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A system and method for the treatment of process streams. A catalyst mediates a wet oxidation process at elevated temperatures and pressures for treating at least one undesirable constituent in an aqueous mixture. The aqueous mixture may be contacted with a catalyst and an oxidizing agent at an elev

A system and method for the treatment of process streams. A catalyst mediates a wet oxidation process at elevated temperatures and pressures for treating at least one undesirable constituent in an aqueous mixture. The aqueous mixture may be contacted with a catalyst and an oxidizing agent at an elevated temperature and a superatmospheric pressure. At least a portion of the catalyst may be precipitated by a pH adjustment and recycled back to contact the aqueous mixture.

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1. A catalytic wet oxidation process, comprising: contacting an aqueous mixture containing at least one undesirable constituent to be treated with a copper catalyst and an oxidizing agent at an elevated temperature and superatmospheric pressure at a pH below about 2 or above about 13 at which the ca

1. A catalytic wet oxidation process, comprising: contacting an aqueous mixture containing at least one undesirable constituent to be treated with a copper catalyst and an oxidizing agent at an elevated temperature and superatmospheric pressure at a pH below about 2 or above about 13 at which the catalyst is substantially soluble to treat the at least one undesirable constituent within a wet oxidation reactor and form an oxidized aqueous mixture within the wet oxidation reactor;precipitating at least a portion of the catalyst solely by adjusting a pH level of the oxidized aqueous mixture to form a precipitated catalyst; andrecycling at least a portion of the precipitated catalyst to contact the aqueous mixture. 2. The process according to claim 1, wherein contacting the aqueous mixture with the catalyst occurs prior to bringing the aqueous mixture to the elevated temperature. 3. The process according to claim 1, wherein contacting the aqueous mixture with the catalyst occurs prior bringing the aqueous mixture to the superatmospheric pressure. 4. The process according to claim 1, further comprising monitoring the pH level of the aqueous mixture. 5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the aqueous mixture is oxidized in a continuous process. 6. The process according to claim 5, further comprising replenishing the catalyst. 7. The process according to claim 1, wherein contacting the aqueous mixture with the oxidizing agent comprises contacting the aqueous mixture with an oxygen-containing gas. 8. The process according to claim 1, wherein precipitating at least a portion of the catalyst comprises increasing the pH of at least a portion of the oxidized aqueous mixture. 9. The process according to claim 1, wherein precipitating at least a portion of the catalyst comprises decreasing the pH of at least a portion of the oxidized aqueous mixture. 10. The process according to claim 1, wherein the precipitated catalyst comprises copper oxide. 11. The process according to claim 1, wherein adjusting the pH level of the oxidized aqueous mixture comprises adjusting the pH level of the oxidized aqueous mixture to range of pH of from about 6 to about 12. 12. The process according to claim 11, wherein adjusting the pH level of the oxidized aqueous mixture comprises adjusting the pH level of the oxidized aqueous mixture to range of pH of from about 8 to about 9. 13. The process according to claim 1, further comprising adjusting the pH of at least a portion of the precipitated catalyst. 14. The process according to claim 13, wherein adjusting the pH of at least a portion of the precipitated catalyst comprises adjusting the pH to a level at which at least a portion of the precipitated catalyst solubilizes. 15. The process according to claim 1, further comprising clarifying the oxidized aqueous mixture, thereby forming a first separated solution, prior to precipitating at least a portion of the catalyst from the oxidized aqueous mixture. 16. The process according to claim 15, further comprising contacting the first separated solution with the aqueous mixture containing at least one undesirable constituent to be treated. 17. The process according to claim 1, further comprising recovering substantially all of the catalyst. 18. The process according to claim 1, wherein the aqueous mixture is oxidized for a period of time sufficient to treat the at least one undesirable constituent. 19. The process according to claim 1, wherein the superatmospheric pressure is from about 30 atmospheres to about 275 atmospheres. 20. The process according to claim 1, wherein the elevated temperature is from about 240° C. to about the critical temperature of water. 21. The process according to claim 1, wherein the elevated temperature is above the critical temperature of water. 22. The process according to claim 1, wherein precipitating the at least a portion of the catalyst is accomplished with a two step catalyst settling process comprising: performing a rough clarification in a first clarifier to produce a first supernatant and a first separated solution including soluble catalyst;contacting at least a portion of the first separated solution with the aqueous mixture;settling at least a portion of the first supernatant in a second clarifier to produce solidified catalyst and an oxidized effluent essentially free of catalyst;contacting the solidified catalyst from the second clarifier with the aqueous mixture; andwithdrawing the oxidized effluent essentially free of catalyst from the second clarifier. 23. The process according to claim 22, further comprising adjusting a pH of the at least a portion of the first supernatant prior to settling the at least a portion of the first supernatant in the second clarifier. 24. The process according to claim 22, further comprising adjusting a pH of the solidified catalyst from the second clarifier prior to contact with the aqueous solution.