The Incineration of Carbonaceous Wastes in Fluidized-Bed Systems

Abstract

Abstract Fluidized-bed systems have been used in many industries since the first fluidized-bed catalytic cracking unit was installed by the petroleum industry in the late 1930's. Industrial uses include the roasting of sulfide ores, the drying of heat sensitive materials, and many others. The initial attempt to utilize this technique for the disposal of carbonaceous liquid wastes from the paper industry began about ten years ago with a bench-scale experimental study at the Columbus Laboratories of Battelle Memorial Institute. This research was followed by pilot-scale investigations which led to the installation of the first Container-Copeland commercial unit at the Carthage mill of Container Corporation of America. Since the first commercial installation, the system which initially was developed has been adapted to the treatment of wastes from several types of pulping operations as well as to the disposal of other carbonaceous industrial wastes. Included in the applications are three which are of direct interest to the petroleum industry: (1) The disposal of sulfuric acid sludges; (2) The incineration of oily and caustic refinery wastes; and (3) The disposal of sludges from the biological treatment of petrochemical wastes. Introduction Many industrial uses have been proposed for fluidized-bed systems since this technique was proposed by C. E. Robinson about a century ago. However, it wasn't until the late 1930's that the first commercial fluidized-bed unit involving a gas solids mixture and utilizing elevated temperatures was installed. This installation was the beginning of the use of fluidized-bed catalytic crackers by the petroleum refining industry. Since then fluidized-solids technology has been firmly established as a useful and very valuable industrial tool. The development of this technology for use in many industries has taken years for fruition and new applications continue to be extensively explored. After its adoption by the petroleum industry, fluidized-bed technology was successfully applied to many operations in other industries where careful control of temperature and gaseous atmosphere and simplicity of operation were needed.