The New Jersey Institute of Technology's
Electronic Theses & Dissertations Project

Title:	A new hazardous waste treatment technology utilizing low power density microwave energy
Author:	Windgasse, Gabriele Else
View Online:	njit-etd1988-051 (vi, 122 pages ~ 3.6 MB pdf)
Department:	Department of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Environmental Science
Degree:	Master of Science
Program:	Environmental Science
Document Type:	Thesis
Advisory Committee:	Dauerman, Leonard (Committee chair) Chan, Paul C. (Committee member) Cheng, Su Ling (Committee member)
Date:	1988-05
Keywords:	Microwaves Hazardous wastes
Availability:	Unrestricted
Abstract:	Two major applications of a new hazardous waste treatment technology using low power density microwave energy have been characterized: 1) Desorption of organic materials such as: trichloro-ethylene, para-xylene, naphthalene and gasoline hydrocarbons from substrates such as: sand and granulated activated carbon was achieved by microwave induced steam distillation and the application of a new phenomenon: arcing between GAC particles when they are exposed to microwave radiation. All contaminants could be removed to 100% (non-detectable with GC and GC-MS). 2) Decomposition of organic contaminants such as: trichloro-ethylene and trichloro-ethane in arcing/heating GAC beds. A new fluidized bed reactor ("RDW-reactor", after Ray, Dauerman, Windgasse) is described, where microwaves cause heating and arcing in a GAC bed, fluidized with argon or compressed air containing volatilized organic compounds. Up to 100% decomposition of trichloro-ethylene was achieved. Only hydrogen chloride and carbon dioxide could be detected as products; specifically no other organics could be found in the gas stream analysed by a GC-MS data system.