Case Study 3 Catalytic Wet-Air Oxidation Processes

Mechanism of the Reaction The oxidation of the organic compounds takes place according to a chain reaction mechanism. The following reaction steps are involved in the WAO process  

As for most of the molecules reaction (6.22), the initiation step is a limiting step too, which depends on the temperature with an activation energy that can exceed 100 or 200 kj/mol. That is why the WAO does not take place at room temperature, but requires high temperatures ( 250°C or 300°C). As this mechanism shows the importance of free radicals, so the use of catalysts and promoters can reduce the severity of the operating conditions required for the reaction. 

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