Safe Treatment of

Organic Contaminated Spent Acids

Dr. Hansjuergen Winterbauer Director Development / Patents PLINKE GmbH Bad Homburg, Germany

The Company

Established 1947 Independent engineering company, 35 employees Registered office at Bad Homburg, Germany World leading supplier of Acid Treatment Plants Most reference plants in this field world wide Member of Chematur Group

Frankfurt / Main

Bad Homburg vor der Höhe

Airport

References

North/SouthAmerica

Europe

Africa

Asia

Industrial Applications (1994-2014)

27%

13%

19%

11%

30%

Polyurethanes

Chemicals / Others

Nitric Acid

Explosives

Fibres / Laquers

Explosives and Propellants

Nitro-Ester (Propellants)

Nitrocellulose (NC)

Nitroglycerine (NG)

Nitroguanidine (Nigu)

Nitro-Ester (Others)

Ethyleneglycoldinitrate (EGDN)

Diethylenglycoldinitrate (DEGDN)

Metrioltrinitrate (MTN)

Propyleneglycoldinitrate (PGDN)

Butanetrioltrinitrate (BTTN)

Nitric / Acetic Acid Based Explosives

RDX / HMX / PETN

Nitroaromatics

Nitrobenzene (NB)

Nitrotoluene (MNT)

Dinitrotoluene (DNT)

Trinitrotoluene (TNT)

Picric Acid

A small leak will sink a great ship.

Nitrocellulose Plant Taiwan 2013

Nitroglycerin as Example for Treatment of Nitro Ester

General safety aspects

Liquid phase decomposition

Accelerating effects on decomposition

Main criteria for safe treatment:

Stabilisation

Spent Acid Recovery Process

Separation

Nitric Acid High Concentration NOx Absorption

Sulfuric Acid Concentration

General Safety Aspects

Separation of not dissolved organic material

Controlled complete decomposition

Safe handling of gas development

Selection of most suitable

treatment conditions

No dangerous compounds to

enter the following steps!

Liquid Phase Decomposition

Liquid Phase Decomposition

Suitable surplus of acid to remove the energy

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

110 120 130 140 150 160 170

T °C

p m

mH

g

vapor pressure of NG

Gas cooler/condenser for maximum recovery

Defined temperature for decomposition

Separation of gas

Accelerating Effects on Decomposition

HNO3 increase of velocity

HNO3 Decomposition: 2 HNO3 -> NO2 + NO + H2O + O2

NO no influence

NO2 increase of velocity

O2 increase of velocity

H2O increase of velocity

Increasing the velocity of decomposition by making use of catalytic effects of decomposition by-products

NG-Decomposition: C3H5(NO3 )3 + 3 HNO3 -> 2 NO2 + 4 NO + 4 H2O + 3 CO2

Influence of NO2 on the Velocity of

NG Decomposition

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1 1,2

Time

Dec

ompo

sitio

n R

ate

800 mm350 mm150 mm

High Concentration Fast Reaction

Low Concentration Slow Reaction

Accelerating Effects during Storage

to be avoided

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