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FAQs

What is ZapLoc?
Are ZapLoc and ZapZorb Safe?
Is Super Absorbent Polymer biodegradable?
Is Super Absorbent Polymer compatible to the environment?
What is the significance of fungi attached to the degradation processes of Super Absorbent Polymer?
How do you interpret biodegradation by being prone to naturally occurring degradation mechanisms?
What is the time frame for this degradation process of Super Absorbent Polymer?
What is the distinguishing feature of Super Absorbent Polymer?

Q - What is ZapLoc?
A - ZapLoc is a specifically designed and blended Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP), that has been developed by Zappa Tec and the leading international producer of SAPs, degussa.

Q - Are ZapLoc and ZapZorb Safe?
A - Super Absorbent Polymers have historically been used in hygiene products (feminine and baby care), and in agricultural and food packaging.

Q - Is Super Absorbent Polymer biodegradable?
A - In order to ensure that the desired performance of Super Absorbent Polymer will last for a long time period under use conditions a certain stability is indispensable. This includes the stability against microbial attack.
Indeed, practically no biodegradation was observed in standardized test systems. Similar to the most recalcitrant biological polymer, lignin, Super Absorbent Polymer in general can not be internalized by microorganisms due to the size and insolubility of the polymers. However, basic research has shown that it is prone to naturally occurring degradation mechanisms. Some microorganisms (e.g. fungi) are equipped with a unique nonspecific degradation system which enables them to degrade lignin and a variety of environmental pollutants. Investigations have demonstrated that these microorganisms are capable of degrading Super Absorbent Polymer by solubilization, internalization and subsequent mineralization of the degradation products.
Therefore, there is sufficient and increasing evidence that Super Absorbent Polymer do not constitute a persistent, non-degradable man-made polymer.

Q - Is Super Absorbent Polymer compatible to the environment ?
A - Yes, it is. In-depth ecotoxicological testing has provided no evidence for significant adverse effects of Super Absorbent Polymer to marker organisms in water or soil. Super Absorbent Polymer does not contaminate plants and soils, other living organisms or ground water due to its inert polymeric structure. Basic research has shown that it is prone to naturally occurring degradation mechanisms and that some microorganisms are capable of degrading Super Absorbent Polymer by solubilization , internalization and subsequent mineralization. If degradation takes place the degradation products and water soluble metabolites are not toxic.
Therefore, Super Absorbent Polymer is compatible and safe to the environment and there is sufficient evidence that it does not constitute a persistent man-made polymer.

Q - What is the significance of fungi attached to the degradation processes of Super Absorbent Polymer?
A - Soil fungi exceed other soil organisms including bacteria with respect to the number of species and the total amount of biomass in soil all over the world. Even in arable land complex fungi communities are present which are mainly involved in the degradation of plant remnants containing lignin like straw, wooden tissues of dead plants and roots. Nevertheless, compact wood could only be degraded of specialists, the so-called basidiomycetes. The typical location of basidiomycetes is the woodland in general but also in arable land lignin degrading basidiomycetes are present. Lignin is – like Super Absorbent Polymer – a complex structured polymer, which make them relatively persistent against microbial attack and therefore poorly degradable.

Q - How do you interpret biodegradation by being prone to naturally occurring degradation mechanisms ?
A - Scientific research gives evidence, that Super Absorbent Polymer - like lignin - becomes part of the dead organic matter of soil the so-called humus fraction. One part of the humus is the straw fraction containing easy degradable cell contents and less easy degradable cell wall components like cellulose and lignin. The straw fraction supplies the nutrients for the soil organisms. The other part of the humus are the humic substances comprising altered complex organic substances which are poorly degradable. Like Super Absorbent Polymer humic substances are amorph organic colloids with a great surface. Both are important for the water management in soil and for ion exchange, buffer function and binding of nutrients. Lignin degrading fungi are capable to depolymerize Super Absorbent Polymer causing solubilization. While the low molecular fraction of the soluble polymer chains were internalized and subsequently mineralized the high molecular fraction will be adsorbed by soil particles and fixed in the humus fraction. Therefore, Super Absorbent Polymer like the humic substances will become part of the humus fraction of soil by time without any adverse effects on the nature of the soil.

Q - What is the time frame for this degradation process of Super Absorbent Polymer?
A - At the time being, it is not possible to track the transition of Super Absorbent Polymer from an additive to soil into the humus fraction under naturally occurring conditions by analytical means. The process is assumed basing on theoretical considerations, many years of experience and scientific data from laboratory examinations. While depolymerization of the polymer by fungi occurred within few weeks under optimum conditions, a time period of several years should be calculated under relevant use conditions in the field. The age of different divisions of the humic fraction is about 10 – 100 years for less altered fragments of lignin and about 100 – 1000 years for immobilized humic acids.

Q - What is the distinguishing feature of Super Absorbent Polymer?
A - According to the principles of environmental hygiene it is demanded not only to keep the environment free of harmful contaminants but also to minimize the introduction of useless and avoidable ones. With the development of Super Absorbent Polymer it has been possible to fulfill this minimum requirement in particular for the field of food production. In particular this is relevant for the monomeric acrylamide due to its toxicological properties. The contents of technical unavoidable residuals of monomeric acrylic acid and acrylamide are reduced to an extent were due to toxicological reasons no restrictions for food production exists. As both monomers are characterized by high mobility and rapid biological degradation harmful effects on soil are not expected.

ZapZorb Industrial Waste FAQs

Q - What types of waste streams does ZapZorb solidify best?
A - ZapZorb works well with almost all waste streams that have an aqueous component.

Q - Can ZapZorb solidify petroleum sludges?
A - Petroleum and water sludges respond very well to ZapZorb. Very high concentrations of petroleum may slightly impact performance and require additional reagent.

Q - What common constituents adversely impact ZapZorb's performance?
A - High pH and/or sodium levels may reduce ZapZorb's overall effectiveness.

Q - Does ZapZorb have a "Swell Factor"?
A - ZapZorb's "Swell Factor" is less than 1% of total volume by weight.

Q - What is a typical admix ratio?
A - Sludges and dredge sediments have an admix ratio of 1% to 4%.

Q - Is ZapZorb-solidified waste accepted at Subtitle D landfills?
A - Yes. Proper use of ZapZorb ensures that solidified waste passes paint filter tests.

Q - What industries will benefit the most from using ZapZorb for their liquid waste solidification?
A - Industrial Service Contractors, Landfills, Hazardous and Non-hazardous Treatment Facilities, Remediation Contractors, Low-level Radioactive Waste Contractors.