Method of soil extraction

• US 20030205525A1
• Filed: 04/14/2003
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Michigan Biotechnology Institute
• Original Assignee: The Michigan Biotechnology Institute
• Inventors: Severin, Blaine F.
• Application Number:
  US10/257,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20030205525A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/634
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 11/0457 comprising rotating mechanisms, e.g. mixers, mixing pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/0205 by gas bubbles or moving solids
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/0208 by sedimentation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/041 with moving devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/047 with separation aids
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/02 Extraction using liquids, e.g. washing, leaching , flotation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/255 including use of a solid sorbent, semipermeable membrane, or liquid extraction

Abstract

A method of extracting oil-soluble contaminants from soils, sediments, or porous solids is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of immersing the solid in a fluid comprising a water phase and an oil phase, mixing the phases and allowing the phases to separate, wherein the contaminants are thereby concentrated in the oil phase.

Claims

1. A method of extracting oil-soluble contaminants from soils, sediments, or porous solids by immersing the solid in a fluid comprising a water phase and an oil phase, mixing the phases and allowing the phases to separate, wherein the contaminants are thereby concentrated in the oil phase.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the contaminated solid is first immersed with the oil phase.

3. The method in claim 1 in which the contaminated solid is first immersed with the water phase.

4. The method in claim 1 in which the contaminated solid is immersed in an emulsion of the oil phase and water phase.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the water phase comprises a surfactant.

6. The method of claim 5 in which the surfactant has high detergency and low emulsifity.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the oil is petroleum based.

8. The method of claim 1 in which the oil is vegetable oil.

9. The method of claim 8 in which the oil is derived from soy, peanuts, canola, corn, or olives.

10. The method of claim 1 in which the oil is derived solely or in-part from oily contaminants extracted from the contaminated solid.

11. The method of claim 1 in which the contact between the solid and fluid is made in a batch tank.

12. The method of claim 11 in which the contents of the tank are mechanically mixed.

13. The method of claim 11 in which the mixing of an oil layer and a water layer are allowed to form in the presence of mixing of the solid layer.

14. The method of claim 1 in which the contact between the solid and the liquid is such that one or more of the solid or liquid phases is added and removed continuously.

15. The method of claim 1 in which the fluid is removed from the presence of the solid and the fluid is reclaimed into an oil phase and a water phase.

16. The method of claim 1 in which the solid is removed from the presence of the fluid and the fluid is reclaimed into an oil phase and a water phase.

17. The method of claim 4 in which the water phase is recycled by immersion with a new solid.

18. The method of claim 6 in which the recycled water phase is adjusted to a desired surfactant concentration by addition of fresh surfactant.

19. The method of claim 4 in which the oil phase is recycled by immersing new solid.

20. The method of claim 19 in which the oil is cleaned of contaminant before being recycled.

21. The method of claim 1 in which the contaminant is a petroleum derivative.

22. The method of claim 1 in which the contaminant is a chlorinated hydrocarbon.

23. The method of claim 1 in which the contaminant is selected from the group consisting of PCB, lindane, aldane, DDT, Dioxins, polychlorinated terphenyls, atrazine, and chlorinated phenols.

24. The method of claim 1 in which the contaminant is a mixture of petroleum products and chlorinated hydrocarbons.

25. The method of claim 6 in which the contaminant is concentrated from the surfactant-bearing water phase in a foam caused by agitation or bubbling followed by separation of the foam from the remainder of the water phase before contact with the oil phase.

26. A method of analyzing the presence of an oil-soluble hydrocarbon, comprising the step of immersing a solid comprising an oil-soluble hydrocarbon in a fluid comprising a water phase and an oil phase, wherein the hydrocarbon is separated into the oil phase.

27. A method of extracting oil-soluble contaminants from soils, sediments, or porous solids by

(a) immersing the solid in a fluid comprising a water phase comprising a surfactant with high detergency and low emulsifity, wherein the contaminant enters the water phase;

(b) separating the water phase from the solid; and

(c) mixing the water phase with an oil phase, wherein contaminant enters the oil phase.