Biodegradable waste remediation method and system

Abstract

Contaminant treatment methods and systems are described. Methods utilize biodegradable, non-toxic materials that can carry one or more functionalities useful for the remediation of fluids such as liquid or gaseous waste streams, chemical spills, etc. The carrier materials carry one or more functional groups that can target particular contaminants of a fluid for removal and/or modification to a more benign form. Targeted contaminants can include components of gaseous and/or liquids such as, and without limitation, gaseous discharges including VOCs and potentially hazardous contaminants such as organophosphorous compounds.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for remediating a fluid comprising contacting a fluid with a biodegradable and non-toxic polymeric carrier material, the fluid comprising a contaminant, the polymeric carrier material comprising a biodegradable polymer and a functional group, the functional group interacting with the contaminant upon the contact to sequester and/or to modify the contaminant. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises a gas, a vapor, a liquid, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contaminant comprises a volatile organic compound, a hazardous material, a pharmaceutical, a component of a personal care product, a perchlorate, or an endocrine-disrupting compound. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the interaction comprises binding the functional group with the contaminant. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the functional group binds about 75% or more of the contaminant contained in the fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functional group oxidizes the contaminant. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is a flowing waste stream. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric carrier material is a component of a particle, a fiber, a sheet, or a film. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable polymer comprises a natural polymer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the biodegradable polymer comprises poly(lactic acid). 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the biodegradable polymer comprises a poly(lactic acid)-polyethylene glycol block copolymer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functional group comprises amino, amine N-oxide, sulfate, oxime, hydroxyl, carboxyl, carbonyl, phosphate, halide, aldehyde, ammonium, cyano, imino, nitro, peroxy, or pyridyl functionality or a combination of functional groups. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functional group is bonded to the biodegradable polymer by a linker. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , the fluid comprising multiple contaminants, wherein the polymeric carrier material interacts with two or more of the multiple contaminants. 
     
     
         15 . A contaminant remediation system comprising:
 a fluid flow path; and   a polymeric carrier material located within the fluid flow path, the polymeric carrier material including a functional group that is reactive with a contaminant.   
     
     
         16 . The contaminant remediation system of  claim 15 , the system comprising a packed bed column, the polymeric carrier material being located within the packed bed column. 
     
     
         17 . The contaminant remediation system of  claim 15 , the system comprising a filter, the filter comprising the polymeric carrier material. 
     
     
         18 . The contaminant remediation system of  claim 15 , the system including fibers or particles, the fibers or particles comprising the polymeric carrier material. 
     
     
         19 . The contaminant remediation system of  claim 15 , wherein the contaminant remediation system is a component of a textile. 
     
     
         20 . The contaminant remediation system of  claim 15 , wherein the contaminant remediation system is a component of an industrial waste processing system.