Co-oxidation method and co-oxidation reagent for decontaminating ground water and soil

• US 20020179530A1
• Filed: 05/30/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph Linn Applegate, Kevin Michael Warner, Robert Collins Cowdery
• Original Assignee: Joseph Linn Applegate, Kevin Michael Warner, Robert Collins Cowdery
• Inventors: Warner, Kevin Michael, Applegate, Joseph Linn, Cowdery, Robert Collins
• Granted Patent: US 6,869,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/638
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/08 chemically

Abstract

There is disclosed a co-oxidation method and a reagent system of co-oxidation agents for removing from a contaminated zone below the ground surface a water-immiscible organic compound having a density greater than that of water from a contaminated zone below the ground surface, comprising the steps of (a) injecting into the contaminated zone a solution of at least one inorganic permanganate salt, (b) injecting into the zone a cosolvent compatible with the inorganic permanganate salt, (c) causing reaction of the permanganate salt with the water-immiscible organic compound, and (d) extracting co-oxidant from the contaminated zone, thereby diminishing the level of water-immiscible organic compound present in the contaminated zone.

Claims

1. A method for removing a water-immiscible organic compound having a density greater than that of water from a contaminated zone below the ground surface, comprising the steps of

(a) injecting into the contaminated zone a solution of at least one inorganic permanganate salt,

(b) injecting into the zone a cosolvent compatible with the inorganic permanganate salt,

(c) causing reaction of the permanganate salt with the water-immiscible organic compound, and

(d) extracting co-oxidant from the contaminated zone, thereby diminishing the level of water-immiscible organic compound present in the contaminated zone.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the water-immiscible organic compound is perchloroethylene.

3. The method of claim 1, in which the cosolvent is at least one surfactant.

4. The method of claim 1, in which the cosolvent is at least one water-soluble organic compound having one to five carbon atoms and from one oxygen atom to as many oxygen atoms as carbon atoms.

5. The method of claim 4, in which the cosolvent is t-butyl alcohol.

6. The method of claim 1, in which a reagent solution containing 1-20% by weight inorganic permanganate salt, 15-50% by weight water-miscible organic compound, and balance water is injected into the contaminated zone.

7. The method of claim 1, in which a reagent solution is injected at a temperature in the range from 32•

F. to 120

8. The method of claim 1, in which an additional layer comprising water is injected into the zone.

9. The method of claim 1, in which injection into the zone and extraction of liquid from the zone are carried out simultaneously.

10. The method of claim 1, in which injection into the zone is followed by a period of dwell time before liquid is extracted from the zone.

11. A homogeneous liquid cooxidation reagent comprising water, an inorganic permanganate salt, and a cosolvent compatible with said permanganate.

12. The reagent of claim 11, in which the permanganate salt is potassium permanganate.

13. The reagent of claim 11, in which the cosolvent is t-butyl alcohol.

14. The reagent of claim 11, containing 1-20% by weight of said permanganate, 15-50% of said cosolvent, and the balance water.

15. The reagent of claim 14, containing 5% by weight of potassium permanganate, 45% by weight of t-butyl alcohol, and 50% water.