Waste solution treatment method and apparatus therefor

Claim 1

A waste liquid treatment apparatus for treating waste solutions resulting from photographic processing comprising: evaporation means including a continuous enclosure means having an interior portion sealed by said enclosure means from communication with the ambient, and heating means for heating the waste solution to its evaporation point to form waste vapor; a waste solution reservoir disposed in said interior portion of said enclosure means, for containing waste solution; means for maintaining the waste solution in the reservoir at a constant level; means for supplying said waste solution reservoir with waste solution; the waste solution reservoir being located in said interior and sealed from the ambient to contain any offensive odors and toxic gases generated thereby; condenser means for condensing the waste vapor to form waste condensate, said condenser means including a drain tank for collecting waste condensate, said drain tank having an interior portion, vent means in communication with said drain tank for exhausting a non-condensable gas component of said waste vapor from the interior portion of said drain tank, said vent means including gas treatment means for treating the non-condensable gas component, the gas treatment means including means for regulating the pressure of the interior portion of the enclosure means to establish a pressure differential between the pressure of the interior portion of the enclosure means and ambient pressure; communication means for placing said condenser means in communication with said interior portion of said enclosure means; and an air vent line for placing said vent means in communication with said gas treatment means, said air vent line having a branch line extending from a branch point between said drain tank and said gas treatment means, said branch line being connected to said enclosure means to place said drain tank in communication with said enclosure means.