Process for treatment of aqueous environments containing a water soluble polymer

• US 6,623,643 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2002
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microtek Medical Holdings Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microtek Medical Holdings Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chisholm, Robert D., Beck, Debrah A., Johnston, Jordan M., Steward, John B., Lee, Baosheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Duane
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAWRENCE JR, FRANK M
• Application Number:
  US10/084,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20020185448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 210/620, 210/748, 210/758, 210/759, 210/763, 210/908, 210/192, 588/1, 588/13, 588/227, 204/158.21, 525/61, 528/480
• US Class Current: 210/620
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/02 by heating methods of steam generation F22B; preheating boiler feed-water or accumulating preheated boiler feed-water F22D
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/30 by irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/444 by ultrafiltration or microfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/66 by neutralisation; pH adjustment for degassing C02F1/20; using ion-exchange C02F1/42; for flocculation or precipitation of suspended impurities C02F1/52; for removing dissolved compounds C02F1/58
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/722 Oxidation by peroxides
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/725 by catalytic oxidation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2003/003 using activated carbon or the like
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/006 Radioactive compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/30 Organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/38 Polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/06 pH
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/00 Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage C02F1/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/348 characterised by the way or the form in which the microorganisms are added or dosed
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/00 Multistage treatment of water, waste water or sewage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/908 Organic

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.

Claims

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.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the at least one polymer has an average degree of polymerization “

n,” and

wherein the at least one degradation product comprises at least one polymer or oligomer having an average degree of polymerization less than “

n”

.

3. The process of claim 2, wherein the average degree of polymerization “

n”

is in the range of about 300 to about 10,000.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the at least one degradation product comprises at least one organic acid.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the at least one polymer is a polyvinyl alcohol, polylactic acid, polyurethane resin, ion exchange resin, sodium polyacrylate, poly maleic acid, ammonium polyacrylate, or any combination thereof.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein the at least one polymer is a polyvinyl alcohol.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein the at least one polymer is a polylactic acid.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein the aqueous environment is heated to a reaction temperature ranging from about 180°

F. to about 250°

F.

9. The process of claim 1, further comprising increasing a surface area of the material comprising at least one polymer.

10. The process of claim 1, further comprising forming an emulsion, a dispersion, or a solution comprising the at least one polymer.

11. The process of claim 1, further comprising biodegrading at least a portion of the at least one degradation product.

12. The process of claim 1, wherein the at least one oxidizing agent comprises hydrogen peroxide.

13. The process of claim 12, wherein a ratio of milliliters of hydrogen peroxide to grams of the at least one polymer is at least about 0.5.

14. The process of claim 1, wherein the process comprises reacting the at least one oxidizing agent to produce hydroxyl radicals, molecular oxygen, or a combination thereof.

15. The process of claim 14, further comprising contacting the at least one polymer with hydroxyl radicals, molecular oxygen, or a combination thereof.

16. The process of claim 1, wherein the at least one 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.

17. The process of claim 16, 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.

18. The process of claim 1, further comprising:

separating at least a portion of the radioactive material from the aqueous environment.

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.

20. The process of claim 1, wherein the at least one oxidizing agent comprises ozone.

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.

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:

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.

23. The process of claim 22, wherein the aqueous environment containing at least partially solubilized potentially radioactive material is processed and the filtration of the non-solubilizing material is accomplished by a particulate filter having a nominal pore size of about 10 microns to about 100 microns.

24. The process of claim 23, wherein the aqueous environment is circulated through a second particulate filter having a nominal pore size of from about 0.1 microns to about 1.0 microns and then circulated through an ion exchange bed.

25. The process of claim 22, wherein the neutralizing step comprises the addition of an effective amount of at least one base reagent to provide an aqueous environment having a pH in the range of about 6.0 to about 10.0.

26. The process of claim 22, wherein the neutralizing step comprises the addition of an effective amount of at least one base reagent to provide an aqueous environment having a pH in the range of about 3.0 to about 10.0.

27. The process of claim 22, wherein the neutralizing step comprises the addition of an effective amount of at least one base reagent to provide an aqueous environment having a pH in the range of about 6.0 to about 7.0.

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:

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.

29. The process of claim 28, wherein a confirmation of substantial completion of the oxidation of the polyvinyl alcohol is made by calorimetric assay.

30. The process of claim 28, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol 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.

31. The process of claim 30, 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.

32. The process of claim 28, wherein the aqueous environment is heated in a pressurized system to a reaction temperature ranging from about 212°

F. to about 250°

F.

33. 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.

34. The process of claim 33, wherein the step of neutralizing the pH comprises introducing sodium hydroxide into the aqueous solution.

35. The process of claim 33, wherein the aqueous environment contains radioactive material.

36. The process of claim 33, wherein the water-soluble polymer comprises polyvinyl alcohol.

37. 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.

38. The process of claim 37, wherein the aqueous environment is heated in a pressurized system to a reaction temperature of about 220°

F.

39. 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.

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:

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.

41. The process of claim 40, further comprising:

separating at least a portion of the radioactive material from the aqueous environment.

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

46. The process of claim 45, further comprising:

separating at least a portion of the radioactive material from the aqueous environment.

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.

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.

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.

58. The process of claim 45, wherein the at least one metallic catalyst comprises a Fenton reagent.

50. 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.

51. The process of claim 50, further comprising one or more of the following steps:

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.

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.

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.

54. 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.

55. The process of claim 54, further comprising one or more of the following steps:

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.

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.

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.