A method for dissociating organic waste to produce a gasified hydrocarbon. The method of the invention includes directing an organic waste, into a reaction zone containing a molten metal bath in a reactor maintained under conditions sufficient to dissociate the organic waste and to form a gasified hydrocarbon component. Wherein the organic waste includes an inorganic component, the an inorganic component is retained in a vitreous and/or molten metal phase or is removed form the gaseous phase by physical or chemical separation.

Claims

1. A method for dissociating organic waste to produce a gasified hydrocarbon, comprising the steps of:

a) forming a reaction zone in a reactor for dissociating a first organic waste to form a gasified hydrocarbon, wherein the reaction zone contains a molten metal bath and a gas layer over the molten metal bath;

b) introducing a gas stream into said molten metal bath to form a fountain, disposed above said molten metal bath, for dissociating the first organic waste in the gas layer to form the gasified hydrocarbon;

c) introducing the first organic waste into said gas layer, whereby the first organic waste is exposed to the fountain, thereby dissociating in the gas layer at least a portion of the first organic waste to form the gasified hydrocarbon.

2. A method of claim 1 wherein the gas stream comprises a gas which is inert under the conditions maintained in said reaction zone.

3. A method of claim 2 wherein the gas stream comprises argon.

4. A method of claim 2 wherein the gas stream comprises nitrogen.

5. A method of claim 2 wherein the gas stream comprises hydrogen.

6. A method of claim 2 wherein the gas stream comprises a second organic waste, wherein at least one component of the second organic waste is gasified within said molten metal bath.

7. A method of claim 2 further comprising the step of directing said gasified hydrocarbon through a means for removing an impurity.

8. A method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

a) maintaining a cooling unit under conditions sufficient to quench dissociation of said gasified hydrocarbon; and

b) directing said gasified hydrocarbon into said cooling unit whereby said gasified hydrocarbon is quenched.

9. A method of claim 1 wherein the molten metal bath includes a vitreous layer, which is disposed in the upper portion of the molten metal bath, for removing an impurity from the gasified hydrocarbon.

10. A method of claim 9 wherein the molten metal bath comprises iron.

11. A method for dissociating organic waste to produce ethylene, comprising the steps of:

a) forming a reaction zone in a reactor for dissociating a first organic waste to form a gasified hydrocarbon, wherein the reaction zone contains a molten metal bath and a gas layer over the molten metal bath; and

b) introducing a gas stream into said molten metal bath, whereby the gas stream forms a fountain, disposed above said molten metal bath, for dissociating a first organic waste in the gas layer to form a gasified hydrocarbon;

c) introducing the first organic waste into said gas layer whereby the organic waste is exposed to said fountain and whereby at least a portion of the first organic waste dissociates in the gas layer to form said gasified hydrocarbon; and

d) directing the gasified hydrocarbon into an ethylene furnace whereby at least a portion of the gasified hydrocarbon is converted into ethylene.

12. A method for dissociating organic waste with molten metal to produce olefin, comprising the steps of:

a) forming a reaction zone in a reactor for dissociating a first organic waste to form a gasified hydrocarbon, wherein the reaction zone contains a molten metal bath and a gas layer over the molten metal bath; and

b) introducing a gas stream into said molten metal bath, whereby the gas stream forms a fountain, disposed above said molten metal bath, for dissociating a first organic waste in the gas layer to form a gasified hydrocarbon;

c) introducing the first organic waste into said gas layer whereby the organic waste is exposed to said fountain and whereby at least a portion of the first organic waste dissociates in the gas layer to form said gasified hydrocarbon; and

d) directing the gasified hydrocarbon into an olefin furnace whereby at least a portion of the gasified hydrocarbon is converted into olefin.

13. A method for dissociating organic waste to produce a mixture of hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide gases, comprising the steps of:

a) forming a reaction zone, containing a gas layer disposed above a molten metal bath;

b) introducing a first organic waste into said gas layer; and

c) introducing a second organic waste into said molten metal bath whereby the second organic waste dissociates to atomic constituents and reformulates said atomic constituents to produce carbon monoxide gas, and whereby the carbon monoxide gas forms a fountain of molten metal, disposed above said molten metal bath, which contacts said first organic waste, thereby dissociating at least a portion of the first organic waste in the gas layer to form said gasified hydrocarbon.

14. A method for dissociating organic waste to produce a hydrocarbon, comprising the steps of:

a) forming a reaction zone, containing a gas layer disposed over a molten metal bath;

b) introducing a first organic waste into said molten metal bath whereby the first organic waste dissociates to atomic constituents and reformulates said constituents to produce the gas stream, whereby said gas stream forms a fountain, disposed in said gas layer, for dissociating a first organic waste in the gas layer to form a gasified hydrocarbon; and

c) introducing a second organic waste into said gas layer, whereby the second organic waste is exposed to said fountain and whereby at least a portion of the second organic waste dissociates to form said gasified hydrocarbon.