Kinetics of Supercritical Water Oxidation

Abstract

This project consists of experiments and theoretical modeling designed to improve the understanding of the detailed chemical kinetics of supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) processes. The objective of the three year project is to develop working models that accurately predict the oxidation rates and mechanisms for a variety of key organic species over the range of temperatures and pressures important for industrial applications. The examination of reaction kinetics in supercritical water undertakes in situ measurements of reactants, intermediates, and products using optical spectroscopic techniques, primarily Raman spectroscopy. The focus is to measure the primary oxidation steps that occur in the oxidation of methanol, higher alcohols, methylene chloride, and some simple organic compounds containing nitro groups. The authors are placing special emphasis on identifying reaction steps that involve hydroxyl radical, hydroperoxyl radical, and hydrogen peroxide. The measurements are conducted in two optically accessible reactors, the supercritical flow reactor (SFR) and the supercritical cell reactor (SCR), designed to operate at temperatures and pressures up to 600 C and 500 MPa.