An investigation on the modelling of kinetics of thermal decomposition of hazardous mercury wastes

作者：Busto Yailen^*; Tack Filip M G; Peralta Luis M; Cabrera Xiomara; Arteaga Perez Luis E

来源：Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2013, 260: 358-367.

DOI：10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.05.045

• Mercury kinetic model
• Hazardous mercury waste
• Isoconversional method
• Thermal decomposition mechanism
• Chlor-alkali plant

The kinetics of mercury removal from solid wastes generated by chlor-alkali plants were studied. The reaction order and model-free method with an isoconversional approach were used to estimate the kinetic parameters and reaction mechanism that apply to the thermal decomposition of hazardous mercury wastes. As a first approach to the understanding of thermal decomposition for this type of systems (poly-disperse and multi-component), a novel scheme of six reactions was proposed to represent the behaviour of mercury compounds in the solid matrix during the treatment. An integration-optimization algorithm was used in the screening of nine mechanistic models to develop kinetic expressions that best describe the process. The kinetic parameters were calculated by fitting each of these models to the experimental data. It was demonstrated that the D-1-diffusion mechanism appeared to govern the process at 250 degrees C and high residence times, whereas at 450 degrees C a combination of the diffusion mechanism (D-1) and the third order reaction mechanism (F-3) fitted the kinetics of the conversions. The developed models can be applied in engineering calculations to dimension the installations and determine the optimal conditions to treat a mercury containing sludge.

• 出版日期2013-9-15