U.S. patent application number 12/705819 was filed with the patent office on 2011-02-24 for apparatus, composition, and method to remediate an acid and/or liquid spill.
Invention is credited to RUSSELL L. BRANDT, DENNIS WEINHOLD.
Application Number | 20110046431 12/705819 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40221989 |
Filed Date | 2011-02-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110046431 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BRANDT; RUSSELL L. ; et
al. |
February 24, 2011 |
APPARATUS, COMPOSITION, AND METHOD TO REMEDIATE AN ACID AND/OR
LIQUID SPILL
Abstract
A method and apparatus to remediate a release of caustic
materials or acidic materials by supplying a poly(acrylic
acid-co-acrylamide) and disposing that poly(acrylic
acid-co-acrylamide) onto a liquid spill comprising caustic
materials or acidic materials.
Inventors: |
BRANDT; RUSSELL L.;
(Gilbert, AZ) ; WEINHOLD; DENNIS; (PHOENIX,
AZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DALE F. REGELMAN
QUARLES & BRADY, LLP, ONE SOUTH CHURCH AVENUE AVE, STE. 1700
TUCSON
AZ
85701-1621
US
|
Family ID: |
40221989 |
Appl. No.: |
12/705819 |
Filed: |
February 15, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11999452 |
Dec 4, 2007 |
7662081 |
|
|
12705819 |
|
|
|
|
60868495 |
Dec 4, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
588/318 ;
222/630 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C09K 3/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
588/318 ;
222/630 |
International
Class: |
A62D 3/36 20070101
A62D003/36; B05B 7/00 20060101 B05B007/00 |
Claims
1. A method to remediate the release of caustic materials or acidic
materials, comprising the steps of: supplying a powder dispenser
comprising a reservoir, a poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide) disposed
in said reservoir, a source of one or more pressurized propellant
gases in communication with said reservoir, an actuator mechanism
interconnected with said source of pressurized propellant gas, and
a discharge nozzle in communication with said reservoir; directing
said discharge nozzle toward a liquid spill comprising caustic
materials or acidic materials; activating said actuator mechanism;
releasing said one or more pressurized propellant gases into said
reservoir; dispensing said poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide)
outwardly from said discharge nozzle, and onto said liquid
spill.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said poly(acrylic
acid-co-acrylamide) is formed by the co-polymerization of
acrylamide having the structure: ##STR00011## and acrylic acid
having the structure: ##STR00012##
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the ratio of acrylamide to
acrylic acid is between 1:10 to 10:1.
4. A powder dispenser, comprising: a poly(acrylic
acid-co-acrylamide); a reservoir containing said poly(acrylic
acid-co-acrylamide); a source of one or more pressurized propellant
gases in communication with said reservoir; an actuator mechanism
interconnected with said source of pressurized propellant gas; and
a discharge nozzle in communication with said reservoir.
5. The powder dispenser of claim 4, wherein said poly(acrylic
acid-co-acrylamide) is formed by the co-polymerization of
acrylamide having the structure: ##STR00013## and acrylic acid
having the structure: ##STR00014##
6. The powder dispenser of claim 5, wherein the ratio of acrylamide
to acrylic acid is between 1:10 to 10:1.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This Application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/999,452, filed Dec. 4, 2007, now U.S. Pat.
No. 7,662,081, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/868,495, filed on Dec. 4, 2006, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to an apparatus and method to
remediate a liquid spill. In certain embodiments, the invention
relates to an apparatus and method to remediate an acid spill. In
certain embodiments, the invention relates to an apparatus and
method to remediate a caustic spill.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The release of large amounts of a liquid acid creates an
emergent situation. The released acid may be highly corrosive. In
addition, that release acid may off-gas one or more toxic gases. An
initial response to a release of a large quantity of a liquid acid
includes steps to neutralize the acid to form a less corrosive
material. Subsequent remediation steps include containerizing the
neutralized reaction mixture.
[0004] Neutralizing a large amount of acid, such as for example
sulfuric acid, with a large amount of a caustic, such as for
example potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, and the like,
produces a highly exothermic reaction which liberates a tremendous
quantity of heat. Such an instantaneous release of thermal energy
may result in vaporization of portions of the spilled acid, part or
all of the added caustic, and/or liberate one or more toxic gases
such as for example various oxides of sulfur. Such a response to a
release of sulfuric acid may in fact create a more hazardous
situation than the original release. Similarly, neutralizing a
large amount of sulfuric acid with an organic amine can similarly
liberate thermal energy resulting in the vaporization of toxic
organic compounds as well as various sulfur oxides.
[0005] What is needed is a method to respond to a release of one or
more liquid acids, wherein that response neutralizes the spilled
acid, and wherein that response also containerizes the neutralized
reaction products to facilitate removal of those reaction products
from the environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A method and apparatus to remediate the release of caustic
or acidic materials is presented. The method supplies a powder
dispenser comprising a reservoir, a poly(acrylic
acid-co-acrylamide) disposed in the reservoir, a source of one or
more pressurized propellant gases in communication with the
reservoir, an actuator mechanism interconnected with the source of
pressurized propellant gas, and a discharge nozzle in communication
with the reservoir. The method further directs the discharge nozzle
toward a liquid spill comprising caustic or acidic materials,
activates the actuator mechanism, releases the one or more
pressurized propellant gases into the reservoir, and dispenses the
poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide) outwardly from the discharge
nozzle and onto the liquid spill.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The invention will be better understood from reading the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
drawings in which like reference designators are used to designate
like elements, and in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 shows Applicants' first powder dispenser used to
dispense Applicants' powdered liquid spill remediation formulation
onto a spill; and
[0009] FIG. 2 shows Applicants' second first powder dispenser used
to dispense Applicants' powdered liquid spill remediation
formulation onto a spill.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0010] This invention is described in preferred embodiments in the
following description with reference to the Figures, in which like
numbers represent the same or similar elements. Reference
throughout this specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment,"
or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or
characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is
included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,
appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment," "in an embodiment,"
and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not
necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
[0011] The described features, structures, or characteristics of
the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more
embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific
details are recited to provide a thorough understanding of
embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will
recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one
or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components,
materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures,
materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to
avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.
[0012] Applicants' invention is described herein in embodiments
directed to the remediation of a release of sulfuric acid. This
description of Applicants' invention should not, however, be
interpreted to mean that the invention is limited to the
remediation of sulfuric acid spills. Rather, Applicants' invention
can be used to respond to the release of one or more acid
materials, one or more basic materials, and/or one or more liquids
in general.
[0013] Applicants' invention comprises an apparatus and a method
using that apparatus to remediate the release of one or more acidic
materials. By "release," Applicants incorporate the definition of
"release" used in the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act ("CERCLA") sometimes referred to
the Superfund Act. See, 42 U.S.C. .sctn.9601 et seq. More
specifically, for purposes of this Application "release" means any
spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying,
discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing
into the environment (including the abandonment or discarding of
barrels, containers, and other closed receptacles).
[0014] As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the release of
large amounts of a liquid acid creates an emergent situation. The
released acid may be highly corrosive. In addition, that release
acid may off-gas one or more toxic gases. As those skilled in the
art will further appreciate, the initial response to a release of a
large quantity of a liquid acid includes steps to neutralize the
acid to form a less corrosive material. Subsequent remediation
steps include containerizing the neutralized reaction mixture.
[0015] As those skilled in the art will further appreciate,
neutralizing a large amount of sulfuric acid with a large amount of
a base, such as for example potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide,
and the like, produces a highly exothermic reaction which liberates
a tremendous quantity of heat. Such an instantaneous release of
thermal energy may result in vaporization of portions of the
spilled acid, and liberate one or more toxic gases such as for
example various oxides of sulfur. Such a response to a release of
sulfuric acid may in fact create a more hazardous situation than
the original release. Similarly, neutralizing a large amount of
sulfuric acid with an organic amine can similarly liberate thermal
energy resulting in the vaporization of toxic organic compounds as
well as various sulfur oxides.
[0016] What is needed is a method to respond to a release of one or
more liquid acids, wherein that response neutralizes the spilled
acid, and wherein that response also containerizes the neutralized
reaction products to facilitate removal of those reaction products
from the environment. Applicants' apparatus and method provides
such a system.
[0017] In certain embodiments, Applicants' method comprises
distributing a powder composition comprising polyacrylamide ("PAA")
I onto an acid spill. In certain embodiments, the weight average
molecular weight of the PAA used in Applicants' acid spill
remediation formulation is between about 10,000 Daltons and about
10,000,000 Daltons.
##STR00001##
PAA I is formed by the polymerization of acrylamide II.
##STR00002##
[0018] Compared to amines, amides are very weak bases. While the
conjugate acid of an amine has a pKa of about 9.5, the conjugate
acid of an amide has a pKa around -0.5. Each molecule of PAA
comprises hundreds to thousands of pendent amide groups. This being
the case, application of Applicants' powdered acid spill
remediation formulation to a release of sulfuric acid provides
thousands to millions of weakly basic amide groups to neutralize
the released acid in a controlled way that does not result in an
instantaneous liberate of large quantities of thermal energy. As
shown below, PAA I, wherein n is between about 100 and about
1,000,000, controllably reacts with Sulfuric Acid to produce salt
IA, wherein m is between about 100 and about 1,000,000, thereby
neutralizing the Sulfuric Acid.
##STR00003##
[0019] In certain embodiments, Applicants' acid spill remediation
formulation comprises one or more cross-linked acrylamide
materials. For example and without limitation, in certain
embodiments Applicants' acid spill remediation formulation
comprises a cross-linked polyacrylamide VIII formed from the
copolymerization of acrylamide II and N,N'-methylene bisacrylamide
III. In certain embodiments, the mole ratio of acrylamide II to
bisacrylamide III is between about 1:10 to about 1:1000.
##STR00004##
wherein n is between about 100 and about 1,000,000.
[0020] Applicants have found that cross-linked polyacrylamide
resins VIII formed from acrylamide II and bisacrylamiode III are
highly water-absorbent, and form gels when dispersed onto a
quantity of sulfuric acid. As those skilled in the art will
appreciate, a gel comprises a colloidal system wherein a porous
network of interconnected nanoparticles spans the volume of a
liquid medium.
[0021] Distribution of PAA I, and/or a cross-linked PAA formed by
copolymerizing acrylamide II and bisacrylamide III, onto a quantity
of sulfuric acid neutralizes that acid with a diminimus liberation
heat to form an intact gel material that can be easily handled
using, for example and without limitation, a shovel, a broom, and
the like.
[0022] The following example is presented to further illustrate to
persons skilled in the art how to make and use the invention. This
example is not intended as a limitation, however, upon the scope of
the invention.
Example I
[0023] About 8 grams of a powder comprising a cross-linked
polyacrylamide material sold in commerce by Petroleum Environmental
Technology, Inc. under the tradename Enviro-Bond 300 was disposed
onto about 20 grams of 96.2% sulfuric acid at (63.degree. F.) room
temperature. The temperature rose to a maximum of about 140.degree.
F. as the sulfuric acid reacted with, and was neutralized by, the
polyacrylamide. After about 55 seconds, an intact gel was formed,
wherein that gel could be manipulated in tact, and could be handled
using a spatula, spoon, tongs, and the like, and wherein there was
no residual liquid material of any kind. That gel was then
packaged, i.e. containerized, for proper waste disposal.
[0024] In certain embodiments, Applicants' invention further
comprises a more general liquid release remediation formulation
comprising a copolymer VII comprising both acrylamide repeat units
V and acrylic acid repeat units VI, wherein n is between about 100
to about 1,000,000, and wherein p is about 100 to about 1,000,000,
and wherein the ratio of n to p is between about 1:10 to about
10:1.
##STR00005##
As those skilled in the art will appreciate, co-polymer VII is
formed by the co-polymerization of acrylamide and acrylic acid
IX.
##STR00006##
In certain embodiments, the co-polymer VII comprises blocks of
polyacrylamide and blocks of polyacrylic acid. In other
embodiments, co-polymer VIII comprises a random arrangement of
pendant amide containing units and pendant acid containing
units.
[0025] In certain embodiments, Applicants' liquid release
remediation formulation comprises a cross-linked ter-polymer X
comprising repeat units V and VI and also cross-link units formed
from bis-acrylamide III.
##STR00007##
[0026] In these pendant amide/pendant acid co-polymer/ter-polymer
formulations, one or more pendent amide groups may be used to
neutralize acids to form one or more pendant amidonium groups.
##STR00008##
[0027] In addition and as shown below, one or more of the pendent
acid groups of repeat units VI can be used to neutralize bases,
such as in general a base M-OH, wherein M can be for example
potassium, sodium, magnesium, and the like. Thus, co-polymer VII
and/or ter-polymer X can be used to remediate a release, i.e. a
spill, of one or more liquid caustic materials.
##STR00009##
Similarly, if the base comprises an organic amine R--NH.sub.2, then
the repeat units VI will neutralize that amine.
##STR00010##
[0028] Thus, Applicants' liquid release remediation formulation
comprising a cross-linked co-polymer, and/or ter-polymer,
comprising repeat units V and VI may be used to handle any spill of
a liquid material. If the released liquid comprises an acid, then
the repeat units V will neutralize the acid groups. If the released
liquid comprises a base, then the repeat units VI will neutralize
the basic groups. Furthermore, if the liquid comprise an aqueous
material, then that aqueous material will not only be neutralized,
the liquid will form an intact gel that can be easily removed from
the environment.
[0029] In certain embodiments, Applicants' invention further
comprises PAA I, and/or cross-linked PAA IX, and/or co-polymer VII,
and/or cross-linked co-polymer X, (each a "Powdered Liquid Spill
Remediation Formulation") disposed in a delivery device, i.e. a
powder dispenser, comprising a reservoir containing the one or more
polymeric materials, a source of one or more pressurized propellant
gases in communication with the reservoir, an actuator mechanism
interconnected with the source of pressurized propellant gas(es),
and a discharge nozzle in communication with the reservoir. For
example and referring now to FIG. 1, apparatus 100 comprises
reservoir 110, Applicants' Powdered Liquid Spill Remediation
Formulation disposed within reservoir 110, container 120, one or
more pressurized propellant gases 130 releaseably disposed within
container 120, actuator 140, handle 150, and discharge nozzle
160.
[0030] Apparatus 100 can be hand-carried to the site of an acid
release/liquid release. Discharge nozzle 160 is directed toward the
released material(s). Actuator 140 is actuated releasing the one or
more pressurized propellant gases 130 into the reservoir portion.
Propellant gases 130 cause Powdered Liquid Spill Remediation
Formulation to be dispensed outwardly from discharge nozzle 160 and
onto the released acid/liquid.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 2, apparatus 200 comprises a wheeled cart
210 comprising wheels 212 and 214, cart portion 216, handle 218,
and reservoir 240. One or more pressurized propellant gases 225 are
releaseably disposed within cylinder 220. Conduit 235 interconnects
cylinder 220 and reservoir 240. Applicants' Powdered Liquid Spill
Remediation Formulation is disposed within reservoir 240.
[0032] Apparatus 200 can be moved to the site of an acid
release/liquid release. Valve 230 is opened thereby releasing the
one or more pressurized propellant gases 225 into reservoir 240
causing Powdered Liquid Spill Remediation Formulation to be
dispensed outwardly from a discharge nozzle in communication with
reservoir 240 and onto the released acid/liquid.
[0033] While the preferred embodiments of the present invention
have been illustrated in detail, it should be apparent that
modifications and adaptations to those embodiments may occur to one
skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
* * * * *