title: Development of processes for environmental protection based on self-propagating reactions.
abstract: The possibility of exploiting self-propagating reactions for environmental protection is discussed in this paper. In particular, results obtained at the laboratory scale and related to the fixation and consolidation of high level radioactive wastes, the recycling of silicon sludge and aluminum dross produced by semiconductor industries and aluminum foundries, the treating and recycling of a highly toxic solid waste from electrolytic zinc plants, and the degradation of chlorinated aromatics, are examined with particular emphasis on the latter case. Specifically, the self-propagating destruction of hexachlorobenzene and 2-(2-4-dichlorophenoxy)-propanoic acid with calcium hydride as reductive substrate is demonstrated. In fact, the heat liberated by the reactions involved is large enough to guarantee the self-sustaining character of the process within a wide range of reactants compositions. Moreover, no residual chlorinated organic compounds were found in the final solid product. Some reactor engineering aspects, as well as other significant future scientific and technological issues, are also addressed in view of large-scale applicability of processes based on self-propagating reactions. To date, the batch reactor technology seems to be more easily applicable, although the use of continuous reactors is not excluded in the next future.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica e Materiali, Centro Studi sulle Reazioni Autopropaganti, Unità di Ricerca del Consorzio Interuniversitario, Centro Interdipartimentale di Ingegneria e Scienze Ambientali, Cagliari, Italy. orru@visnu.dicm.unica.it
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Orrù
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cincotti
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Concas
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry*; D000535:Aluminum; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004738:Engineering; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000737:chemistry*; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene / Q000737:chemistry*; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008669:Metallurgy; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D015032:Zinc
chemical_list: D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D007220:Industrial Waste; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D015084:2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene; D000535:Aluminum; D015032:Zinc; C010571:dichlorprop