Ruthenium Catalyst for Treatment of Water Containing Concentrated Organic Waste

The catalytic wet oxidation process (CWOP) is a promising technique for the treatment of highly concentrated organic wastewater that is difficult to degrade biochemically. This technique is based on the wet air oxidation (WAO) method of treating industrial effluent - in use for many years. WAO is a thermal liquid-phase process whereby organic substances in highly concentrated wastewater are oxidised by air at high temperatures and pressures, for long periods of time. Removal of ammonic nitrogen and cyanide is, however, difficult. The CWOP aims to improve on the disadvantages of the WAO method. Tests were conducted to find the best catalysts. Catalyst CWO-11 reduced the severity of the reaction required and improved the chemical oxygen demand and the total nitrogen conversion of organic wastewater.