Oxidizing solution and process for contaminants

• US 20040182793A1
• Filed: 03/19/2003
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samuel Rupert Owens
• Original Assignee: Samuel Rupert Owens
• Inventors: Owens, Samuel Rupert
• Granted Patent: US 7,029,588 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/759
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/722 Oxidation by peroxides
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/766 by means of halogens other than chlorine or of halogenated compounds containing halogen other than chlorine
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 11/06 by oxidation incinerators for burning waste liquors, e.g. sulfite liquor from paper-making plant F23G7/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/906 Phosphorus containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/908 Organic

Abstract

My invention provides an oxidizing solution and process for the in situ oxidation of contaminants, including hydrocarbon, organic, bacterial, phosphonic acid, and other contaminants, the contaminants being found in various surfaces and media, including soil, sludge, and water. In a preferred embodiment, the solution includes a peroxygen compound, such as hydrogen peroxide, in solution with a pre-mixed solution of a carboxylic acid and a halogen salt, such as glycolic acid and sodium bromide, respectively.

Claims

1. An oxidizing solution, comprising an aqueous solution comprising a peroxygen compound and a carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, oxalic acid, formic acid, and benzoic acid.

2. The oxidizing solution of claim 1, wherein the peroxygen compound is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, calcium peroxide, magnesium peroxide, and sodium perborate.

3. The oxidizing solution of claim 2, further comprising a halogen compound selected from the group consisting of sodium bromide, sodium chloride, sodium flouride, sodium iodide, and periodic acid.

4. The oxidizing solution of claim 1, further comprising a halogen compound.

5. The oxidizing solution of claim 4, wherein the halogen compound is selected from the group consisting of sodium bromide, sodium chloride, sodium flouride, sodium iodide, and periodic acid.

6. The oxidizing solution of claim 4, wherein the peroxygen compound is hydrogen peroxide, the carboxylic acid is glycolic acid, and the halogen compound is sodium bromide.

7. The oxidizing solution of claim 6, wherein sodium percarbonate is the source of the hydrogen peroxide.

8. The oxidizing solution of claim 4, wherein the peroxygen compound is hydrogen peroxide, the carboxylic acid is glycolic acid, and the halogen compound is sodium iodide.

9. A process for oxidizing hydrocarbon contaminants in a media comprising exposing the hydrocarbon contaminants to an aqueous solution comprising a peroxygen compound and a carboxylic acid.

10. The process of claim 9, wherein the media is selected from a group consisting of soil, sludge, and water.

11. The process of claim 9, wherein the aqueous solution further comprises a halogen compound.

12. The process of claim 11, wherein the halogen compound is selected from the group consisting of sodium bromide, sodium chloride, sodium flouride, sodium iodide, and periodic acid.

13. The process of claim 11, wherein the peroxygen compound is hydrogen peroxide, the carboxylic acid is glycolic acid, and the halogen compound is sodium bromide, and further wherein the media is water and the hydrocarbon contaminant is approximately 1 percent by weight, the hydrogen peroxide is from approximately 3 to 30 percent by weight, the glycolic acid is from approximately 0.0001 to 10 percent by weight, and the sodium bromide is from approximately 0.00005 to 10 percent by weight.

14. The process of claim 13, wherein sodium percarbonate is the source of the hydrogen peroxide.

15. The process of claim 11, wherein the peroxygen compound is hydrogen peroxide, the carboxylic acid is glycolic acid, and the halogen compound is sodium bromide.

16. The process of claim 9, wherein the carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, oxalic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, and benzoic acid.

17. The process of claim 9, wherein the peroxygen compound is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, calcium peroxide, magnesium peroxide, and sodium perborate.

18. The process of claim 17, wherein the carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, oxalic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, and benzoic acid.

19. The process of claim 18, wherein the aqueous solution further comprises a halogen compound selected from the group consisting of sodium bromide, sodium chloride, sodium flouride, sodium iodide, and periodic acid.

20. The process of claim 9, wherein exposing the hydrocarbon contaminants to an aqueous solution further comprises exposing the hydrocarbon contaminants to the aqueous solution by mixing the aqueous solution with the media.

21. A process for oxidizing hydrocarbon contaminants in a media comprising:

exposing at least some of the hydrocarbon contaminants to a peroxygen compound; and

exposing the remaining hydrocarbon contaminants to an aqueous solution comprising a carboxylic acid.

22. The process of claim 21, wherein the media is selected from a group consisting of soil, sludge, and water.

23. The process of claim 21, wherein the aqueous solution further comprises a halogen compound.

24. The process of claim 23, wherein the halogen compound is selected from the group consisting of sodium bromide, sodium chloride, sodium flouride, sodium iodide, and periodic acid.

25. The process of claim 23, wherein the peroxygen compound is hydrogen peroxide, the carboxylic acid is glycolic acid, and the halogen compound is sodium bromide, and further wherein the media is water and the hydrocarbon contaminant is approximately 1 percent by weight, the hydrogen peroxide is from approximately 3 to 30 percent by weight, the glycolic acid is from approximately 0.0001 to 10 percent by weight, and the sodium bromide is from approximately 0.00005 to 10 percent by weight.

26. The process of claim 25, wherein sodium percarbonate is the source of the hydrogen peroxide.

27. The process of claim 23, wherein the peroxygen compound is hydrogen peroxide, the carboxylic acid is glycolic acid, and the halogen compound is sodium iodide.

28. The process of claim 21, wherein the carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, oxalic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, and benzoic acid.

29. The process of claim 21, wherein the peroxygen compound is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, calcium peroxide, magnesium peroxide, and sodium perborate.

30. The process of claim 29, wherein the carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, oxalic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, and benzoic acid.

31. The process of claim 30, wherein the aqueous solution further comprises a halogen compound selected from the group consisting of sodium bromide, sodium chloride, sodium flouride, sodium iodide, and periodic acid.

32. The process of claim 21, wherein:

the step of exposing at least some of the hydrocarbon contaminants to a peroxygen compound, further comprises exposing at least some of the hydrocarbon contaminants to the peroxygen compound by mixing the peroxygen compound with the media; and

the step of exposing the remaining hydrocarbon contaminants to a carboxylic acid, further comprises exposing the remaining hydrocarbon contaminants to a carboxylic acid by mixing the carboxylic acid with the media.

33. A process for oxidizing phosphonic acid contaminants in a media comprising:

exposing at least some of the phosphonic acid contaminants to a peroxygen compound; and

exposing the remaining phosphonic acid contaminants to an aqueous solution comprising a carboxylic acid.

34. The process of claim 33, wherein the media is selected from a group consisting of soil, sludge, and water.

35. The process of claim 33, wherein the aqueous solution further comprises a halogen compound.

36. The process of claim 35, wherein the halogen compound is selected from the group consisting of sodium bromide, sodium chloride, sodium flouride, sodium iodide, and periodic acid.

37. The process of claim 35, wherein the peroxygen compound is hydrogen peroxide, the carboxylic acid is glycolic acid, and the halogen compound is sodium bromide.

38. The process of claim 37, wherein sodium percarbonate is the source of the hydrogen peroxide.

39. The process of claim 35, wherein the peroxygen compound is hydrogen peroxide, the carboxylic acid is glycolic acid, and the halogen compound is sodium iodide.

40. The process of claim 33, wherein the carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, oxalic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, and benzoic acid.

41. The process of claim 33, wherein the peroxygen compound is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, calcium peroxide, magnesium peroxide, and sodium perborate.

42. The process of claim 41, wherein the carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, oxalic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, and benzoic acid.

43. The process of claim 42, wherein the aqueous solution further comprises a halogen compound selected from the group consisting of sodium bromide, sodium chloride, sodium flouride, sodium iodide, and periodic acid.

44. The process of claim 33, wherein:

the step of exposing at least some of the phosphonic acid contaminants to a peroxygen compound, further comprises exposing at least some of the phosphonic acid contaminants to the peroxygen compound by mixing the peroxygen compound with the media; and

the step of exposing the remaining phosphonic acid contaminants to a carboxylic acid, further comprises exposing the remaining phosphonic acid contaminants to a carboxylic acid by mixing the carboxylic acid with the media.

45. A process for oxidizing contaminants on a solid surface, wherein the solid surface is selected from the group consisting of brick, concrete, cement, asphalt, clay, and caliche, the process comprising:

wetting the solid surface with water;

distributing a peroxygen compound onto the surface; and

distributing an aqueous carboxylic acid solution onto the surface.

46. The process of claim 45, wherein the contaminant is selected from the group consisting of arabic gum, hydrocarbon, animal oil, and vegetable oil.

47. The process of claim 45, wherein the aqueous carboxylic acid solution further comprises a halogen compound.

48. The process of claim 47, wherein the peroxygen compound is hydrogen peroxide, the carboxylic acid is glycolic acid, and the halogen compound is sodium bromide.

49. The process of claim 48, wherein sodium percarbonate is the source of the hydrogen peroxide.

50. A process for oxidizing organic compound contaminants in a media, wherein the organic compound is selected from the group consisting of animal oils and vegetable oils, the process comprising:

exposing at least some of the organic compound contaminants to a peroxygen compound; and

exposing the remaining organic compound contaminants to an aqueous solution comprising a carboxylic acid.

51. The process of claim 50, wherein the media is selected from a group consisting of soil, sludge, and water.

52. The process of claim 50, wherein the aqueous solution further comprises a halogen compound.

53. The process of claim 52, wherein the halogen compound is selected from the group consisting of sodium bromide, sodium chloride, sodium flouride, sodium iodide, and periodic acid.

54. The process of claim 52, wherein the peroxygen compound is hydrogen peroxide, the carboxylic acid is glycolic acid, and the halogen compound is sodium bromide.

55. The process of claim 54, wherein sodium percarbonate is the source of the hydrogen peroxide.

56. The process of claim 52, wherein the peroxygen compound is hydrogen peroxide, the carboxylic acid is glycolic acid, and the halogen compound is sodium iodide.

57. The process of claim 50, wherein the carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, oxalic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, and benzoic acid.

58. The process of claim 50, wherein the peroxygen compound is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, calcium peroxide, magnesium peroxide, and sodium perborate.

59. The process of claim 58, wherein the carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, oxalic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, and benzoic acid.

60. The process of claim 59, wherein the aqueous solution further comprises a halogen compound selected from the group consisting of sodium bromide, sodium chloride, sodium flouride, sodium iodide, and periodic acid.

61. A process for oxidizing contaminated sludge underlying water, comprising:

distributing a peroxygen compound into the water; and

distributing a carboxylic acid into the water.

62. The process of claim 61, wherein the step of distributing a carboxylic acid into the water further comprises distributing a solution into the water having the carboxylic acid and a halogen compound.

63. The process of claim 62, wherein the peroxygen compound is hydrogen peroxide, the carboxylic acid is glycolic acid, and the halogen compound is sodium bromide.

64. A process for oxidizing bacteria suspended in wastewater, comprising:

exposing at least some of the bacteria to a peroxygen compound by mixing the peroxygen compound with the wastewater; and

exposing the remaining bacteria to an aqueous solution comprising a carboxylic acid by mixing the aqueous solution with the wastewater.

65. The process of claim 64, wherein the aqueous solution further comprises a halogen compound.

66. The process of claim 65, wherein the halogen compound is selected from the group consisting of sodium bromide, sodium chloride, sodium flouride, sodium iodide, and periodic acid.

67. The process of claim 65, wherein the peroxygen compound is hydrogen peroxide, the carboxylic acid is glycolic acid, and the halogen compound is sodium bromide.

68. The process of claim 67, wherein sodium percarbonate is the source of the hydrogen peroxide.

69. The process of claim 65, wherein the peroxygen compound is hydrogen peroxide, the carboxylic acid is glycolic acid, and the halogen compound is sodium iodide.

70. The process of claim 64, wherein the carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, oxalic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, and benzoic acid.

71. The process of claim 64, wherein the peroxygen compound is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, calcium peroxide, magnesium peroxide, and sodium perborate.

72. The process of claim 71, wherein the carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, oxalic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, and benzoic acid.

73. The process of claim 72, wherein the aqueous solution further comprises a halogen compound selected from the group consisting of sodium bromide, sodium chloride, sodium flouride, sodium iodide, and periodic acid.

74. A process for oxidizing hydrocarbon contaminants in a subsurface formation, wherein the subsurface formation is in communication with the surface through a well bore, comprising:

exposing the hydrocarbon contaminants to an aqueous solution comprising a peroxygen compound and a carboxylic acid, by injecting the solution through the well bore to the subsurface formation.

75. The process of claim 74, wherein the aqueous solution further comprises a halogen compound.

76. The process of claim 75, wherein the peroxygen compound is hydrogen peroxide, the carboxylic acid is glycolic acid, and the halogen compound is sodium bromide.

77. An oxidizing solution, comprising an aqueous solution comprising a peroxygen compound, a carboxylic acid, and a halogen compound.

78. The oxidizing solution of claim 77, wherein the peroxygen compound is hydrogen peroxide, the carboxylic acid is glycolic acid, and the halogen compound is sodium bromide.