Combustion of Volatile Organic Compounds to CO2 and H2O with Low NOx Formation

Abstract

A process of combusting a gaseous volatile organic compound over a modified alumina catalyst at a temperature below 5° C. while exothermically producing CO 2 and H 2 O at a temperature from about 5° C. to about 1100° C.

1 ) A process comprising:
 a) combusting a gaseous volatile organic compound over a modified alumina catalyst at a temperature below 5° C.;   b) exothermically producing CO 2  and H 2 O at a temperature from about below 5° C. to about 1100° C.; and   c) adding a fuel gas to supplement the heat generated from the combustion of the volatile organic compound.   
     
     
         2 ) The process of  claim 1 , wherein the modified alumina catalyst comprises from about 0.005 wt % to about 5 wt % Pt. 
     
     
         3 ) The process of  claim 1 , wherein the modified alumina catalyst comprises a modified alpha-alumina cloth support. 
     
     
         4 ) The process of  claim 1 , wherein the modified alumina catalyst comprises a MgO modified alpha-alumina cloth support or a gamma alumina support. 
     
     
         5 ) The process of  claim 1 , wherein NOx is not substantially formed during the production of CO 2  and H 2 O. 
     
     
         6 ) The process of  claim 1 , wherein the gaseous volatile organic compounds are selected from a group consisting of: methanol, ethanol, propanol, n-heptane, gasoline, crude oil, n-C 1 -C 6  paraffins, i-butanol, n-hexane, toluene, acetone, hydrogen and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 ) The process of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel gas is methane, natural gas or a refinery fuel gas. 
     
     
         8 ) The process of  claim 1 , wherein the oxygen containing gas are selected from a group consisting of: oxygen air, oxygen enriched air, nitrogen enriched air or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 ) The process of  claim 1 , wherein the oxygen content can range from 1% to 100%. 
     
     
         10 ) A process comprising:
 a) combusting a gaseous volatile organic compound selected from a group consisting of: methanol, ethanol, propanol, n-heptane, gasoline, crude oil, n-C 1 -C 6  paraffins, i-butanol, n-hexane, toluene, acetone, hydrogen and combinations thereof in an oxygen containing gas, over a modified alumina catalyst at a temperature below 5° C. wherein the oxygen containing gas consists of a group selected from: oxygen, air, nitrogen and combinations thereof;   b) exothermically producing CO 2  and H 2 O at a temperature from about 5° C. to about 1100° C. while not substantially forming NOx;   wherein the modified alumina catalyst is comprises from about 0.005 wt % to about 5 wt % Pt and a MgO modified alpha-alumina cloth support or a gamma alumina support; and   c) adding a fuel gas to supplement the heat from the combustion of the volatile organic compound.   
     
     
         11 ) A process comprising:
 a) using a heat exchanger comprising:
 i. a heat exchanger; and 
 ii. a thin layer of a modified alumina catalyst bed in contact with the heat exchanger, 
   b) combusting a gaseous volatile organic compound with an oxygen containing gas over the modified alumina catalyst at a temperature below 5° C.; and   c) exothermically producing CO 2  and H 2 O while simultaneously raising the temperature of the heat exchanger from about 5° C. to about 1100° C.   
     
     
         12 ) The process of  claim 10 , wherein the modified alumina catalyst comprises from about 0.005 wt % to about 5 wt % Pt. 
     
     
         13 ) The process of  claim 10 , wherein the modified alumina catalyst comprises a modified alpha-alumina cloth support or a gamma alumina support. 
     
     
         14 ) The process of  claim 10 , wherein the modified alumina catalyst comprises a MgO modified alpha-alumina cloth support or a gamma alumina support. 
     
     
         15 ) The process of  claim 10 , wherein NOx is not substantially formed during the production of CO 2  and H 2 O. 
     
     
         16 ) The process of  claim 10 , wherein the gaseous volatile organic compounds are selected from a group consisting of: methanol, ethanol, propanol, n-heptane, gasoline, crude oil, n-C 1 -C 6  paraffins, i-butanol, n-hexane, toluene, acetone, hydrogen and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 ) The process of  claim 10 , wherein the oxygen containing gas are selected from a group consisting of: oxygen air, oxygen enriched air, nitrogen enriched air or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 ) The process of  claim 10 , wherein the oxygen content can range from 1% to 100%. 
     
     
         19 ) The process of  claim 10 , wherein the heat exchanger is connected to a preheater or a steam generator. 
     
     
         20 ) A process comprising:
 a) using a heat exchanger comprising:
 i. a heat exchanger; and 
 ii. a thin layer of a modified alumina catalyst bed in contact with the heat exchanger, 
   b) combusting a gaseous volatile organic compound selected from a group consisting of: methanol, ethanol, propanol, n-heptane, gasoline, crude oil, n-C 1 -C 6  paraffins, i-butanol, n-hexane, toluene, acetone, hydrogen and combinations thereof in an oxygen containing gas, over the modified alumina catalyst at a temperature below 5° C. wherein the oxygen containing gas are selected from a group consisting of: oxygen, air, nitrogen and combinations thereof;   c) adding a fuel gas to supplement the heat from the combustion of the volatile organic compound;   d) exothermically producing CO 2  and H 2 O at a temperature from about 5° C. to about 1100° C. while not substantially forming NOx; and   wherein the modified alumina catalyst is comprises from about 0.005 wt % to about 5 wt % Pt and a MgO modified alpha-alumina cloth support.