Supercritical treatment of adsorbent materials

摘要

Contaminated adsorbent particles, preferably activated carbon particles, are regenerated in water at supercritical conditions. The particles are preferably mixed in water prior to treatment. The mixture is preferably heated to a temperature at least about 900 DEG F. (482 DEG C.) and pressurized to a pressure sufficient to achieve supercritical conditions for water. The mixture is preferably flowed through a first reactor for a time sufficient to substantially remove the organic contaminants from the particles. The particles are separated from the water and the mixture of water and organic contaminants may be transferred to a second reactor. Within the second reactor the organic contaminants are preferably substantially oxidized by supercritical water oxidation.