Wastewater containment and treatment methods and apparatus

摘要

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.