Chemical decomposition by sonication in liquid carbon dioxide
First Claim
1. A process for decomposing at least one organic contaminant, consisting of the steps of:
- (a) removing said at least one organic contaminant from a chosen substrate by supercritical cleaning by(1) placing said substrate in a cleaning vessel,(2) introducing into said cleaning vessel liquefied carbon dioxide formed by applying at least one of a pressure of at least 1,100 pounds per square inch (77.3 Kg/cm2) and a temperature of at least about 31°
C. to gaseous carbon dioxide and contacting said substrate containing said at least one organic contaminant with said liquefied carbon dioxide to extract said at least one organic contaminant from said substrate, and(3) removing said liquefield carbon dioxide and said at least one organic contaminant from said cleaning vessel;
an(b) decomposing said at least one organic contaminant by(1) providing a sonicating vessel equipped with an array of sonicators,(2) introducing said at least one organic contaminant into said sonicating vessel, together with liquid carbon dioxide and, optionally, a substance selected from the group consisting of at least one oxidizing modifier and at least one reaction-quencher species, and(3) exposing said at least one organic contaminant in said sonicating vessel to said sonication means for a period of time sufficient to cause said at least one organic contaminant to decompose to form at least one decomposition product.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Sonication is employed in the destruction of organic chemicals, using liquid carbon dioxide as the sonicating medium. The process of the invention for decomposing at least one chemical comprises: (a) providing a sonicating vessel equipped with an array of sonicators; (b) introducing the chemical to be decomposed into the sonicating vessel, together with liquid carbon dioxide; and (c) exposing the chemical in the sonicating vessel to sonication for a period of time sufficient to cause the chemical to decompose to form at least one decomposition product. The sonication process may additionally employ one or more of ultraviolet light, oxidizing modifiers such as water, sodium hypochlorite, ozone, or hydrogen peroxide, and reaction-quenching species such as hydrogen (H2). Depending on the nature of the decomposition product(s), disposal may range from simple concentration of the product and collection thereof (in the case of liquids or solids), to venting to the atmosphere (in the case of gaseous, inert products), to venting to the atmosphere through an appropriate gas-trap (in the case of gaseous product that are toxic, reactive, or considered to be environmentally-controlled substances).
110 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A process for decomposing at least one organic contaminant, consisting of the steps of:
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(a) removing said at least one organic contaminant from a chosen substrate by supercritical cleaning by (1) placing said substrate in a cleaning vessel, (2) introducing into said cleaning vessel liquefied carbon dioxide formed by applying at least one of a pressure of at least 1,100 pounds per square inch (77.3 Kg/cm2) and a temperature of at least about 31°
C. to gaseous carbon dioxide and contacting said substrate containing said at least one organic contaminant with said liquefied carbon dioxide to extract said at least one organic contaminant from said substrate, and(3) removing said liquefield carbon dioxide and said at least one organic contaminant from said cleaning vessel;
an(b) decomposing said at least one organic contaminant by (1) providing a sonicating vessel equipped with an array of sonicators, (2) introducing said at least one organic contaminant into said sonicating vessel, together with liquid carbon dioxide and, optionally, a substance selected from the group consisting of at least one oxidizing modifier and at least one reaction-quencher species, and (3) exposing said at least one organic contaminant in said sonicating vessel to said sonication means for a period of time sufficient to cause said at least one organic contaminant to decompose to form at least one decomposition product. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification