Base Catalyzed Decomposition (BCD) formerly called Base Catalyzed Dechlorination

Status & POPs application Commercial operations: Australia, Mexico for last six years. Systems used for short-term projects in Australia, Spain (2 years) and US Pilot plant treatment PCCD-and PCDF-soil and waste and at present full-scale plant under construction at Spolana (Czech Republic) POPs application: All POPs, PCB’s and pesticides

Technology description

Principle: Destruction of toxic halogenated + non-halogenated compounds by catalytic transfer hydrogenation. Process: Mixture hydrocarbon (donor oil) + base (sodium hydroxide) + catalyst formulation of polyalkeneglycol compounds)  300° C Toxic materials pumped into closed treatment vessel. Toxics decomposition : Atomic hydrogen released from hydrocarbon or donor oil. Conversion toxic compounds to salts + non-toxic residues.=>carbon, some of hydrogen donor, base, and salt (sodium chloride )

Technology description Complete destruction of toxic materials without release of any toxics into environment. Watch: No continuous but a batch process! New in Japan Nov 04: introduction continuous process for oils with low contamination of PCB’s

BCD Flow Schedule BCD BCD Reactor Reactor Condenser 1 Condenser 2 Chiller Centrifuge Solids Salt Carbon Base Catalyst Gas Emissions Oil Carbon Trap Oil NitrogenHydrogen Donor Recovered Oil Water

PART I - Adaptation Technology – Country A. Performance: 1. Minimum pre-treatment: Different types pre-treatment may be necessary: (A) Removal larger particles by sifting + size reduction by crushing; or (B) Adjustment of pH and moisture content For soils often Thermal desorption used as pre-treatment and concentrate into BCD process

PART I: Adaptation Technology - Country A. Performance: 2. Destruction Efficiency (DE): DEs of 99.99– % for DDT, HCH, PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs. DEs > % and DREs > % for chlordane and HCB. Reduction of chlorinated organics > 2 mg/kg + non detectable

PART I: Adaptation Technology - Country A. Performance: Destruction of HCB & Lindane (Spolana site Czech Rep.) 2004 update Material Inlet mg/kgOutlet Oil Matrix mg/kg HCB Lindane HCB Lindane Chemical waste 29,000 1,500 < 1.0 < 1.0 Chemical waste 200, < 2.0 < 2.0 Chemical waste 550,000 1,000 < 2.0 < 2.0 Chemical waste 270,000 1,000 < 2.0 < 2.0 Chemical waste 160,000 1,000 < 2.0 < 2.0 Dust 7,60 7 < 2.0 < 2.0 Chemical waste 1,598 19,000 < 2.0 < 2.0 Conc Aqueous 630 < 2.0 < 2.0 < 2.0 Conc Organic 11,000 < 2.0 < 2.0 < 2.0

PART I: Adaptation Technology - Country A Performance: Dioxin Destruction Material Inlet ng/kg I-TEQ Outlet Oil Matrix ng/kg I-TEQ Chemical waste 209,000 0 ( Reported value) Chemical waste 200, Chemical waste 11, Chemical waste 47,0000 Chemical waste 35,0000 Dust 1,620, Chemical waste 78,0000 Conc Aqueous 96,0000 Conc Organics 876,0000

PART I: Adaptation Technology - Country A. Performance: Treatment of Solid Matrices in Upstream Desorber (from pre-treatment step) Dioxin Removal Material Inlet ng/kg I-TEQ Outlet ng/kg I-TEQ Soil 46, Brick&Concrete 2,420, Concrete 4,780, Plaster 3,

PART I: Adaptation Technology - Country A. Performance: Treatment of Solid Matrices in Upstream Desorber HCB & Lindane Removal Material Inlet mg/kg Outlet mg/kg HCB Lindane HCB Lindane Soil 2, < 1.0 < 1.0 Brick&Concr 49, < 1.0 < 1.0 Concrete 5, < 1.0 < 1.0 Plaster 270 < 1.0 < 1.0 < 1.0

PART I: Adaptation Technology - Country A. Performance: 3. Toxic by-products: Uncontrolled releases: Capacity to treat all POPs: Yes, but PCB treatment of capacitors not possible and solvent washing required for transformer components 6. Throughput:  quantity [tons/day, l/day] ca 10 m3 per batch, can treat 3 batches/24 hrs. Last productivity + throughput increase till 1000 t/y high chlorine content PCB’s/Pests possible in single line POPs throughput : [POPs waste/total waste in %]: 30% and new in Spolana upto 55%, no limit on chlorine content

PART I: Adaptation Technology - Country A. Performance: 7. Wastes/residuals:  Secondary waste stream volumes:  Sludge with water, salt, unused hydrogen donor oil + carbon residue =>inert and non-toxic  Heavy fuel oils can be used once only, with the used oil being fed to cement kilns after destruction of POP’s.  New option: re-use 90-95% of donor oil (refined paraffinic oils)  high improvement economics of process and reduction of wastes to a solids stream of sodium chloride and carbon from the breakdown of the POP molecule.  Off gas treatment: activated carbon traps to minimize releases of volatile organics in gaseous emissions.

PART II: Adaption Country – Technology A. Resource needs: example 1000 t/y Power requirements: kWh Water requirements: cooling water m3/h Fuel volumes: Fuel gas 40 m3/h Reagents volumes: Vary 1-20 % by weight of contaminated medium Weather tight buildings: Hazardous waste personnel requirement: Sampling Requirements/facilities: Peer sampling: Laboratory requirements: Communication systems: Number of (un/skilled) personnel required: 1 skilled chem operator, 1 semi skilled operator

PART II: Adaption Country – Technology B: Costs for: case related in % of total US $/t for org. Chlorine 50% & throughput of 150 t/m (Spolana site) Installation + commissioning: Site preparation: Energy & Telecom installation: Compliance: Reporting: Run without waste: Run with waste: Decommissioning: Landfilling: Transport residues:

PART II: Adaption Country – Technology C. Impact & D. Risks Discharges to air: 2-5 m3/h 90% Nitrogen rest H2 Discharges to water: none Discharges to land(fill): Salt residue t/1000 t of 50% chlorine Risks reagents applied: Hydrogen donor, alkali, bicarbonate, catalyst Risks of technology: Fire risk low( 1995), as only at 1point oil temp is > flashpoint Operational risks: most automatic + controls

PART II: Adaption Country Technology E. Constructability & F. Output Ease of installation & construction of plant: easy  fixed recipes Ease of shipping/transit: container sized Ease of operation: Ease of processing: Generated waste (% of input waste): Deposited waste at landfill (% of input waste): Waste quality properties (pH, TCLP)

Mexico PCB plant

Olympic Site, Australia Soil inlet hopper 3000 litre plant

Indirect thermal desorption

BCD Plant - Spolana Active carbon filter Water cooled primary condensers Collection pots for condensate BCD Reactor Dumping tank

Simple process Pre-treatment needed with solvent extraction with transformers and capacitors Proven technology New: re-use 90-95% of donor oil  high improvement economics reduction of production of wastes ca 10 m3 per batch. –new productivity 1000 t/y (50%) high chlorine content PCB’s/Pests possible in single line Excellent destruction rates Little space needed Strength’sWeaknesses