Pressurized catalytic production of dioxide species

Abstract

A packed bed catalyst in a pressurized vessel/reactor during contact with a dioxide species precursor enhances catalytic conversion of the precursor to the dioxide species, compared with the same catalytic conversion performed in a non-pressurized vessel/reactor.

Claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for generating aqueous chlorine dioxide comprising:
 a pressurizable vessel filled with a packed bed of porous, water-insoluble catalytic particles capable of converting a precursor selected from the group consisting of at least one of chlorous acid and chloric acid to chlorine dioxide and having a particle size of about 4 to about 50 US mesh, said vessel having an inlet and an outlet;   a device in fluid communication with the vessel outlet for increasing pressure in the vessel to a pressure greater than applied when feeding an aqueous solution to the packed bed, through the vessel inlet.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the catalytic particles are selected from the group consisting of platinum group metals, platinum group metal oxides, transition group metals, and transition group metal oxides. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the device is a ball valve. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the device is a back-pressure regulator.