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

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2013-09, Vol.260, p.358-367
• Main Authors: Busto, Yailen, M. G. Tack, Filip, Peralta, Luis M., Cabrera, Xiomara, Arteaga-Pérez, Luis E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algorithms; Alkalies - chemistry; Applied sciences; Chemical Industry; Chlor-alkali plant; Chlorine - chemistry; Diffusion; Exact sciences and technology; Fittings; Hazardous mercury waste; Hazardous Waste; Hazardous wastes; Hot Temperature; Industrial Waste; Isoconversional method; Kinetics; Mathematical models; Mercury (metal); Mercury - analysis; Mercury kinetic model; Models, Chemical; Pollution; Reaction kinetics; Reaction mechanisms; Refuse Disposal; Sewage; Temperature; Thermal decomposition; Thermal decomposition mechanism; Thermodynamics; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.05.045

•A reaction mechanism of thermal treatment of hazardous mercury waste is postulated.•The kinetic model for the thermal decomposition of mercury solid waste is deduced.•A methodology to investigate reaction order models in solid systems is proposed.•The thermal decomposition of mercury waste is described by two modelling approaches. 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 D1-diffusion mechanism appeared to govern the process at 250̊C and high residence times, whereas at 450̊C a combination of the diffusion mechanism (D1) and the third order reaction mechanism (F3) 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.