PHOTOCATALYTIC DECOMPOSITION OF WASTEWATER FROM THE PRODUCTION OF EXPLOSIVES

Water stabilized plasma generator WSP (R) H-500, operating on the principle of Gerdien arc was used for the photocatalytic decomposition of furazan- and picraminate-based explosives. The generator emits intensive radiation in the range of 300-660 nm, which allows not only to activate photocatalysts based on TiO2, but also other semiconductor oxides with a narrower band gap, such as tungsten oxide. The photocatalytic decomposition of sewage and slurries containing the potassium salt of 4-hydroxy-4,6-dihydro-5,7-dinitrobenzofurazane-3-oxide (KDNBF) or sodium picraminate (NaC6H4N3O5) was performed using the anatase paste and newly developed photocatalyst produced by the company Precheza a.s. The photocatalytic reactor was built using a quartz tube coil with an internal volume of 650 ml, with a nominal size of the irradiated area of 7.5 dm(2) (value reduced by the area of the gaps between coil turns) to enable the flow the processing solution or suspension of up to 10 l / min. The centre of the coil is exposed to the plasma jet with the intensity of 80 kW; of which 15 kW is transformed into the light radiation. 11% of the radiation output was used for the presented experiments. The time of exposition was 45 mins and 20 l of solution were treated. In the case of KDNBF, 90% of the compound was decomposed. Moreover, 100% of sodium picraminate were decomposed after 15 minutes into low-molecular inorganic compounds. Advantage of the assembly is the ability to treat highly dangerous chemical compounds in a closed cycle and test selective catalyst.