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.

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: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         and acrylic acid having the structure: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         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: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and acrylic acid having the structure: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         6 . The powder dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the ratio of acrylamide to acrylic acid is between 1:10 to 10:1.