Wet oxidation of Bayer liquor organics: Reaction mechanisms

Wet oxidation (WO) has the potential 10 become a preferred technology for the removal or organic contaminants from Bayer process liquors. Better understanding of Ihe reaction mechanisms involved in lhe degradation of organic compounds by oxygen in Strong caustic soda solutions is a key aspect of Ihe technology development required 10 bring this to reality. Sodium malonate is a component of most Bayer liquors which has been shown to be unusually reactive and 10 have the potential to promote reactions in other species. The work reponed here uses HC NMR to provide the first direct evidence of the key species involved in lhe oxidation of malonate and its derivatives. The relative reactivities of several dicarboxylatcs commonly present in Bayer liquors explained in terms their molecular structures.