Layered absorbent substrate incorporating activated carbon and superabsorbent materials
Various examples of waste disposal substrates are disclosed. The waste disposal substrates include (a) at least one layer of fibers, (b) at least one layer containing activated carbon; and (c) at least one layer containing superabsorbent particles. The substrate can absorb liquid radioactive medical waste to facilitate safe disposal of liquid radioactive medical waste. The liquid radioactive medical waste, or a component of the liquid radioactive medical waste, can be collected, dissolved, adsorbed, inactivated, destroyed, and/or disposed of within the waste disposal substrate.
1 . A waste disposal substrate comprising:
(a) at least one layer of fibers,
(b) at least one layer comprising activated carbon; and
(c) at least one layer comprising superabsorbent particles, wherein said waste disposal substrate further comprises liquid radioactive medical waste therein or thereon, wherein the waste disposal substrate comprises (a) two outermost nonwoven layers, (b) two nonwoven layers containing activated carbon adjacent to and between the two outermost nonwoven layers, (c) two layers containing a mixture of activated carbon and superabsorbent particles adjacent to and between the two nonwoven layers containing activated carbon, and (d) two interior nonwoven layers positioned between the two layers containing a mixture of activated carbon and superabsorbent particles.
2 . The waste disposal substrate of claim 1 , wherein the liquid radioactive medical waste is generated by radioisotope research, nuclear medicine, radiation oncology, or positron emission tomography (PET).
3 . The waste disposal substrate of claim 1 , wherein the waste disposal substrate comprises from two to eight nonwoven layers.
4 . The waste disposal substrate of claim 3 , wherein the waste disposal substrate comprises (i) at least one layer containing activated carbon in combination with fibers, and (ii) at least one layer containing activated carbon but no fibers.
5 . The waste disposal substrate of claim 4 , wherein at least one layer of the waste disposal substrate contains a mixture of activated carbon and superabsorbent particles.
6 . The waste disposal substrate of claim 1 , wherein the waste disposal substrate has an overall length ranging from about 3.0 inches (in) to about 48.0 in, an overall width ranging from about 1.0 in to about 48.0 in, and an overall thickness ranging from about 0.10 in to about 1.0 in.
7 . The waste disposal substrate of claim 1 , wherein the liquid radioactive medical waste is generated by radioisotope research.
8 . The waste disposal substrate of claim 1 , wherein the liquid radioactive medical waste is generated by nuclear medicine.
9 . The waste disposal substrate of claim 1 , wherein the liquid radioactive medical waste is generated by radiation oncology.
10 . The waste disposal substrate of claim 1 , wherein the liquid radioactive medical waste is generated by positron emission tomography (PET).
11 . The waste disposal substrate of claim 1 , wherein at least one layer of the waste disposal substrate contains a mixture of activated carbon and superabsorbent particles.
12 . The waste disposal substrate of claim 1 , wherein the waste disposal substrate comprises at least one layer containing activated carbon in combination with fibers.
13 . The waste disposal substrate of claim 1 , wherein the waste disposal substrate comprises at least one layer containing activated carbon but no fibers.
14 . The waste disposal substrate of claim 1 , wherein the waste disposal substrate comprises two outermost nonwoven layers.
15 . The waste disposal substrate of claim 1 , wherein the waste disposal substrate comprises two to eight fiber-containing layers.
16 . The waste disposal substrate of claim 1 , wherein the waste disposal substrate comprises:
two layers containing a mixture of activated carbon and superabsorbent particles; and
two nonwoven layers containing activated carbon, wherein,
the two layers containing a mixture of activated carbon and superabsorbent particles are adjacent to and between the two nonwoven layers containing activated carbon.
17 . The waste disposal substrate of claim 1 , wherein the waste disposal substrate has an overall length ranging from about 3.0 inches (in) to about 48.0 in.
18 . The waste disposal substrate of claim 1 , wherein the waste disposal substrate has an overall thickness ranging from about 0.10 in to about 1.0 in.