Method and apparatus for treatment of contaminated soil
First Claim
1. An apparatus for treatment of soil that contains contaminants, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of vessels, each of said vessels having a soil intake opening and a soil discharge opening;
a plurality of soil motivators, each of said motivators associated with one of said vessels, said motivators operable to move soil through the associated vessel from said intake opening to said discharge opening;
a liquid delivery system configured to deliver a liquid into at least one of said vessels; and
a drainage system configured to collect said liquid and said contaminants;
wherein said vessels are inclined so that the intake opening is at a lower level than the discharge opening, and said vessels are arranged in sequence so that soil discharged from the discharge opening of one of said vessels falls into the intake opening of the next said vessel.
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Abstract
The apparatus of the invention comprises a plurality of vessels, each vessel having a soil intake opening, a soil discharge opening, and a soil motivator associated therewith. The apparatus also has a liquid delivery system configured to deliver a liquid into at least one of the vessels, and a drainage system configured to collect the liquid and the contaminants. The vessels are arranged in sequence so that soil discharged from the discharge opening of one vessel is directly deposited into the intake opening of the next vessel. The method of the invention comprises the steps of: introducing the contaminated soil into a first vessel; washing the soil with a first liquid cleaning agent; passing the soil through a plurality of vessels in sequence wherein said first liquid cleaning agent is removed by a second liquid cleaning agent and water; draining said second liquid cleaning agent and water from the soil; and, rinsing the soil with water.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. An apparatus for treatment of soil that contains contaminants, the apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of vessels, each of said vessels having a soil intake opening and a soil discharge opening;
a plurality of soil motivators, each of said motivators associated with one of said vessels, said motivators operable to move soil through the associated vessel from said intake opening to said discharge opening;
a liquid delivery system configured to deliver a liquid into at least one of said vessels; and
a drainage system configured to collect said liquid and said contaminants;
wherein said vessels are inclined so that the intake opening is at a lower level than the discharge opening, and said vessels are arranged in sequence so that soil discharged from the discharge opening of one of said vessels falls into the intake opening of the next said vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A vessel for treatment of soil that contains contaminants, the vessel comprising:
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a cylindrical drum having a soil intake opening and a soil discharge opening;
a soil motivator operable to move soil through said vessel from said intake opening to said discharge opening; and
a liquid delivery system configured to deliver a liquid into said cylindrical drum;
wherein the vessel is inclined at an angle between 10 and 40 degrees so that the intake opening is at a lower level than the discharge opening. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An apparatus for treatment of soil that contains contaminants, the apparatus comprising:
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at least four cylindrical drums, each of said drums having a soil intake opening and a soil discharge opening, said drums positioned at an incline so that the intake opening is at a lower level than the discharge opening, and said drums arranged in sequence so that soil discharged from the discharge opening of one of said drums falls into the intake opening of the next said drum, each of said drums other than a first of said drums having a liquid removal system in a forward portion thereof;
a soil motivator associated with each of said drums, said motivators operable to move soil through the associated drum from said intake opening to said discharge opening;
a liquid delivery system configured to deliver a first liquid cleaning agent into the first of said drums, a second liquid cleaning agent into another of said drums subsequent to said first drum, and water into the rest of said drums, and a drainage system configured to collect liquids and said contaminants escaping from said liquid removal systems.
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34. A method for treating soil that contains contaminants, the method comprising:
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introducing the contaminated soil into a first vessel;
washing the soil with a first liquid cleaning agent;
passing the soil through a plurality of vessels in sequence wherein said first liquid cleaning agent is removed by a second liquid cleaning agent and water;
draining said second liquid cleaning agent and water from the soil; and
rinsing the soil with water.
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35. A method of treating soil that contains contaminants, the method comprising:
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introducing the contaminated soil and a first liquid chemical into a first vessel, said first vessel having an intake opening through which said soil is inserted, and a discharge opening;
agitating the soil and the first liquid chemical in said first vessel;
discharging the soil and a portion of the first liquid chemical from said discharge opening of said first vessel directly into an intake opening of a second vessel;
introducing water into said second vessel along with the soil and said portion of the first liquid chemical;
agitating the soil, said portion of the first liquid chemical and the water in said second vessel;
draining said portion of the first liquid chemical and the water from said second vessel;
discharging the soil from a discharge opening in said second vessel directly into an intake opening of a third vessel;
introducing a second liquid chemical and more water into said third vessel along with the soil;
agitating the soil, said second liquid chemical and water in said third vessel;
draining said second liquid chemical and water from said third vessel;
discharging the soil from a discharge opening in said third vessel directly into an intake opening of a rinsing vessel;
rinsing the soil in said rinsing vessel;
discharging the soil into a final vessel; and
separating water from the soil in said final vessel.
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Specification