A wet thermal oxidation process for direct conversion of Refuse Derived Fuel (residual material following separation of paper, cardboard, glass, plastic bottles, and steel and aluminum cans from raw Solid Municipal Waste) to energy, saving dewatering and drying expenses encountered in more conventional methods, under conditions highly conducive to destruction of gaseous pollutants will be studied. Phase I efforts will center on concentration of the Refuse Derived Fuel slurry to a maximum pumpable solids loading of about 15%, followed by heating under pressure to carbonize the organic material, reducing its water affinity and permitting further concentration to approximately 45% solids loading (this level to be confirmed in batch carbonization tests in this study phase). Following successful completion of these tasks, Phase II efforts will be focused on thermal oxidation of the carbonized slurry from Phase I at high pressure and temperature in a continuous process, with the liberated heat being used to generate and superheat steam for power generation. Specific objectives of the Phase I effort are: (1) Establish maximum solids concentrations for a pumpable raw RDF/water slurry; (2) Establish optimum conditions for RDF wet carbonization to supply high concentration slurry for subsequent wet oxidation; (3) Evaluate effects of wet carbonization on the chemical and physical properties of the RDF; and, (4) Characterize gas and water effluent streams from wet carbonization. Municipal Solid Waste is a growing national problem, currently without a good solution. The energy contained in Municipal Solid Waste produced in the United States is roughly equivalent to a million barrels of imported oil per day. The combination of wet resource recovery and wet thermal oxidation to be studies in this program offers a potential of neatly and economically disposing of Municipal Solid Waste with negligible pollution with recovery of significant anergy resources.
