AU764369B2 - A method for remediating a medium - Google Patents
A method for remediating a medium Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- AU764369B2 AU764369B2 AU46899/99A AU4689999A AU764369B2 AU 764369 B2 AU764369 B2 AU 764369B2 AU 46899/99 A AU46899/99 A AU 46899/99A AU 4689999 A AU4689999 A AU 4689999A AU 764369 B2 AU764369 B2 AU 764369B2
- Authority
- AU
- Australia
- Prior art keywords
- medium
- gas
- compressed gas
- remediating
- soil
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Ceased
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 66
- 239000000356 contaminant Substances 0.000 claims description 65
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 claims description 48
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 claims description 29
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 26
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 22
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims description 15
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000010802 sludge Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000000975 bioactive effect Effects 0.000 claims description 9
- 102000004190 Enzymes Human genes 0.000 claims description 8
- 108090000790 Enzymes Proteins 0.000 claims description 8
- 241000233866 Fungi Species 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000005909 Kieselgur Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 241001148470 aerobic bacillus Species 0.000 claims description 7
- TZCXTZWJZNENPQ-UHFFFAOYSA-L barium sulfate Chemical compound [Ba+2].[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O TZCXTZWJZNENPQ-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 claims description 7
- 229910052601 baryte Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000010428 baryte Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000000440 bentonite Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 229910000278 bentonite Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 7
- SVPXDRXYRYOSEX-UHFFFAOYSA-N bentoquatam Chemical compound O.O=[Si]=O.O=[Al]O[Al]=O SVPXDRXYRYOSEX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000001913 cellulose Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 229920002678 cellulose Polymers 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000002361 compost Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 229910000286 fullers earth Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000003864 humus Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000003415 peat Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 241001148471 unidentified anaerobic bacterium Species 0.000 claims description 7
- MYMOFIZGZYHOMD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Dioxygen Chemical compound O=O MYMOFIZGZYHOMD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000003337 fertilizer Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000000575 pesticide Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 229910001882 dioxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000002689 soil Substances 0.000 description 68
- 238000005067 remediation Methods 0.000 description 22
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 13
- 238000011065 in-situ storage Methods 0.000 description 13
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 12
- 238000011282 treatment Methods 0.000 description 11
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 10
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 8
- 238000011066 ex-situ storage Methods 0.000 description 8
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 8
- 238000004017 vitrification Methods 0.000 description 8
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 7
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 6
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 6
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 6
- 238000006065 biodegradation reaction Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000005370 electroosmosis Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000011010 flushing procedure Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000007711 solidification Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000008023 solidification Effects 0.000 description 5
- 230000006641 stabilisation Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000011105 stabilization Methods 0.000 description 5
- 241000894006 Bacteria Species 0.000 description 4
- 235000015097 nutrients Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 4
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000004927 clay Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000006378 damage Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000003673 groundwater Substances 0.000 description 3
- 244000005700 microbiome Species 0.000 description 3
- 239000003921 oil Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000003209 petroleum derivative Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000011027 product recovery Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000013022 venting Methods 0.000 description 3
- 241000282412 Homo Species 0.000 description 2
- 239000000370 acceptor Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 2
- 150000001768 cations Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 238000001311 chemical methods and process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000003153 chemical reaction reagent Substances 0.000 description 2
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 238000003912 environmental pollution Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000010439 graphite Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910002804 graphite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane Chemical compound C VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000010813 municipal solid waste Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000003973 paint Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000035699 permeability Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000523 sample Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004576 sand Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920006395 saturated elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000002002 slurry Substances 0.000 description 2
- 231100000331 toxic Toxicity 0.000 description 2
- 230000002588 toxic effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000002028 Biomass Substances 0.000 description 1
- VYZAMTAEIAYCRO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Chromium Chemical compound [Cr] VYZAMTAEIAYCRO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000004793 Polystyrene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002250 absorbent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002745 absorbent Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004458 analytical method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052785 arsenic Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- RQNWIZPPADIBDY-UHFFFAOYSA-N arsenic atom Chemical compound [As] RQNWIZPPADIBDY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000011324 bead Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000009286 beneficial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007664 blowing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002775 capsule Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000015556 catabolic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004568 cement Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052804 chromium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011651 chromium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002498 deadly effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007857 degradation product Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002939 deleterious effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003795 desorption Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001627 detrimental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001079 digestive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004090 dissolution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005684 electric field Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005538 encapsulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000008246 gaseous mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000499 gel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000005337 ground glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 231100001261 hazardous Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 239000002920 hazardous waste Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910010272 inorganic material Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011147 inorganic material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000003350 kerosene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009277 landfarming Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002386 leaching Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001050 lubricating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005012 migration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013508 migration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000010705 motor oil Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001473 noxious effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000016709 nutrition Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000011368 organic material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000010815 organic waste Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007800 oxidant agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003647 oxidation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007254 oxidation reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000037361 pathway Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000013520 petroleum-based product Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000053 physical method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920002223 polystyrene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002285 radioactive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012857 radioactive material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000013049 sediment Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002910 solid waste Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000087 stabilizing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002352 surface water Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004094 surface-active agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 231100001234 toxic pollutant Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 238000009834 vaporization Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008016 vaporization Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011800 void material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012855 volatile organic compound Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B09—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE; RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
- B09C—RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
- B09C1/00—Reclamation of contaminated soil
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/25—Methods for stimulating production
- E21B43/26—Methods for stimulating production by forming crevices or fractures
- E21B43/2605—Methods for stimulating production by forming crevices or fractures using gas or liquefied gas
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B09—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE; RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
- B09C—RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
- B09C1/00—Reclamation of contaminated soil
- B09C1/02—Extraction using liquids, e.g. washing, leaching, flotation
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B09—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE; RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
- B09C—RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
- B09C1/00—Reclamation of contaminated soil
- B09C1/08—Reclamation of contaminated soil chemically
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B09—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE; RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
- B09C—RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
- B09C1/00—Reclamation of contaminated soil
- B09C1/10—Reclamation of contaminated soil microbiologically, biologically or by using enzymes
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/25—Methods for stimulating production
- E21B43/255—Methods for stimulating production including the injection of a gaseous medium as treatment fluid into the formation
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B09—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE; RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
- B09C—RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
- B09C2101/00—In situ
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Soil Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Biotechnology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Microbiology (AREA)
- Molecular Biology (AREA)
- Mycology (AREA)
- Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)
- Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
Description
WO 99/65573 PCT/US99/13651 A METHOD FOR REMEDIATING A MEDIUM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to agriculture. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for loosening and remediating contaminated soil.
2. Description of the Related Art Environmental pollution and contamination is one of the greatest threats facing modem society. Environmental contamination invades the water supply for both human and the other populations on which humans rely. In dump sites and other storage facilities toxic pollutants emit noxious chemicals, liquids, gases and other substances which can injure or even cause death to humansand the other populations. There are numerous sources of environmental pollution including the disturbance of naturally occurring deposits of toxic materials as well as a long list of contaminants introduced into the environment by human neglect, waste, dumping, or mismanagement. Some of these contaminants can be identified as motor oil and other petroleum based products, including gasoline, kerosene, diesel, hydraulic fluid, synthetic oils, other lubricating materials and BTEX components; paints, paint thinners and other volatile organic compounds; corrosive and deadly materials, such as chromium, arsenic, radio-active materials and all other RCRA listed chemicals, compounds and materials.
Environmental contaminants exist in either soil, water, some other medium, or a combined medium. A soil is best defined as actual dirt, clay and other naturally occurring earthen substances. Soil is usually found in, at, or near storage containers for contaminants, both above and below the surface, industrial manufacturing and development locations and other locations where contaminants are used, made, stored, or otherwise exposed to the environment.
A medium is any manmade solid, or semi-solid substance where environmental contaminants can exist. A medium includes, for example, solid-waste disposal sites, such as dumps, where human garbage and trash is buried, compressed, or stored, man-made storage and contaminant substances, such as foam, sludge, gels and other substances, and other more solid, permanent containment fields, such as concrete and cement.
In an attempt to prevent and remedy the detrimental effects of these environmental contaminants, two primary strategies have been implemented: ex-situ remediation and in-situ remediation. Ex-situ remediation consists of physically extracting the soil or other medium WO 99/65573 PCT/US99/13651 -2from the surrounding earth or under-ground location, treating the extracted soil or medium, then replacing it into the surrounding earth. In-situ remediation attempts to treat and neutralize the contaminants that are latent within the soil or medium without physically extracting the contaminated soil or medium. The general practice of both ex-situ and in-situ remediation only attempts to treat the contaminants found in soils and does not attempt to treat the contaminants found in the other media. As a result, the following analysis of the prior art describes the most common ex-situ and in-situ remediation techniques for treating contaminated soils.
Ex-situ remediation by definition involves the removal of the contaminated soil from its native environment, treatment of the removed soil by either a physical or chemical techniques, then a return of the soil to its original locus. After removing the soil, the common practice is to place or store the unearthed, contaminated soil in either a sealed or open air volatilization area for treatment. After treatment or simply removal from the contaminant's original location, the treated soil is either returned to its source or it is stored or buried in a hazardous waste landfill or contaminant area, where future liability exists indefinitely. If the contaminated soil is removed and not returned to its original removal site, then other soil must be found to fill the void that is left behind. Currently, ex-situ remediation utilizes several methodologies: Thermal Desorption, Thermal Destruction, Incineration, Stabilization, Solidification, Soil Washing, Chemical Treatment, Biological treatment, Land Farming and other viable methods.
Because of the high costs of transportation, the potential impossibility of removal and the damage inflicted on the land from which the soil is removed, as well as other negative factors, the in-situ theory and methodology has usurped the ex-situ theory and method of remediating contaminated areas.
In some situations, in-situ remediation has proved to be a more cost-effective and reliable method for remediating environmentally contaminated solid than any of the ex-situ methods, if and when it can be achieved. Generally, the goal of in-situ remediation is to neutralize or remedy the deleterious human and environmental effects of contaminated soils.
The most prominent and advanced methods of in-situ remediation include Vitrification, Stabilization, Solidification, Soil Flushing, Air-Sparging, Free Product Recovery, Chemical Treatment, Electro-osmosis, Vacuum Vapor Extraction, Bioremediation, Bio Venting, Hydraulic Fracturing and Pressurized Pneumatic Fracturing.
Vitrification is a process used for stabilizing soils or sludge contaminated with radioactive, metallic, or certain organic wastes, whereby they are made "glass like." Vitrification can be performed in-situ or in special refractory liners. To perform in-situ vitrification, a WO 99/65573 PCT/US99/13651 -3mixture of ground glass frit and graphite flakes are inserted below the surface of the solid between 4 electrical probes. Electrical voltage is then applied to the electrodes which heats the surrounding soil and mixture, causing the mixture and the soil to melt. Once molten, the soil begins to conduct electrical current and the graphite is consumed by oxidation. The molten soil grows outward and downward until the desired vitrification depth is obtained. However, this electrical vitrification has two primary drawbacks: first, vitrification only seals the contaminant below the surface in a permanent form which cannot be removed or recovered and second, vitrification can only be performed to a contaminant twenty (20) feet or less beneath the surface.
Stabilization, as a broad categorization, includes different processes which attempt to make the environmental contaminants less soluble, mobile, or toxic and thus reduce the potential human and environmental risks caused by the contaminants. Stabilization can be achieved by changing pH, moisture contents, or chemical matrix. Although stabilization can neutralize some contaminants, the chemical nature of the waste is not necessarily changed.
Solidification refers to processes that encapsulate the contaminant into a monolithic solid of high-structural integrity. Solidification includes two primary classifications: microencapsulation, where small contaminated areas are solidified, and macro-encapsulation, where large areas of contamination are solidified. Solidification does not necessarily involve a chemical interaction between the contaminant and the solidifying reagents, but may mechanically bind the waste into the monolith. Contaminant migration is restricted by vastly decreasing the surface area exposed to a leaching area or by isolating the waste within an impervious capsule.
Soil Flushing attempts to enhance the mobilization or ability or the contaminants to move within a soil, so that the contaminant can be recovered or treated. Soil flushing uses water, enhanced water, mixtures (surfactants), or gaseous mixtures to accelerate one or more of the same geochemical dissolution reactions that alter contaminant concentrations in ground water systems. Soil flushing has two primary applications: one, the recovery of mobile degradation products which are formed after the soil has been treated with chemical oxidizing agents and two, oil recovery operations. Soil flushing is most effective in sandy soils and its effectiveness is dependent on the matrix as well as the organic, inorganic and contaminant composition of the soil or medium in which it is used.
Air sparging is accomplished by injecting air under pressure below the soil surface. Air sparging strives to volatize and biodegrade the contaminants located within the air-flow pathways latent within the soil. Also, air-sparging potentially allows the dissolved phase WO 99/65573 PCT/US99/13651 -4contaminants that contact the air-flow field to volatize or biodegrade. Air Sparging extends the utility of"soil vapor extraction." The primary draw-back to air-sparging is that once air is injected into the saturated zone, its flow is primarily governed by the applied pressure, buoyant forces, vertical and horizontal permeability distributions in the saturated zone and the capillary properties of the soils. In short, air-sparging does not create new "air-flow zones" into which the contaminants can flow, volatilize and biodegrade, but instead relies on the naturally occurring air-flow passageways.
The Basic Free Product Recovery system is a very simple technique for recovering large quantities of free product, which is any type of spilled, leaked, or naturally occurring pools of potentially environmentally threatening contaminants in liquid form. In the usual basic free product recovery method a well is drilled into the ground which provides a low pressure space into which any existing "free product" can escape. This is an effective method for removing large quantities of liquids; however it has little or no effect on products which are not "free." One major draw-back to this process is that products which are not free but are bound in the clays, silts, or other components of the soil matrix, sediments, sludge, or water do not naturally "flow" into these low pressure areas. Moreover, this process in almost all cases must be coupled with other methods of remediation to excise the contaminants that are not free, thus bring the contamination to acceptable levels.
Chemical treatment systems refer to the use of reagents to destroy or chemically modify target contaminants. These chemical processes are used to treat contaminated soils, ground water, surface water and concentrated contaminants. The use of the chemical treatment method is circumscribed by the innate limitation of chemicals to flow through solid, non-porous soils and media, thus limiting the depth of its application and its effectiveness at reaching the contaminant.
Electro-osmosis was developed in the 1930's and has been used to dehydrate clays, silts and fine sands in road beds, dams and other engineering structures. The electro-osmosis process is based on the fact that clay particles are usually negatively charged and thus attract positively charged ions (cations) to form a layer on the surface of water within the pores of the clay. If an electric field is established using electrodes, cations will migrate toward the cathode, bringing the water along with them. Electro-osmosis provides uniform water flow through soils and media, including heterogeneous materials. The direction of water flow is easily controlled via the placement and polarity of the electrodes. Electro-osmosis is inadequate to eradicate solid contaminants or contaminants that are not ionic.
WO 99/65573 PCT/US99/13651 The Basic Vapor Extraction system combines the use of vapor extraction wells with either blower or vacuum pumps. Basic Vapor Extraction drills wells, essential air passage ways, then applies either a blowing or vacuum device to create a flow of contaminant vapor from zones permeable to vapor flow into the extraction wells. Vapor Extraction enhances the volatilization and removal of contaminants from the subsurface for treatment. The vacuum developed in the extraction well draws air from the above the soil atmosphere through the soil, so as to cause the different contaminants to volatilize and release into the moving air. More complex soil vapor extraction systems incorporate trenches, horizontal wells, forced-air injection wells, passive air inlet wells, ground water recovery systems, impermeable surface seals, multiple vapor extraction wells in single boreholes and various thermal enhancements.
The main limitation to the vapor extraction method is that air only moves into the pre-bored vaporization well holes and only those contaminants exposed to the pre-drilled well holes are able to be remediated.
Bioremediation exploits the ability of certain microorganisms, the heterotrophic bacteria and fungi, the degrade hazardous organic materials to innocuous materials such as carbon dioxide, methane, water, inorganic salts and biomass. Microorganisms may derive the carbon and energy required for growth through biodegradation of organic contaminants, or, transform more complex, synthetic chemicals through fortuitous co-metabolism. There are two types of Bioremediation which are used: natural and enhanced. Natural Bioremediation depends on indigenous microbes to degrade contaminants using only nutrients and electron acceptors available in the remediation site. However, biodegradation rates will be less than optimal if the microbes' nutritional and physiological requirements are not met. Enhanced Bioremediation technologies increase biodegradation rates by supplying those nutrients, electron acceptors, or other factors that are rate limiting. Yet, even applying the current methods of in-situ remediation, neither correct nutrients to feed the indigenous microbes nor alien microbes can reach all or even most of the contaminants resident within the soil.
The current uses of bioremediation have been enhanced by utilizing the techniques of "bio-venting." Bio-venting is simply the application and combination of well hole boring and vacuum vapor extraction with the bioremediation methods discussed above. Under natural conditions aerobic biodegradation rates are typically limited by oxygen supply rates in the soil subsurface. The rate of oxygen supply to the subsurface is increased during the course of vapor extraction as air is drawn from the atmosphere into the subsurface. Therefore the enhanced supply of oxygen to the subsurface will increase the rate at which the aerobic biodegradation of contaminants can take place. However, the supply of air is still limited to the number of air-flow channels created by the number of well holes bored and the amount of contaminants and microbes exposed to the air flow.
Another technique for in-situ remediation is hydraulic fracturing. Hydraulic fracturing is a technique developed in the oil and gas industry for creating openings in the soil subsurface. Hydraulic fracturing is accomplished by applying a high-pressure slurry of water or some liquid into the subsurface to create a lateral, pancake-shaped space in low-permeability zones. Sand in the slurry remains in the fracture, supporting it and keeping it open. Hydraulic fracturing is limited in its application because it can utilize only microbes that can live in the liquid or rely thereon.
One of the latest methods applied to in situ remediation is the pressurized pneumatic fracturing method developed by the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). The NJIT pressurized pneumatic fracturing method relies on a cylindrical probe inserted in the ground for transporting pressurized gas below the surface of the ground for the purpose of pneumatically fracturing the soil. The process relies on the slow buildup of pressure to fracture the soil. The desired benefits of the pressurized pneumatic fracturing method is that it should open subsurface areas into which contaminants could flow and thus volatilize. However, while the pressure and buildup necessary to fracture the soil is being applied, it is a safe scientific inference to believe that the contaminants 20 are actually being pushed into boundaries outside of the original contamination site, the contaminants are being further compacted into the existing soil, thus frustrating and "limiting the recoverability and remediation potential of the contaminant.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to a first aspect the present invention is a method comprising: 'preselecting a compressed gas adapted to discourage activity of a first pre-existing targeted entity, thereby allowing a second pre-existing targeted entity to decompose a contaminant in the medium; and injecting a sudden burst of said preselected compressed gas into the medium in order to emanate at least one shockwave through the medium, create a matrix of gas-guiding passages for passage of said preselected compressed gas, and discourage activity of said first pre-existing targeted entity.
6a Preferably, a preselected compressed gas is at least one of oxygen gas and an atomized liquid.
Preferably, a said preselected compressed gas comprises a remediating agent.
Preferably, a said remediating agent is selected from organic and inorganic substances, pesticides, fertilizers, anaerobic and aerobic bacteria, fungi, enzymes, bio-active sludge, cellulose, compost, humus, peat, diatomaceous earth, Fullers earth, barite, bentonite and combinations thereof.
Preferably, comprising introducing a material for maintaining or remediating said gasguiding passages, or both.
Preferably, said material is selected from organic and inorganic substances, pesticides, fertilizers, anaerobic and aerobic bacteria, fungi, enzymes, bio-active sludge, cellulose, compost, humus, peat, diatomaceous earth, Fullers earth, barite, bentonite and combinations thereof.
20 According to a second aspect the present invention is a method comprising: singling out at least one first specific endogenous entity in the medium; preselecting a compressed gas adapted to discourage activity of said at least one first specific endogenous entity, thereby allowing at least one second specific endogenous entity to decompose a contaminant in the medium; and injecting a sudden burst of said preselected compressed gas into the medium in order to emanate at least one shockwave through the medium, create a matrix of gas-guiding passages for passage of said preselected compressed gas, and discourage activity of said S"at least one first specific endogenous entity.
*OO
oog# oooo• DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE METHOD The present method includes creating at least one passage in the medium. This passage creation is accomplished, preferably, by injecting a blast of a preselected compressed gas into a medium. This method may be applied to numerous types of media, including soil, man-made structures, solidified contaminant masses, sludges and other media where contaminants exist.
The sudden blast of compressed gas causes at least one shockwave to emanate through the medium from the point of release. A shockwave is an instantaneous disruption created by the presence of more energy on the wave front than the structure which is contacted by the wave can support. When the sudden burst of gas is released, a wave of energy is sent, both vertically and horizontally, through the medium, which S-instantaneously moves and disrupts the contaminant and the medium. This shockwave loosens the embedded contaminants and frees the soil, making contaminated areas accessible to gasses or remediation agents, such as chemicals bio-active chemicals, organisms or inert materials. The shockwave caused by the sudden burst of gas creates paths of least resistance within the medium, which serve two purposes: creation of gasguiding passages for the introduction of materials to treat the contaminants and provision of free space into which contaminants can flow so that they can be treated.
Not only does the present invention emit a shockwave which disrupts the matrix and structure of the medium, the sudden burst of gas also creates a novel matrix of gasguiding passages. When the sudden blast of air is released into the medium, the gas flows into the areas of least resistance and therefore follows the natural structure of the medium and creates voids through which gases could flow and materials could be introduced. The shape and dimension of the gas-guiding passages depends on two primary components: the location and angle of the release of the sudden burst of gas and the composition of the media. The angle of introduction of the gas will determine the angle and positioning of the matrix of gas-guiding passages, which WO 99/65573 PCT/US99/13651 -8would affect the types of treatments that could be applied to the particular medium. More importantly, however, is the understanding of the composition of the medium. Depending on the type of soil and its structural composition, the specific matrix created by the sudden burst will vary. Thus, a practitioner skilled in the art could determine the angle of introduction of the sudden burst of gas to determined the pattern and shape of the desired matrix of gas-guiding passages, so as to enhance the possible remediation of existing contaminants.
While some practitioners in the art make holes in the soil, none are as effective or as thorough as the gas-guiding passages created by the present invention. Practitioners in the art have either drilled vertical or horizontal wells, excavated or tilled the soil, or attempted medium fracture by building up pressure slowly. The physically invasive methods such as drilling, digging and tilling the soil actually alter the position and integrity of the soil, exposing certain parts to sun light, partially treating others, leaving the majority of the soil contaminated and untreated. Contrarily, the gas-guiding passages created by the sudden burst of gas and the concomitant shockwave utilizes the naturally occurring fracture lines in the medium to evenly disrupt and expose the medium. This natural disruption pattern literally tears the medium, loosens the medium structure, allowing a greater amount of materials to reach the contaminants, thus enhance the remediation process.
A benefit gained from the present invention is that the soil structure is maintained without significantly affecting the life of the soil, as is the case with using mechanical techniques for treating the soil. Moreover the medium is torn according to the pre-defined, naturally occurring breaking lines and is made permeable, thus making the medium more accessible to preselected desirable gasses, such as oxygen.
The present invention is superior to other soil remediation methods in that the degree of disruption is controllable. The present invention can be used at differing depths and to differing degrees of fineness. The method according to the invention may be employed for breaking up the medium over wide surfaces in a coarse way as well as for breaking up the medium in a fine narrow mesh manner and is particularly suitable to break up deep-lying compacted zones. This applies to compacted medium of any type and with a moist medium simultaneously brings about a certain flow.
A crucial component of the invention is the employment of a pure, preselected compressed gas to fracture the medium. The specific gas used is determined in light of the entity, or entities, extant in, or simultaneously or subsequently introduced into, the medium. In other words, the gas choice depends on what entities are regarded as useful for the particular WO 99/65573 PCT/US99/13651 -9purpose to which the method is directed and what gases encourage their activity. For example, some aerobic organisms, such as bacteria, are well known for their ability to digest petroleum products and break them down into more environmental beneficial components. These kinds of bacteria perform the elemental breakdown of the petroleum product better in the presence of oxygen. Accordingly, applying the present method to a medium contaminated with a petroleum product would call for selecting pure oxygen as the fracturing gas agent. The blast of pure oxygen not only creates the necessary passages for infusing the medium with the remediative gas of choice, but also encourages the activity or digestive processes of the preselected bacteria that may already exist within the medium. The above example including an organism should not be construed as limiting gas selection to encouraging only organic activity. The present method embraces exploitation of useful enzymes and other inorganic matter which may exist or may be introduced into the medium.
Other soil remediation methods use common air to fracture the medium. It is well known that air does contain oxygen, which may satisfy many organisms that fulfill the objectives of the present method. However, air also contains many other components that may harm or discourage the activities of the preselected organic and/or inorganic entities within or introduced into the soil. For example, some aerobic organisms may not be able to tolerate any amount of carbon dioxide introduced into a medium. If a blast of air were used to fracture the medium followed by the introduction of pure oxygen, the particular aerobic organisms of interest already may have perished in the presence of only trace amounts of the carbon dioxide in the air used.
Another embodiment of the invention involves the use of a pure, predetermined atomized liquid. The compressed gas used to fracture the medium includes the predetermined atomized liquid. The specific atomized liquid used is determined in light of the entity, or entities, extant in, or simultaneously or subsequently introduced into, the medium. In other words, the atomized liquid choice depends on what entities are regarded as useful for or harmful to the particular purpose to which the method is directed and what gases and atomized liquids encourage or discourage their activity, as discussed above. In certain cases, atomized liquid can carry certain agents through the passages in quantities which may not be achieveable with only a gas. In some cases, atomized liquid also is able to carry the agents farther through the passages than if only a gas were used.
Yet another embodiment of the invention employs only a pure, predetermined atomized liquid to fracture the medium. As with the above, the specific atomized liquid used is determined in light of the entity, or entities, extant in, or simultaneously or subsequently WO 99/65573 PCT/US99/13651 introduced into, the medium. In other words, the atomized liquid choice depends on what entities are regarded as useful for or harmful to the particular purpose to which the method is directed and what gases and atomized liquids encourage or discourage their activity, as discussed above.
The result of the sudden burst of gas or atomized liquid and the concomitant shockwave is a series of gas-guiding passages which can be held open or maintained with maintaining material, such as microorganisms including anaerobic and aerobic bacteria, and various classes of fungi; inorganic materials such as absorbents, chemicals, chemical compounds; organic substances such as enzymes, bio-active sludge, cellulose, compost, humus, peat; and inert materials such as sand, diatomaceous earth, Fullers earth, barite, bentonite, polystyrene beads; or similar materials known to those skilled in the art to maintain fissures or passages. The introduction of these materials into the gas-guiding passages ensures that these spaces will serve as permeable passageways for water, gases, liquids and other materials.
Once the sudden burst and concomitant shockwave has ruptured the soil and created gasguiding passages, the practitioner may introduce materials which neutralize, volatilize, or react with the contaminant to make the medium safe to humans and other populations. The passagemaintaining materials also may posses remediative characteristics that neutralize the contaminants in the medium as well as hold open the passage. Although most scenarios would require the practitioner to introduce specialized materials, the gas-guiding passages can be created in a formation, which allows the natural laws of science and physics to remedy the contamination process. The following represents, but should not be construed as limiting, remediating materials that may be introduced into the passages: organisms, which consume or disintegrate the contaminant; nutrients, in the form of air or any other compressed gas, which feed and sustain the organisms in the medium, whether naturally occurring or manually introduced; chemicals, which react and stabilize the contaminant; bio-active chemicals which cause certain biological organisms to respond and destroy or neutralize the contaminant; and inert materials, which would maintain the gas-guiding passages and thus maintain the gas and liquid permeability of the medium. Most importantly the present invention assures that the S treatment, thus the contaminant, is treated in a homogenous manner.
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. The WO 99/65573 PCT/US99/13651 -11appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments that fall within the scope of the invention.
Claims (13)
1. A method of loosening and remediating contaminated medium, said method comprising: preselecting a compressed gas adapted to discourage activity of a first pre-existing targeted entity, thereby allowing a second pre-existing targeted entity to decompose a contaminant in the medium; and injecting a sudden burst of said preselected compressed gas into the medium in order to emanate at least one shockwave through the medium, create a matrix of gas-guiding passages for passage of said preselected compressed gas, and discourage activity of said first pre- existing targeted entity.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said preselected compressed gas is at least one of oxygen gas and an atomized liquid.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said preselected compressed gas comprises a remediating agent.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein said remediating agent is selected from organic and inorganic substances, pesticides, fertilizers, anaerobic and aerobic bacteria, fungi, enzymes, bio-active sludge, cellulose, compost, humus, peat, diatomaceous earth, Fullers earth, barite, bentonite and combinations thereof.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising introducing a material for maintaining or o•O• remediating said gas-guiding passages, or both. 0% o
6. The method of claim 5, wherein said material is selected from organic and inorganic substances, pesticides, fertilizers, anaerobic and aerobic bacteria, fungi, enzymes, bio-active sludge, cellulose, compost, humus, peat, diatomaceous earth, Fullers earth, barite, bentonite 0. and combinations thereof.
7. A method of loosening and remediating contaminated medium, said method comprising: singling out at least one first specific endogenous entity in the medium; V Ii oooo0i -13- preselecting a compressed gas adapted to discourage activity of said at least one first specific endogenous entity, thereby allowing at least one second specific endogenous entity to decompose a contaminant in the medium; and injecting a sudden burst of said preselected compressed gas into the medium in order to emanate at least one shockwave through the medium, create a matrix of gas-guiding passages for passage of said preselected compressed gas, and discourage activity of said at least one first specific endogenous entity.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein said preselected compressed gas is at least one of oxygen gas and an atomized liquid.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein said preselected compressed gas comprises a remediating agent.
The method of claim 9, wherein said remediating agent is selected from organic and inorganic substances, pesticides, fertilizers, anaerobic and aerobic bacteria, fungi, enzymes, bio-active sludge, cellulose, compost, humus, peat, diatomaceous earth, Fullers earth, barite, bentonite and combinations thereof.
11. The method of claim 7, further comprising introducing a material for maintaining or remediating said gas-guiding passages, or both.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein said material is selected from organic and inorganic substances, pesticides, fertilizers, anaerobic and aerobicbacteria, fungi, enzymes, bio-active sludge, cellulose, compost, humus, peat, diatomaceous earth, Fullers earth, barite, bentonite and combinations thereof.
13. A method of loosening and remediating contaminated medium as substantially hereinbefore described. Dated this 1 0 th day of March 2003. TERRALIFT INTERNATIONAL LTD By: HODGKINSON OLD McINNES Patent Attorneys for the Applicant
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US9975498A | 1998-06-18 | 1998-06-18 | |
US09/099754 | 1998-06-18 | ||
PCT/US1999/013651 WO1999065573A1 (en) | 1998-06-18 | 1999-06-18 | A method for remediating a medium |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
AU4689999A AU4689999A (en) | 2000-01-05 |
AU764369B2 true AU764369B2 (en) | 2003-08-14 |
Family
ID=22276453
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
AU46899/99A Ceased AU764369B2 (en) | 1998-06-18 | 1999-06-18 | A method for remediating a medium |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1087822A4 (en) |
AU (1) | AU764369B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2335119A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1999065573A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6969464B1 (en) * | 2001-01-17 | 2005-11-29 | Potts David A | Dewatering a leach field |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5560737A (en) * | 1995-08-15 | 1996-10-01 | New Jersey Institute Of Technology | Pneumatic fracturing and multicomponent injection enhancement of in situ bioremediation |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4429647A (en) * | 1980-08-18 | 1984-02-07 | Eugen Zinck | Method of and device for loosening agriculturally used soil |
US5032042A (en) * | 1990-06-26 | 1991-07-16 | New Jersey Institute Of Technology | Method and apparatus for eliminating non-naturally occurring subsurface, liquid toxic contaminants from soil |
CA2239978A1 (en) * | 1995-09-29 | 1997-04-17 | Ronald J. Suchecki, Jr. | A method for introducing materials into a solid or semi-solid medium |
-
1999
- 1999-06-18 EP EP99930344A patent/EP1087822A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1999-06-18 CA CA002335119A patent/CA2335119A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1999-06-18 AU AU46899/99A patent/AU764369B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1999-06-18 WO PCT/US1999/013651 patent/WO1999065573A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5560737A (en) * | 1995-08-15 | 1996-10-01 | New Jersey Institute Of Technology | Pneumatic fracturing and multicomponent injection enhancement of in situ bioremediation |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1087822A1 (en) | 2001-04-04 |
CA2335119A1 (en) | 1999-12-23 |
WO1999065573A1 (en) | 1999-12-23 |
AU4689999A (en) | 2000-01-05 |
WO1999065573A8 (en) | 2000-07-06 |
EP1087822A4 (en) | 2004-06-23 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US5810514A (en) | Method for introducing materials into a medium | |
Khan et al. | An overview and analysis of site remediation technologies | |
US5631160A (en) | Method for in situ soil remediation | |
Sims et al. | In Situ Bioremediation of Contaminated Ground Water 1 | |
KR20030087915A (en) | Method for purifying a layer of contaminated soil and apparatus | |
US6190526B1 (en) | In-situ remediation of contaminated soils | |
Ram et al. | A decision framework for selecting remediation technologies at hydrocarbon‐contaminated sites | |
Gavrilescu | OVERVIEW OF IN SITU REMEDIATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR SITES AND GROUNDWATER. | |
Chakrabartty et al. | Feasibility study of the soil remediation technologies in the natural environment | |
AU764369B2 (en) | A method for remediating a medium | |
Mohammed et al. | Application of soil washing treatment method for the remediation of petroleum polluted soil | |
US20140321915A1 (en) | Contamination treatment for soil | |
Butnariu et al. | Viability of in situ and ex situ bioremediation approaches for degradation of noxious substances in stressed environs | |
Sims et al. | In Situ Bioremediation of Contaminated Unsaturated Subsurface Soils 1 | |
Yang et al. | A conceptual study on the bio‐wall technology: Feasibility and process design | |
Anderson et al. | Remedial alternatives for agricultural contamination | |
Salami et al. | Remediation of contaminated groundwater: An overview | |
Muller et al. | Review of Amendment Delivery and Distribution Methods, and Relevance to Potential In Situ Source Area Treatment at the Hanford Site | |
Vogel et al. | Innovative remediation technologies applicable to soil and groundwater impacted by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons | |
Mishra | The Principles and Application of Geo-Environmental Engineering | |
Maxwell et al. | Technology Selection | |
JP3961193B2 (en) | Purification method of contaminated soil | |
Borden et al. | AFCEE protocol for enhanced anaerobic bioremediation using edible oils | |
Bowman | Manipulation of the vadose zone to enhance toxic organic chemical removal | |
Reineke et al. | Biological Soil Remediation |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
FGA | Letters patent sealed or granted (standard patent) |