Key engineering issues influencing the development of supercriticai water oxidation for waste treatment are reviewed. Major chemical pathways and kinetics for hydrolysis and oxidation reactions of model organic wastes are discussed. In selective examples, results born extensive laboratory-scale measurements are compared with molecular simulations of solvation and reaction effects in supercritical water. Comections between reaction chemistry and observed corrosion in supercritical water oxidation processing equipment are discussed to underscore the importance of understanding electrochemical
phenomena over a wide range of temperature and density conditions. Research needs for improved understandkg of physical and chemical effects in supercritical fluids are identified.