Process for treatment of aqueous environments containing a water soluble polymer
First Claim
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1. 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.
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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.
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Citations
58 Claims
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1. A process for treating a material comprising at least one polymer, comprising the steps:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
separating at least a portion of the radioactive material from the aqueous environment.
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19. The process of claim 1, wherein the at least one oxidizing agent comprises H2O2, Fe+3, Cu+2, Ag+, O2, Cl2, ClO−
- , HNO3, KMnO4, K2CrO4, K2Cr2O7, Ce(SO4)2, K2S2O8, KIO3, ozone, or a combination thereof.
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20. The process of claim 1, wherein the at least one oxidizing agent comprises ozone.
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21. The process of claim 8, wherein the aqueous environment is heated in a pressurized system to a reaction temperature ranging from about 212°
- F. to about 250°
F.
- F. to about 250°
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22. 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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. 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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A process for the treatment of an aqueous environment containing an at least partially solubilized water-soluble polymer, comprising the steps of:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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37. A process for the treatment of an aqueous environment containing an at least partially solubilized water-soluble polymer, comprising the steps of:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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39. A process for the treatment of an aqueous environment containing an at least partially solubilized water-soluble polymer, comprising the steps of:
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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.
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40. 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:
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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.- View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44)
separating at least a portion of the radioactive material from the aqueous environment.
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42. The process of claim 40, wherein the aqueous environment is heated in a pressurized system to a temperature ranging from about about 212°
- F. to about 250°
F.
- F. to about 250°
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43. The process of claim 40, wherein the polymer comes from one or more articles manufactured from fibers, non-woven fabrics, woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, plastics, films, resins, molded articles, or a combination thereof.
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44. The process of claim 43, wherein the one or more articles comprise a garment, protective clothing, apparel, a linen, a drape, a towel, a composite fabric, a film, a composite film, a laminate fabric, a laminated film, a sponge, a web, a plastic bag, a gauze, a pad, a wipe, a boom, a pillow, a filament, powder, granules, a bandage, or a combination thereof.
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45. 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:
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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.- View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 58)
separating at least a portion of the radioactive material from the aqueous environment.
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47. The process of claim 45, wherein the aqueous environment is heated in a pressurized system to a temperature ranging from about about 212°
- F. to about 250°
F.
- F. to about 250°
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48. The process of claim 45, wherein the polymer comes from one or more articles manufactured from fibers, non-woven fabrics, woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, plastics, films, resins, molded articles, or a combination thereof.
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49. The process of claim 48, wherein the one or more articles comprise a garment, protective clothing, apparel, a linen, a drape, a towel, a composite fabric, a film, a composite film, a laminate fabric, a laminated film, a sponge, a web, a plastic bag, a gauze, a pad, a wipe, a broom, a pillow, a filament, powder, granules, a bandage, or a combination thereof.
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58. The process of claim 45, wherein the at least one metallic catalyst comprises a Fenton reagent.
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50. A process for treating radioactive material comprising an at least partially water-soluble polymer, said process comprising the steps of:
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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.- View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53)
introducing a metallic catalyst into the pressurizable vessel prior to or during the heating step;
recirculating the aqueous environment prior to or during the heating step;
straining the aqueous environment during the recirculating step;
filtering at least a portion of non-solubilizing material from the aqueous environment;
measuring the concentration of the polymer in the aqueous environment;
filtering the aqueous environment to remove at least a portion of the radioactive material;
circulating the aqueous environment through a heat exchanger to cool the aqueous environment to a second temperature;
discharging the aqueous environment from the pressurizable vessel;
neutralizing the pH of the aqueous environment; and
biodegrading at least a portion of the at least one degradation product in the aqueous environment.
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52. The process of claim 50, wherein the polymer comes from one or more articles manufactured from fibers, non-woven fabrics, woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, plastics, films, resins, molded articles, or a combination thereof.
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53. The process of claim 52, wherein the one or more articles comprise a gannent, protective clothing, apparel, a linen, a drape, a towel, a composite fabric, a film, a composite film, a laminate fabric, a laminated film, a sponge, a web, a plastic bag, a gauze, a pad, a wipe, a broom, a pillow, a filament, powder, granules, a bandage, or a combination thereof.
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54. A process for treating radioactive material comprising polyvinyl alcohol, said process comprising the steps of:
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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.- View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57)
introducing a metallic catalyst into the pressurizable vessel prior to or during the heating step;
recirculating the aqueous environment prior to or during the heating step;
straining the aqueous environment during the recirculating step;
filtering at least a portion of non-solubilizing material from the aqueous environment;
measuring the concentration of the polymer in the aqueous environment;
filtering the aqueous environment to remove at least a portion of the radioactive material;
circulating the aqueous environment through a heat exchanger to cool the aqueous environment to a second temperature;
discharging the aqueous environment from the pressurizable vessel;
neutralizing the pH of the aqueous environment; and
biodegrading at least a portion of the at least one degradation product in the aqueous environment.
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56. The process of claim 54, wherein the polymer comes from one or more articles manufactured from fibers, non-woven fabrics, woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, plastics, films, resins, molded articles, or a combination thereof.
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57. The process of claim 56, wherein the one or more articles comprise a garment, protective clothing, apparel, a linen, a drape, a towel, a composite fabric, a film, a composite film, a laminate fabric, a laminated film, a sponge, a web, a plastic bag, a gauze, a pad, a wipe, a broom, a pillow, a filament, powder, granules, a bandage, or a combination thereof.
Specification