Patent ID: 7479259

Claim:
A system for converting a waste stream resultant from manufacturing energetics, in particular explosives, said waste stream containing suspended and colloidal solids, comprising: at least one zero-valent column reactor comprising: at least one pre-filter containing a zero-valent metal and filter media for removing at least some of said solids from said waste stream, at least one zero-valent metal contained in said reactor above said pre-filter. wherein said pre-filter physically removes at least some of said solids, each said pre-filter positioned as the bottom portion of each said column reactor, and wherein said column reactor establishes a reducing environment in a portion of each said column reactor contiguous with and vertically above said pre-filter, said reducing environment removing oxygen using said zero-valent metal as a reducing agent, and wherein at least some of said zero-valent metal is provided as a metal ion, and wherein after said waste stream is treated in said zero-valent column reactor, a first treated waste stream is output; at least one first vessel in which initial contents include at least an oxidizer to be combined with said first treated waste stream, wherein said contents of said first vessel are adjusted to optimize the amount of said oxidizer and a metal ion added thereto, said metal ion resultant from processing said waste stream with said zero-valent metal in said zero-valent metal column reactor, and wherein said contents of said first vessel are further adjusted to optimize the pH of said contents of said first vessel, and wherein said contents of said first vessel are continuously stirred as part of treating said contents prior to output of said contents as a second treated waste stream; and at least one second vessel for accepting said second treated waste stream as at least part of the contents of said second vessel, wherein the pH of said second treated waste stream is adjusted in said second vessel, and wherein said contents of said second vessel are further adjusted to optimize pH of said contents of said second vessel, and wherein said second treated waste stream is permitted to settle prior to drawing off at least one final product for recycling.