Wet Air Oxidation of Toxic Industrial Effluents

Abstract

The disposal of process wastewater from a wood carbonization factory was studied in a laboratory batch reactor. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction of 92 - 96% was achieved for samples with initial COD concentrations of more than 100 g/l. The samples subjected to wet air oxidation showed no toxic effects in toxicology tests and were readily biodegradable. Effluent containing cyanide was also subjected to wet air oxidation, and a COD reduction of 75% and cyanide removal of 99.99997% was attained. The reaction rate and activation energy of cyanide hydrolysis were determined.