Chemical Processing - July 2008 - (Page 12)

IN PROCESS Process Converts Residues into Syngas Gulf Coast demonstration unit successfully handles a variety of wastes ORGANIC RESIDUES that ordinarily would go to incinerators or landﬁ lls instead can serve as feedstocks for making synthesis gas via its Plasma Enhanced Melter (PEM) technology, says InEnTec Chemical, Richland, Wash. e company points to positive results from trials concluded in early June in Port Arthur, Texas. A 1-ton/day demonstration unit, hosted by Veolia Environmental Services at its site there, over an eight-week period successfully produced high-quality syngas from 13 diﬀ erent waste streams, ranging from biosolids from wastewater treatment to hexane-rich solutions to materials with high chlorine content, from four nearby plants of major chemical companies, according to InEnTec Chemical. “As far as we know, no one has previously found a way to extract the chemical or product value out of these materials on a commercial scale,” says Gary Cook, the company’s CEO. e PEM teams two heating techniques to crack the residues and form syngas. DC-powered graphite electrodes create a plasma zone that can reach temperatures up to 10,000°C; below this is an ACheated glass melting zone. is combination provides eﬃciencies and quality of syngas far in excess of what’s attainable by other plasma technologies, claims InEnTec. Almost 100% of chemical residuals are converted or recycled, says the company, adding that the process complies with all environmental regulations and doesn’t require hazardous waste permitting. e Economic Snapshot Port Arthur trial Figure 1. Demonstration unit successfully converted wastes from four nearby plants into syngas. Photo: InEnTec Chemical. 57,800 57,500 57,000 56,500 56,000 $ Million 55,500 55,000 54,500 54,000 53,500 53,000 Shipments (NAICS S325) Capacity utilization 85.0 84.0 83.0 82.0 81.0 80.0 79.0 78.0 77.0 76.0 75.0 74.0 May 07 June 07 July 07 Aug 07 Sept 07 Oct 07 Nov 07 Dec 07 Jan 08 Feb 08 Mar 08 Apr 08 syngas can be conventionally processed to produce hydrogen, methanol, etc. e gasiﬁcation technology has been employed for about ﬁ ve years by Kawasaki Heavy Industries of Japan to destroy polychlorinated biphenyls and asbestos; Kawasaki now is developing commercial facilities using PEM systems, says InEnTec. In addition, since 2005 Global Plasma of Taiwan has relied on the technology to produce syngas from medical wastes. e use of chemical residues as feedstocks to make syngas is a newer thrust, explains Cook. e Port Arthur trials were to show that the technology could handle a variety of residues and produce syngas of suitable quality. Each charge typically consisted of 200 lb. to 300 lb of solids or liquids, with processing lasting for four to six hours. e ﬁ rst commercial installation is already in the works. Last year, Dow Corning, Midland, Mich., signed a 10-year $50-million contract for a plant to convert about 20 tons/d of hazardous waste into syngas and hydrochloric acid. at facility, which will be operated by Veolia, is expected to start up at the end of the ﬁ rst quarter of 2009. Air Liquide will purchase hydrogen oﬀ gas. Shipments rebounded but capacity utilization continued to slide. Source: American Chemistry Council. JULY 2008 CHEMICALPROCESSING.COM 12 % http://chemicalprocessing.com

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Chemical Processing - July 2008 Contents From the Editor ChemicalProcessing.com Field Notes In Process Energy Saver Compliance Advisor Who’s a Big Hit? Succeed with Condensate Control Take Some Basic Steps with pH Measurements Steam Projects Provide Fast Payback Process Puzzler Plant InSites Equipment & Services Product Spotlight/Classifieds/Ad-Lits Ad Index End Point

Chemical Processing - July 2008

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