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EP-4735152-A2 - SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR PFAS DESTRUCTION

EP4735152A2EP 4735152 A2EP4735152 A2EP 4735152A2EP-4735152-A2

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a system of catalysts for the destruction of a PFAS stream. This process comprises an integrated PFAS destruction system with an upstream aqueous-based PFAS destruction technology and downstream gas-phase flue gas oxidation catalyst. A method of implementing a PFAS destroying system is also provided herein.

Inventors

  • LIU, YI
  • GROBYS, MAURICIO

Assignees

  • BASF CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240624

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A system comprising: a feed of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) comprising perfluorooctanoic acid (“PFOA”), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (“PFOS”), perfluorobutane sulfonate (“PFBS”), perfluorobutanoic acid (“PFBA”), perfluoroalky l sulfonic acids (“PFSA”), perfluoroalky l carboxylic acids (“PFCA”), perfluoroalkyl acid C'PFAA"). perfluoroheptane sulfonate (“PFHpS”), perfluorohexane sulfonate (“PFHxS”), perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (“PFPeS”), perfluorovaleric acid (“PFPeA”), perfluorohexanoic acid (“PFHxA”) or a combination thereof; an aqueous PFAS destruction section which is configured to perform one of electrochemical oxidation, supercritical water oxidation, or ultrasonically induced cavitation or combination thereof; and a vapor PFAS destruction catalyst treatment.
  2. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vapor PFAS destruction catalyst treatment is parallel to the aqueous PFAS destruction section.
  3. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the vapor PFAS destruction catalyst treatment is placed after the aqueous PFAS destruction section.
  4. 4. The system of claim 1. wherein after the aqueous PFAS destruction section, a PFAS-free liquid is formed.
  5. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein after the aqueous PFAS destruction section, a PFAS- containing vapor is formed.
  6. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the vapor PFAS destruction catalyst treatment is configured to receive the PF AS-containing vapor from the aqueous PFAS destruction section.
  7. 7. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vapor PFAS destruction catalyst treatment comprises a flue gas oxidation catalyst.
  8. 8. The system of claim 6 or claim 7. wherein after the vapor PF AS destruction catalyst treatment, a PFAS-free emission is formed.
  9. 9. The system of claim 6 or claim 7, wherein after the vapor PF AS destruction catalyst treatment, an emission is formed that is substantially free of the PF AS.
  10. 10. The system of claim 6 or claim 7, wherein after the vapor PF AS destruction catalyst treatment, a PFAS-free vapor is formed.
  11. 11. The system of claim 6 or claim 7. wherein after the vapor PF AS destruction catalyst treatment, a vapor is formed that is substantially free of the PF AS.
  12. 12. The system of claim 7, wherein the flue oxidation catalyst comprises zirconium oxide, vanadium oxide and at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of manganese oxide, cerium oxide and cobalt oxide.
  13. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the flue gas oxidation catalyst comprises zirconium oxide in an amount of about 30 wt% to about 90 wt% based on total weight of a washcoat.
  14. 14. The system of claim 12, wherein the flue gas oxidation catalyst comprises a washcoat.
  15. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the washcoat comprises zirconium oxide and one or more oxides of manganese, cerium or cobalt.
  16. 16. The system of claim 14, wherein the vanadium oxide is dispersed on the washcoat in an amount of about 0. 1 wt% to about 20 wt%, based on total weight of the washcoat.
  17. 17. The system of claim 15, wherein the zirconium oxide is dispersed on the washcoat in an amount of about 30 wt% to about 90 wt%, based on total weight of the washcoat.
  18. 18. The system of claim 15, wherein the manganese oxide is dispersed on the washcoat in an amount of about 10 wt% to about 50 wt%. based on total weight of the washcoat.
  19. 19. The system of claim 12, wherein the washcoat comprises zirconium oxide and manganese oxide.
  20. 20. The system of claim 7, wherein the flue gas oxidation catalyst further comprise tungsten oxide, tin oxide, or mixtures thereof.

Description

SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR PFAS DESTRUCTION CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) [0001] The present application claims priority to International Application No. PCT/CN2023/102712 filed on June 27, 2023. The entire contents of which are incorporated in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of catalysts for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS"’) destruction. More specifically, it relates to the use of an aqueous-based PF AS destruction technique in combination with a gas-phase flue gas oxidation catalyst. BACKGROUND [0003] As understood in the art, PFAS refers to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are a group of man-made fluorochemicals. PFAS are known for having strong carbon-fluorine bonds that can cause lasting sustainability issues. For example, the sustainability issues may include long persistence in natural environments, bioaccumulation along the food chain, and adverse health effects in humans. Thus, effective PFAS destruction is sought to stop PFAS pollution. [0004] Currently, strategies for PFAS destruction are mainly aqueous-based, such as electrochemical oxidation, supercritical water oxidation, and ultrasonically induced cavitation. These aqueous-based methods may generate hazardous byproducts, such as CF4, C2F6, perfluoropropionic acid C'PFPrA"). and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (“PFBS”) with less than 4 carbon atoms, and may release them into the ambient air, water or soil. Because of mobility in air, water and soil, these gas-phase short-chain PFAS species may further spread and intensify PFAS pollution in the natural environment. Therefore, there is a need in the art to improve the PFAS destruction processes to reduce the amount of PFAS pollution. SUMMARY [0005] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a system is provided. The system may include a feed of PFAS; an aqueous PFAS destruction section which is configured to perform one of electrochemical oxidation, supercritical water oxidation, or ultrasonically induced cavitation or a combination thereof; and a vapor PFAS destruction catalyst treatment. In some embodiments, the PFAS may include perfluorooctanoic acid (“PFOA”), perfluorooctanoic sulfonic acid (“PFOS”), perfluorobutane sulfonate (‘TFBS”). perfluorobutanoic acid (“PFBA”), perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (“PFSA”), perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (“PFCA”), perfluoroalkyl acid (“PFAA”), perfluoroheptane sulfonate C'PFHpS"). perfluorohexane sulfonate (“PFHxS”), perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (“PFPeS”), perfluorovaleric acid (“PFPeA”), perfluorohexanoic acid (“PFHxA”) or combinations thereof. [0006] In some embodiments, the vapor PF AS destruction catalyst treatment may be placed in parallel to the aqueous PF AS destruction section or after the PFAS destruction section. [0007] In some embodiments of the process, after the aqueous PFAS destruction section, a PFAS-free liquid may be formed. In other embodiments of the process, after the aqueous PFAS destruction section, a PFAS-containing vapor may be formed. [0008] In some embodiments, the vapor PFAS destruction catalyst treatment may be configured to receive the PFAS-containing vapor from the aqueous PFAS destruction section. [0009] In some embodiments, the vapor PFAS destruction catalyst treatment may include a flue gas oxidation catalyst. In some embodiments, the flue gas oxidation catalyst may include zirconium oxide, vanadium oxide and at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of manganese oxide, cerium oxide and cobalt oxide. In some embodiments, the flue gas oxidation catalyst may include zirconium oxide in an amount of about 40 wt% to about 90 wt% based on total weight of the catalyst. [00010] In some embodiments, the flue gas oxidation catalyst may include a washcoat. The washcoat may include zirconium oxide and one or more oxides of manganese, cerium or cobalt. In some embodiments, the vanadium oxide may be dispersed on the washcoat in an amount of about 0. 1 wt% to about 20 wt%, based on total weight of the washcoat. In some embodiments, the zirconium oxide may be dispersed on the washcoat in an amount of about 10 wt% to about 90 wt%, based on total weight of the washcoat. In some embodiments, the manganese oxide may be dispersed on the washcoat in an amount of about 10 wt% to about 80 wt%, based on total weight of the washcoat. In some embodiments, the washcoat material may consist of zirconium oxide and manganese oxide. [00011] In some embodiments, the flue gas oxidation catalyst may further include tungsten oxide, tin oxide, or mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the tungsten oxide may be dispersed on the washcoat of the flue oxidation catalyst in an amount of about 5 wt% to about 20 wt%, based on total weight of the washcoat. In some embodiments, the catalyst may further include one or more platinum group metals in an amount of about 0.01 wt% to about 5 wt%, based on total weight of the washcoat. [00012] In some embodiments, th