Abstract
The controlled air oxidation technology is a promising way of disposing medical waste, which has been a huge challenge in China. It converts waste through partial oxidation into a gaseous mixture, small quantities of char and condensable compounds. But operational performance of the primary chamber of the controlled air incinerator is poorly understood, leading to difficulty in control. In this paper, a packed-bed reactor was established to study the effect of O2 concentration on sawdust oxidation. The feed gas flow rate was kept constant at 0.6 m3/h at room temperature (26 °C) with O2 concentrations varied from 6% to 12%. Temperature profiles of the beds, product yields and gas compositions in the out-of-bed fuel gas were measured in detail. The results showed that the sawdust beds achieved low temperatures for the given O2 concentrations and leveled off in the oxidation processes. The bed temperatures increased and the solid yields decreased with the increase of O2 concentrations. When the O2 concentration was 10%, the gas yield reached a minimum and the liquid reached a maximum correspondingly. When the O2 concentration increased from 6% to 10%, the peak concentrations of CO and CH4 in the gas yield increased. However, when the O2 concentration exceeded 10%, CO and CH4 concentrations decreased. As O2 concentration varied from 6% to 12%, CO2 concentration increased continuously. This study provides a fundamental insight that the reaction processes could be well regulated by means of adjusting the feed air in practical units.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
P. S. Li, L. S. Sun, J. Xiang and Y. H. Xiong, China Environmental Science Press, Beijing (2006).
H. Duan, Q. Huang, Q. Wang, B. Zhou and J. Li, J. Hazard. Mater., 158, 221 (2008).
Sabihajavied, M. Tufail and S. Khalid, Microchem. J., 90, 77 (2008).
Y. Jang, C. Lee, O. Yoon and H. Kim, J. Environ. Manage., 80, 107 (2006).
J. Blenkharn, Waste Manage., 26, 315 (2006).
A. Bdour, B. Altrabsheh, N. Hadadin and M. Alshareif, Waste Manage., 27, 746 (2007).
N. Marinkovic, K. Vitale, N. Holcer, A. Dzakula and T. Pavic, Waste Manage., 28, 1049 (2008).
A. Woolridge, P. Phillips and A. Denman, Resour. Conserv. Recycl., 52, 1198 (2008).
D. Rogers and A. Brent, Waste Manage., 26, 1229 (2006).
M. Matsui, A.M. Ziad, Riyadh and S. Arabia, Chemosphere, 53, 971 (2003).
M. Almuneef, A. M. Ziad, Riyadh and S. Arabia, Am. J. Infection Control, 31, 188 (2003).
Z. A. Zainal, A. Rifau, G. A. Quadir and K. N. Seetharamu, Biomass Bioenergy, 23, 283 (2002).
S. C. Bhattacharya, A. H. M. Mizanur Rahman Siddique and H.-L. Pham, Energy, 24, 285 (1999).
S. Luo, B. Xiao, X. Guo, Z. Hu, S. Liu and M. He, Int. J. Hydrog. Energy, 34, 1260 (2009).
Y. Cao, Y. Wang, J. Riley and W. Pan, Fuel Process. Technol., 87, 343 (2006).
X. Guo, B. Xiao, S. Liu, Z. Hu, S. Luo and M. He, Int. J. Hydrog. Energy, 34, 1265 (2009).
S. Luo, B. Xiao, Z. Hu, S. Liu, Y. Guan and L. Cai, Bioresour. Technol., 101, 6517 (2010).
C.G. Wang, L. L. Ma, Y. Gao and C. Z. Wu, Korean J. Chem. Eng., 25, 738 (2008).
W. Jangsawang, B. Fungtammasan and S. Kerdsuwan, Energy Convers. Manage., 46, 3137 (2005).
B.M. Jenkins, L. L. Baxter and T. R. Miles, Fuel Process. Technol., 54, 17 (1998).
L. Liang, R. Sun, J. Fei, S. Wu, X. Liu, K. Dai and N. Yao, Bioresour. Technol., 99, 7238 (2008).
Y. B. Yang, V. N. Sharifi and J. Swithenbank, AIChE J., 52, 809 (2006).
T. Malkow, Waste Manage., 24, 53 (2004).
W. Yang, A. Ponzio, C. Lucas and W. Blasiak, Fuel Process. Technol., 87, 235 (2006).
H. Thunman and B. Leckner, Proc. Combust. Inst., 30, 2939 (2005).
P.-A. Maria, J. C. Bruno and A. Coronas, Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev., 03, 1 (2010).
P. Baggio, M. Baratieri, L. Fiori, M. Grigiante, D. Avi and P. Tosi, Energy Convers. Manage., 50, 1426 (2009).
Y. Yang, C. Ryu, A. Khor, V. Sharifi and J. Swithenbank, Fuel, 84, 2026 (2005).
J. J. Hernández, G. Aranda-Almansa and A. Bula, Fuel Process. Technol., 91, 681 (2010).
K. S. Francesco Miccio, J.-P. Schosger and D. Baxter, Korean J. Chem. Eng., 25, 721 (2008).
L.M.C. Prompubess, P. Piumsomboon and P. Kuchontara, Korean J. Chem. Eng., 24, 989 (2007).
B. Benkoussas, J.-L. Consalvi, B. Porterie, N. Sardoy and J.-L. Loraud, Int. J. Therm. Sci., 46, 319 (2007).
C. K. J. Chattopadhyay, R. Kim and D. Pak, Korean J. Chem. Eng., 25, 1047 (2008).
J. Supunnee, T. Chaiyot and T. Malee, Korean J. Chem. Eng., 27, 791 (2010).
G. Chen, J. Andries, Z. Luo and H. Spliethoff, Energy Convers. Manage., 44, 1875 (2003).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Meng, Q., Chen, X., Bu, C. et al. Experimental study on the controlled air oxidation of sawdust in a packed-bed reactor. Korean J. Chem. Eng. 29, 534–539 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-011-0201-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-011-0201-7