GASIFICATION OF PETROCHEMICAL SLUDGE IN SUPERCRITICAL WATER FOR HYDROGEN PRODUCTION

A novel, practical and inexpensive method has been used for treatment of petrochemical sludge. In this study, gasification of petrochemical sludge in supercritical water (SCW) was investigated in a reactor at 550 degrees C, 26 MPa, residence time of 120-360 s and K2CO3 catalyst (200 and 300 mg/l). The results showed that K2CO3 addition increased H-2 fraction and the gas yield. The precipitated alkali in the reactor still showed high catalytic effect on the subsequent gasification of petrochemical sludge without further alkali addition. The catalytic activity was slightly reduced because K2CO3 is transformed to KHCO3.