Wet oxidation of wastes with circulation

Claim 1

A process for wet oxidation of a liquid waste effluent using a vertical-type pressure-proof container fitted therein with at least one longitudinal partition extending axially of the container and having a length smaller than the axial length of the inside of the container, the partition being positioned so that a free space is present between the upper end of the partition and the upper inner end of the container and between the lower end of the partition and the lower inner end of the container while the remaining longitudinal space between said upper and lower free spaces is divided into at least two longitudinal spaces by the partition in the container, at least one divided longitudinal space serving as an effluent-descending space and the other as an effluent-ascending space, comprising the steps of: providing a cross-section area ratio between the effluent-ascending space and the effluent-descending space in the range of from 3.5:1 to 1:3, introducing a liquid waste effluent containing organic material thermally polymerizable in the substantial absence of oxygen without preheating the effluent into at least one effluent-descending space at a level lower than the upper end of the partition, passing the effluent downward to said lower free space, turning the effluent via said lower free space to the effluent-ascending space, injecting an oxidizing gas upwardly into the effluent-ascending space by utilizing an oxidizing gas inlet positioned in the effluent-ascending space at a level higher than the lower end of the partition, supplying an amount of oxidizing gas at least 1.5 times the theoretical amount necessary for oxidation of the substances to be oxidized and at a differential pressure of at least 0.5 kg/cm 2 , passing the effluent through the effluent-ascending space, utilizing the rising force of the injected oxidizing gas to accelerate the effluent upwardly through the effluent-ascending space and thereby effecting efficient gas-liquid contact for wet oxidation, turning the effluent via said upper free space to the effluent-descending space thereby circulating the effluent without polymerization of said polymerizable organic material and permitting the freshly introduced liquid waste effluent to be heated by the exothermic oxidation reation by direct contact with the circulated oxidized effluent in the effluent-descending space, and, withdrawing the oxidation treated effluent and the used oxidizing gas from the upper free space of the container through an outlet provided at the top thereof.