Method for gelation of a waste water stream

Abstract

A method for gelation of a waste water stream comprising the steps of: Introducing water soluble, crosslinkable polysaccharide into a waste water stream to form a treated stream having an initial liquid content; and drying the treated stream to remove at least 50% by weight of the initial liquid content in the treated stream. The treated waste stream may be solidified to pass the paint filter test.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for gelation of a leachate waste water stream comprising the steps of:
 introducing water soluble, crosslinkable polysaccharide into a waste water stream to form a treated stream having an initial liquid content;   introducing a source of borate ions into the treated stream for crosslinking the polysaccharide; and   drying the treated stream.   
     
     
         2 . The method for gelation of a waste water stream according to  claim 1  wherein the step of drying the treated stream is by an accelerated drying process to remove at least 50% by weight of the initial liquid content in the treated stream, wherein the accelerated drying process includes contacting the treated stream with a heated medium and wherein the accelerated drying process is selected from one of i) adding the treated stream to a heated oil bath for a direct heat transfer, ii) conveying the treated stream on a conveyor over which dry heated air is forced, iii) conveying the treated stream into a tumble dryer, which includes introducing dry, heated air into the tumble dryer, iv) conveying the treated stream through progressive heated compression belts, and v) paddle drying with heated paddles. 
     
     
         3 . The method for gelation of a leachate waste water stream according to  claim 2  wherein the leachate is a ground leachate. 
     
     
         4 . The method for gelation of a leachate waste water stream according to  claim 3  wherein the ground leachate is a landfill leachate. 
     
     
         5 . The method for gelation of a leachate waste water stream according to  claim 4 , wherein the polysaccharide is added into the waste water stream in amounts between about 0.1% and about 10% of the polysaccharide to the weight of the treated stream. 
     
     
         6 . The method for gelation of a leachate waste water stream according to  claim 4 , wherein the polysaccharide is added into the waste water stream in amounts between about 1% and about 3% of the polysaccharide to the weight of the treated stream. 
     
     
         7 . The method for gelation of a leachate waste water stream according to  claim 4  wherein the drying is an accelerated drying process using heated air as the heating medium. 
     
     
         8 . The method for gelation of a leachate waste water stream according to  claim 4  wherein the water soluble, crosslinkable polysaccharide is one of galactomannan, carrageenan, xanthan gum and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method for gelation of a leachate waste water stream according to  claim 5  wherein the water soluble, crosslinkable polysaccharide includes galactomannan. 
     
     
         10 . The method for gelation of a leachate waste water stream according to  claim 6  wherein the water soluble, crosslinkable polysaccharide is guaran. 
     
     
         11 . The method for gelation of a leachate waste water stream according to  claim 10  wherein the water soluble, crosslinkable polysaccharide is formed as a suspension in a carrier liquid. 
     
     
         12 . The method for gelation of a leachate waste water stream according to  claim 11  wherein the carrier liquid is a hydrocarbon oil. 
     
     
         13 . The method for gelation of a waste water stream according to  claim 4  wherein the drying is an accelerated drying process using progressive heated compression belts, heated paddles, or microwave energy as the heating medium to heat the treated stream. 
     
     
         14 . A method for gelation of a landfill leachate waste water stream comprising the steps of:
 introducing water soluble, crosslinkable polysaccharide into a landfill leachate waste water stream to form a treated stream having an initial liquid content wherein the polysaccharide is added into the waste water stream in amounts between about 0.1% and about 10% of the polysaccharide to the weight of the treated stream;   introducing a source of borate ions into the treated stream for crosslinking the polysaccharide; and   drying the treated stream to remove at least 50% by weight of the initial liquid content in the treated stream.   
     
     
         15 . The method for gelation of a landfill leachate waste water stream according to  claim 14 , wherein the drying is an accelerated drying process selected from one of i) adding the treated stream to a heated oil bath for a direct heat transfer, ii) conveying the treated stream on a conveyor over which dry heated air is forced, iii) conveying the treated stream into a tumble dryer, which includes introducing dry, heated air into the tumble dryer, and iv) conveying the treated stream through progressive heated compression belts, v) paddle drying with heated paddles. 
     
     
         16 . A method of treating a landfill leachate waste water stream comprising the steps of:
 introducing water soluble, crosslinkable polysaccharide into a waste water stream to form a treated stream having an initial liquid content, wherein the waste water stream is a landfill leachate;   introducing a source of borate ions into the treated stream for crosslinking the polysaccharide; and   drying the treated stream by an accelerated drying process to remove some of the initial liquid content in the treated stream, wherein the accelerated drying process includes contacting the treated stream with a heated medium.   
     
     
         17 . The method of treating a landfill leachate waste water stream according to  claim 16  wherein the step of drying the treated stream is selected from one of i) adding the treated stream to a heated oil bath for a direct heat transfer, ii) conveying the treated stream on a conveyor over which dry heated air is forced, iii) conveying the treated stream into a tumble dryer, which includes introducing dry, heated air into the tumble dryer, iv) conveying the treated stream through progressive heated compression belts, v) paddle drying with heated paddles, and vi) microwave drying in which microwave energy is added to heat the treated stream. 
     
     
         18 . The method of treating a landfill leachate waste water stream according to  claim 17  wherein the water soluble, crosslinkable polysaccharide is one of galactomannan, carrageenan, xanthan gum and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of treating a landfill leachate waste water stream according to  claim 16  wherein the water soluble, crosslinkable polysaccharide is formed as a suspension in a carrier liquid, wherein the carrier liquid is mineral oil and further including the source of borate ions within the carrier liquid. 
     
     
         20 . The method of treating a landfill leachate waste water stream according to  claim 16  wherein the step of drying the treated stream is using heated oil or heated air as the heating medium.