Development and evaluation of a continuous microwave processing system for hydrocarbon removal from solids

Buttress, A.J.; Binner, E.; Yi, C.; Palade, Paula; Robinson, J.P.; Kingman, S.W.

Abstract

A continuous conveyor-belt processing concept using microwave heating was developed and evaluated. Four hydrocarbon-contaminated soils were used as model feedstocks, and the degree of organic removal was assessed against the power and energy input to the process. The findings of this study at scale (150kg/h) are in direct agreement with data obtained in batch laboratory scale experiments, and show that microwave heating processes are fundamentally scalable. It is shown that there is a trade-off between the efficiency of organic removal and the power distribution, and applying the power in a single stage was found to be 20-30% more energy efficient but the overall degree of organic removal is limited to 60%. 75% removal was possible using two processing steps in series, but the organic removal is ultimately limited by the amount of power that can be safely and reliably delivered to the process material. The concept presented in this work is feasible when 75% organic removal is sufficient, and could form a viable industrial-scale process based on the findings of this study.

Citation

Buttress, A., Binner, E., Yi, C., Palade, P., Robinson, J., & Kingman, S. (2016). Development and evaluation of a continuous microwave processing system for hydrocarbon removal from solids. Chemical Engineering Journal, 283, 215-222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2015.07.030

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 9, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Jul 11, 2015
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jul 20, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 20, 2015
• Journal: Chemical Engineering Journal
• Print ISSN: 1385-8947
• Electronic ISSN: 1385-8947
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 283
• Pages: 215-222
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2015.07.030
• Keywords: Microwave Processing; Contaminated Soil; Remediation; Hydrocarbons
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/767695
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1385894715009961
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Development and evaluation of a continuous microwave processing system for hydrocarbon removal from solids; Journal Title: Chemical Engineering Journal; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2015.07.030; Content Type: article; Copyright: Copyright © 2015 Published by Elsevier B.V.