Decomposition of VOC in an Inert Atmosphere by Molten Alkaline Hydroxide

Abstract

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), such as carbon tetrachloride(CCl₄), tetra-chloro-ethlene (CCl₂CCl₂) and 1,2-dichloroetane (CH₂ClCH₂Cl), were decomposed by using molten alkaline hydroxide (NaOH) without any oxidizing gas such as air. Decomposition capability was evaluated with both decomposition efficiency of VOCs and concentrations of secondary compounds regenerated in a gas phase.
It was found that these gases reacted remarkably with molten NaOH above 600°C and the decomposition efficiencies were above 99.9% by means of the gas chromatograph mass spectroscopy (GC-MS method). Thirteen kinds of organic chlorides in a gas phase were also measured, in accordance with JIS-K-0125 by GC-MS, to be found that each concentration was below the detective limit (0.05 vol.ppm). Methane and hydrogen were detected in exhaust gas as the other secondary regenerates, as were estimated with previous thermo-dynamical calculations by MALT-2.
Based on these results, the authors estimated adequate chemical decomposition reactions.