Patent DE-4328569-A1 (DE)
Title: Neutralisation of toxic materials - including using a number of chambers and peripheral systems for electro catalytic processing and recovery of material
Inventor: KNEDLA RICHARD DR ING
IPC: C02F1/461
Filed: 1993-08-25
Abstract: For the conversion and/or neutralisation of synthetic, biological or chemical poisons, a number of chambers are used together with peripheral appts. and assemblies for catalytic processing in the form of watery solutions and/or with solvents and/or emulsions and/or suspension and/or dispersions and/or gels. The material, in safe containers, is carried to an expansion dosing chamber which has a remote control to open the container for the material to be inserted, and has a connection to a safety container holding a supply of concentrated neutraliser. The diluted poison is inserted into the circuit of the neutralising assembly in the mixing chamber, and the pH is adjusted by alkali and/or acid, for the solution to be filtered to remove floating particles and flocks. If there are no particles or flocks, the material is passed without filtering direct to the circuit with the neutralising chamber and working electrodes at the lowest point of the neutralising chamber. A tube exhaust at the upper part leads to the expansion chamber. The expansion chamber has a separate outlet to a catalyst with a lambda-type control to remove intermediate gas products such as oxygen, hydrogen, hydrocarbons, nitrogen compounds and the like. A second tube link leads to a regeneration assembly for recycling. A heating and/or cooling system is at the walls of the first neutralising chamber and at the regeneration assembly, integrated in the shrouding to give temp. increase and/or decrease during the process. An overflow from the upper part of the container leads to a dwell stretch in the assembly similar to a dwell stretch for the second neutralising assembly. Additional systems include filter and/or dialysis and/or flotation and/or sedimentation and/or electro dialysis for electroflotation and/or sludge filter press or centrifuge filters and/or anaerobic fermentation for the sludge and peripheral gas cleaners through anaerobic degrading, with return feeds to the mixing vessel in front of the filter. A catalyst carrier is inserted between the working electrodes, as the flow has to be upwards in the second stage of the neutralising assembly. A system to distribute the reactants is at the upper part of the neutralising chamber for the recovery of raw material and/or separation of toxic matter. The sludge is incinerated and toxic-free solution can be fed to the supply network. The electrodes and the electrical assemblies are linked to the current supply. Each stage has measurement probes with one or more current supplies with an integrated micro power where the electrodes have a working contact surface of a few micron or smaller for a continuous monitoring of the reaction condition, with a multi-channel laboratory evaluation system for quantitative and/or qualitative and/or print-out indications through ion spectroscopy. USE/ADVANTAGE - The system is for the neutralisation of poisons, especially in military applications, and also radio active contaminating and atomic wash with recovery of useful material for safe use. The action gives an effective neutralising of toxic matter and also gives good recovery such as of super radio active isotopes for peaceful use.