Process for treatment of aqueous environments containing a water soluble polymer
AssigneeMicrotek Medical Holdings, Inc.
InventorsRobert D. Chisholm, Debrah A. Beck, John B. Steward, Jordan M. Johnston, Baosheng Lee
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Abstract
A process wherein the use of a degradation-enhancing reactant or a precursor thereof, e.g., an oxidizing agent, can effectively increase the rate of reaction for the degradation of polymers in an aqueous environment and thereby facilitate the disposal of same. For example, in one aspect, the process comprises contacting a solubilized polymer and a degradation-enhancing reactant, within an aqueous environment, and subsequently reacting the polymer under conditions that are effective to provide at least one environmentally benign degradation product from the polymer.
Claims58
A process for treating a material comprising at least one polymer, comprising the steps:
- introducing at least one oxidizing agent into an aqueous environment containing (i) at least one polymer and (ii) radioactive material, wherein said at least one polymer is a polymer capable of being reacted, degraded or broken down into at least one degradation product;
- heating the aqueous environment to a reaction temperature of at least 180° F.;
- and
- maintaining the aqueous environment at the reaction temperature for a period of time sufficient to react, degrade or break down at least a portion of the at least one polymer to produce at least one degradation product.
A process for treating aqueous environment containing an at least partially solubilized, potentially radioactive material comprised of at least one water-soluble polymer, comprising the steps of:
- providing an aqueous environment containing at least partially solubilized potentially radioactive material comprised of at least one water soluble polymer;
- filtering at least a portion of non-solubilizing material from the aqueous environment;
- adding a rate-enhancing amount of at least one oxidizing agent to the aqueous environment;
- heating the aqueous environment for a sufficient amount of time to form at least one organic acid;
- measuring the concentration of the water soluble polymer in the aqueous environment;
- filtering at least a portion of radioactive material from the aqueous environment;
- neutralizing the pH of the aqueous environment;
- and
- biodegrading at least a portion of the at least one organic acid in the aqueous environment, to form CO2, water and biomass.
A process for treating an aqueous environment containing an at least partially solubilized, potentially radioactive material comprised of water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol, comprising the steps of:
- providing an aqueous environment containing an at least partially solubilized, potentially radioactive material comprised of water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol;
- filtering non-solubilizing material from the aqueous environment;
- adding a rate-enhancing amount of hydrogen peroxide to the aqueous environment;
- and
- heating the aqueous environment for a sufficient amount of time to (i) substantially complete oxidation of the water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol;
- (ii) form at least one organic acid;
- and (iii) provide an aqueous environment having a pH at or below a value of about 4.3;
- wherein a determination of the substantial completion of the oxidation of the water soluble polyvinyl alcohol is made by measuring the decrease in the pH of the aqueous environment.
A process for the treatment of an aqueous environment containing an at least partially solubilized water-soluble polymer, comprising the steps of:
- a) at least partially oxidizing an at least partially solubilized water soluble polymer contained in an aqueous environment to provide at least one organic acid;
- and
- b) at least partially depleting the at least one organic acid;
- wherein step b) further comprises neutralizing the pH of the aqueous environment and at least partially biodegrading the at least one organic acid.
A process for the treatment of an aqueous environment containing an at least partially solubilized water-soluble polymer, comprising the steps of:
- a) at least partially oxidizing an at least partially solubilized water soluble polymer contained in an aqueous environment in order to provide at least one organic acid;
- and
- b) at least partially depleting the at least one organic acid;
- wherein the step of at least partially depleting the at least one organic acid comprises introducing aerobic, heterotrophic bacteria into the aqueous environment.
A process for the treatment of an aqueous environment containing an at least partially solubilized water-soluble polymer, comprising the steps of:
- a) at least partially oxidizing an at least partially solubilized water soluble polymer contained in an aqueous environment in order to provide at least one organic acid;
- and
- b) at least partially depleting the at least one organic acid;
- wherein the step of at least partially depleting the at least one organic acid comprises the step of introducing the aqueous environment into a fluidized bed of activated carbon.
A process for treating an aqueous solution containing (i) a polymer that is at least partially water-soluble and (ii) radioactive material, said process comprising:
- heating the aqueous solution to a temperature of at least 180° F.;
- introducing at least one oxidizing agent into the aqueous solution;
- and
- maintaining the aqueous solution at a reaction temperature of at least 180° F. for a period of time sufficient to react, degrade or break down at least a portion of the polymer to produce at least one degradation product.
A process for treating an aqueous solution containing (i) a polymer that is at least partially water-soluble and (ii) radioactive material, said process comprising:
- heating the aqueous solution to a temperature of at least 180° F.;
- introducing at least one oxidizing agent into the aqueous solution;
- introducing at least one metallic catalyst into the aqueous solution;
- and
- maintaining the aqueous solution at a reaction temperature of at least 180° F. for a period of time sufficient to react, degrade or break down at least a portion of the polymer to produce at least one degradation product.
A process for treating radioactive material comprising an at least partially water-soluble polymer, said process comprising the steps of:
- placing the radioactive material comprising an at least partially water-soluble polymer into a pressurizable vessel;
- introducing water into the pressurizable vessel to form an aqueous environment;
- heating the aqueous environment to a temperature of at least 180° F.;
- injecting hydrogen peroxide into the pressurizable vessel prior to or during the heating step;
- and
- maintaining the aqueous environment at a reaction temperature of from about 212° F. to about 250° F. and a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure for a period of time sufficient to react, degrade or break down at least a portion of the polymer to produce at least one degradation product.
A process for treating radioactive material comprising polyvinyl alcohol, said process comprising the steps of:
- placing the radioactive material comprising polyvinyl alcohol into a pressurizable vessel;
- introducing water into the pressurizable vessel to form an aqueous environment;
- heating the aqueous environment to a temperature of at least 180° F.;
- injecting hydrogen peroxide into the pressurizable vessel prior to or during the heating step;
- and
- maintaining the aqueous environment at a reaction temperature of from about 212° F. to about 250° F. and a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure for a period of time sufficient to react, degrade or break down the polyvinyl alcohol to produce at least one degradation product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.