Wastewater containment and treatment methods and apparatus

Abstract

Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are used for the containment and treatment of wastewaters. SAPs are mixed with a wastewater in amounts sufficient to absorb substantially all of the wastewater and prevent it from leaving a defined containment area. The water can then be evaporated from the SAP to produce a substantially dry polymer composition containing the SAP and the wastewater contaminants. The dry polymer composition is discarded or, when appropriate, used as a fertilizer for plants. Surprisingly, the SAP reduces the odor associated with ammonia containing wastewaters by binding to the ammonia and reducing the ammonia gas present in the airspace around the wastewater. The evaporation process may be conducted in the presence of a heat exchanger to produce cool, fresh air that is used to cool facilities, particularly animal rearing and production facilities.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for generating cool air, comprising: 
 contacting a wastewater with a superabsorbent polymer;    allowing the superabsorbent polymer and the wastewater to interact until substantially all of the wastewater is absorbed by the superabsorbent polymer; and    evaporating the water from the superabsorbent polymer.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the evaporating step is performed in the presence of a heat exchanger.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the superabsorbent polymer is an organic cross-linked acrylamide/acrylic acid copolymer.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the superabsorbent polymer is added to the wastewater in an amount of from about 2 grams to about 200 grams per liter of wastewater.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein evaporating the water is facilitated by the use of a fan.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for treating wastewater comprising: 
 a floor;    two side walls connected to the floor;    a top connected to the walls, the top having perforations;    a superabsorbent polymer positioned above the top, the polymer having absorbed wastewater;    an air moving device for moving air through the perforations and across the polymer such that water from the wastewater undergoes an evaporation process.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the evaporation process has a cooling effect.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising a first air passageway for routing the air through the top.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising a second air passageway for collecting cooled air.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a plenum for distributing cooled air.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the wastewater is produced by an animal rearing facility.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  contiguous with the animal rearing facility.  
     
     
         13 . A method for generating cool air utilizing superabsorbent polymers, comprising: 
 providing a perforated top;    placing a superabsorbent polymer that has absorbed water in a space above the top device; and    forcing air through the top across the polymer such that the absorbed water is evaporated.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising collecting cool air from a passageway adjacent the top.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the superabsorbent polymer is an organic cross-linked acrylamide/acrylic acid copolymer.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the water is a wastewater.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the wastewater is a wastewater from an animal rearing facility.