A novel emission control process for chlorinated hydrocarbons produces no toxic or corrosive secondary gases. Catalytic adsorbent materials will be developed to destroy low concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbon in gaseous effluents without the release of hydrochloric acid and chlorine gas. Instead the adsorbent will fix the chlorine atoms as harmless nonvolatile chloride salt at temperaum well below conventional catalytic incineration. Low temperature operation and nontoxic secondary waste will make this an aumtive economical abatement process for chlorinated hydrocarbons. Chlorinated organics are among the most difficult wastes to destroy, and they constitute a large portion of the VOCS associated with ozone nonabatemenl When they are oxidized, hydrochloric acid (HCI) is formed, which mtads the catalytic activity of metal catalysts, and it undergoes further oxidation to form chlorine gas (CI2). The HCI also attacks incineration equipment Chlorine and acid resistant catalysts currently used operate at high temperatures and require large amounts of fuel. 'ne catalytic adsorbent will be produced by forming an active metal oxide in intimate contact with an active limestone surface. The limestone will act as a @sing medikirn for the catalyst Any HCI formed on the catalyst will immediately mact with the calcium carbonate (limestone) to mgen@ the metal oxides. This stops the HCI from oxidizing to chlorine and results in no free HCI. This is the important novel feature of the process which distinguishes it Erom conventional catalytic oxidation. The effluent gas from the process contains only water and carbon dioxide.
