Super Absorbent Polymers – 3 Types:

Super Absorbent Polymers (SAP) are used to solidify a wide variety of aqueous waste waters and sludge. The advantage of these water-swelling super absorbent polymers (compared to traditional absorbents such as clay and sawdust) is they absorb many times their weight with a nominal or negligible increase in volume or weight.

When liquid waste is solidified with Slurry Solidify the solidified waste expands in weight and volume by less than 1%. For example, a 55 gallon drum of slurry that is solidified with Slurry Solidify will expand (in weight and volume) by less than 1%. In other words, what you get what you saw – you’ll be handling the same weight and volume. Likewise, transportation and landfill cost (to transport and dispose of the solidified waste) will not doubled and even tripled compared to the solidification process (swelling) of any other type of absorbent.

Formulated SAP

All super absorbent polymers are not the same. Liquid waste streams vary in chemical composition, salinity, temperature, ph, etc. To rapidly solidify liquids (while minimizing volume and weight), specific SAP formulations should be matched to the corresponding liquid waste.

SAP’s are formulated for specific waste streams. Super absorbent polymer grades vary by mineral, content and crystal size. Compared to suppliers of one SAP to another, we are able to easily match the SAP formulation to specific needs. By doing this, we continually provide higher super absorbent polymers while minimizing cost to our customers.

Slurry Solidify is formulated to handle 3 specific types of liquid waste or slurry.

The 3 Types of Slurry Solidify – Formulas

1. Fresh Water Super Absorbent: Slurry Solidify – Water – A Premium SAP. Recommended to use when the liquid waste contains at least 80% fresh waster, such as Concrete Slurry.Slurry Solidify – Water. No.1 Seller.

   As with any product, there are economical and premium grade products. A premium grade SAP will use considerably less product to solidify a liquid. In contrast, an economical grade SAP will use considerably more to solidify the same volume.

   With the volume of sales, Slurry Solidify – Water is sold at pricing that is comparable to the economy of that of vendors.

   Economic Advantage of Using a Premium Grade SAP: A premium SAP has a larger granular size which is one of the reason why they can absorbent over 500 times vs. an Economic SAP. Additionally, the heavier granular prevents it from being carried away by air when it is being poured into the slurry.

2. Combination – A Catch-All Absorbent: Slurry Solidify – Synergy. A “one-inventory” absorbent to use solidify liquid waste – regardless of the content in the waste stream.Used when the waste stream contains a mixture of fresh water, salt water and oils. A local application here in Pittsburgh, PA is gas drilling; where their drill cuttings have a wide mixture of everything in it: water, salt water, hydraulic fluid, petroleum, etc.

   Additionally, the Synergy product is safe to walk on – it solidifies to an earth friendly grit (i.e. it is not slippery).

3. High Salt Content Absorbent: HSALT – 100% Super Absorbent Polymer. The percentage of salt in any slurry will always be a solidification concern. The above Synergy product will handle a wide mix of ingredients that may be in the slurry. However, when the salt content exceeds 3% (3 pounds per gallon), it will not solidify the liquid waste. As a reference, dissolved salt in seawater is roughly 3.5% of the water’s weight (35 pounds salt per 1000 pounds of water.) On the average, seawater weighs 8.6 lbs (4 ounces of salt).HSALT is a true 100% Super Absorbent Polymer specifically designed to absorb brine waste streams, but it too has its limitation: If the salt content exceeds 7% it will not solidify the brine solution.

Learn more about Super Absorbent Polymers:

Specific Solidification – for your specific type of liquid waste. Super Absorbent Polymers (SAP) solidify liquid waste streams, dredge sediments, biosolids [ treated sewage sludge (organics) that is EPA approved for fertilizer or land disposal ], and sludges associated with remediation projects, landfill closures, petrochemical spills, and other environmental cleanup projects. SAPs reduce waste transportation and disposal costs from these operations by solidifying liquid waste while minimizing an increase in weight and volume.

Super absorbent polymers have numerous advantages over commonly used absorbents like kiln dust, Portland cement or sawdust. Advantages include:

• Chemically bonds to the liquid
• Is not biodegrade
• Does it release its absorbed molecules
• Minimize waste volume ? typical expansion is less than 1%
• Mixes quickly to improve production efficiency
• Pass the EPA Test Method 9095 paint filter test. After solidification, many waste streams pass EPA Test Method 1311 for RCRA metals.
• Solidified liquid waste is approved for landfill use.

ICS offers multiple grades of super absorbent polymers to provide the ideal balance of cost and performance.

What is a Super Absorbent Polymer? Super absorbent polymer crystals are liquid absorbing crystals or slush powder, they have numerous practical applications. Diaper manufacturers use super absorbent polymers as the solidification medium in the products. Hospitals utilize them to solidify and dispose of bio-hazardous waste in suction canisters. Energy companies utilize them to solidify the liquid waste byproducts of oil and gas drilling, and mining. Wherever industry has a need to solidify a liquid waste stream ? whether for manufacturing, maintenance or environmental cleanup ? you will find super absorbent polymers at work.

The unique characteristics of a Super Absorbent Polymers, besides their ability to absorb the highest volume of water or organic fluids, is their ability to resist biodegradation and retain their absorbed liquid under pressure; all of which makes a super absorbent polymer ideal for waste disposal in landfills.

Super Absorbent Polymers Compared to Other Solidification Media. Compared to common sorbents, super absorbent polymers reduce waste transportation and disposal costs and they allow a wide range of solidified liquid waste streams to be disposed of in landfills. For some applications, super absorbent polymers can be mixed with organic sorbents, like sawdust, to create a hybrid liquid waste solidification media.

How Are Super Absorbent Polymers Used? Super absorbent polymers require no special preparation for use. For most effective and efficient use in solidifying bulk waste streams, follow these instructions:

• Perform a quick treat ability assessment to determine the optimum dose rate.
• Apply the required quantity from a super sack or 50 pound bag.
• Add the SAP to the waste stream and mechanically mix with a shovel, backhoe or trackhoe.

Super Absorbent Polymer Safety. Super absorbent polymer crystals are non-toxic and non-hazardous (when mixed with fresh clean water you can eat it). Independent tests confirm that super absorbent polymers are safe to use.