Soil remediation using heated vapors

• US 20040228690A1
• Filed: 05/15/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Inventors: Vinegar, Harold J., Stegemeier, George L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,534,926 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 405/128.45
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/00 Reclamation of contaminated soil
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/005 Extraction of vapours or gases using vacuum or venting
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/02 Extraction using liquids, e.g. washing, leaching , flotation
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/06 thermally
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/08 chemically
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/10 microbiologically, biologically or by using enzymes

Abstract

Methods are provided for remediating contaminated soil. The methods may include collecting contaminated soil at a plurality of treatment sites. The contaminated soil at one or more of the plurality of treatment sites may be at least partially contained. Vapors produced from heating soil at one site may be used to heat contaminated soil at another site. A fluid directed to a portion of heated contaminated soil may accelerate heat transfer through the site of contaminated soil or through another site of contaminated soil. A method may include heating contaminated soil from more than one site at substantially the same time. Heating contaminated soil from more than one site at substantially the same time may include in situ and ex situ treatment at a common location.

Claims

1. A method of remediating contaminated soil, comprising:

collecting contaminated soil;

providing at least partial containment of contaminated soil at a plurality of sites, comprising at least a first site with first contaminated soil and a second site with second contaminated soil;

heating the first contaminated soil at the first site; and

using vapors produced by heating the first contaminated soil at the first site to at least partially heat the second contaminated soil at the second site.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising directing a fluid to a portion of the first contaminated soil such that the fluid drives the vapors toward the second contaminated soil.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first site and the second site are coupled to each other through a conduit configured to allow the vapors from the contaminated soil at the first site to enter the contaminated soil at the second site.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least the partial containment is configured to reduce heat loss from the first site.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least the partial containment is configured to reduce heat loss from the second site.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein at least the partial containment comprises inflatable rubber tubing along a perimeter of the first contaminated soil.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein heating the contaminated soil at the first site at least partially destroys contaminants in the first contaminated soil.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising gathering high boiling point contaminants through one or more heated risers disposed in the contaminated soil at the first site during heating of the first site.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising gathering high boiling point contaminants through one or more heated risers disposed in the contaminated soil at the second site during heating of the second site.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the contaminated soil at the first site comprises a sludge, and wherein heating the first contaminated soil at least partially dewaters the sludge.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the contaminated soil at the second site comprises a sludge, and wherein heating the second contaminated soil at least partially dewaters the sludge.

3. (cancelled)

4. (cancelled)

6-9. -9. (cancelled)

12-17. -17. (cancelled)

19-21. -21. (cancelled)

27-37. -37. (cancelled)

38. A method of remediating contaminated soil, comprising:

providing at least partial containment to a site of contaminated soil, wherein the contaminated soil comprises an upper portion and a lower portion;

heating the contaminated soil; and

directing fluid from the lower portion of the contaminated soil into the upper portion of the contaminated soil, such that the fluid transfers heat from the lower portion to the upper portion of the contaminated soil.

41. The method of claim 38, further comprising insulating at least a portion of the contaminated soil.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the at least partial containment is configured to reduce heat loss from the contaminated soil.

44. The method of claim 38, wherein at least the partial containment comprises a remediation pit.

47. The method of claim 38, wherein at least the partial containment comprises inflatable rubber tubing along a perimeter of the contaminated soil.

49. The method of claim 38, wherein heating the contaminated soil at least partially destroys contaminants in the soil.

50. The method of claim 38, further comprising gathering high boiling point contaminants through one or more heated risers disposed in the contaminated soil.

51. The method of claim 38, wherein a portion of the contaminated soil comprises a sludge, and wherein heating the contaminated soil at least partially dewaters the sludge.

60. The method of claim 38, wherein heating the soil comprises using bare strips of at least one heater wire thermally coupled to the contaminated soil.

61. The method of claim 38, wherein heating the soil comprises applying heat proximate the upper portion and the lower portion of the contaminated soil.

39. (cancelled)

40. (cancelled)

43. (cancelled)

45. (cancelled)

46. (cancelled)

48. (cancelled)

52-59. -59. (cancelled)

62. (cancelled)

63. A method of remediating contaminated soil, comprising:

providing at least partial containment to a site of contaminated soil, wherein the contaminated soil comprises an upper portion and a lower portion;

disposing a first heat source between the upper portion and the lower portion of the contaminated soil;

disposing a second heat source in the upper portion of the contaminated soil; and

heating the contaminated soil with the first heat source and the second heat source to at least partially heat the upper portion and the lower portion of the contaminated soil at substantially the same time.

64. The method of claim 63, further comprising disposing a third heat source in one or more shallow trenches in the lower portion of the contaminated soil.

65. The method of claim 63, wherein the lower portion of the contaminated soil comprises a location of near surface soil contamination.

69. The method of claim 63, wherein at least the partial containment is configured to reduce heat loss from the contaminated soil.

71. The method of claim 63, wherein tat least the partial containment comprises a remediation pit.

76. The method of claim 63, wherein heating the contaminated soil at least partially destroys contaminants in the soil.

78. The method of claim 63, wherein a portion of the contaminated soil comprises a sludge, and wherein heating the contaminated soil at least partially dewaters the sludge.

88. The method of claim 63, wherein heating the soil comprises applying heat proximate the upper portion and the lower portion of the contaminated soil.

66-68. -68. (cancelled)

70. (cancelled)

72-75. -75. (cancelled)

77. (cancelled)

79-87. -87. (cancelled)

89. (cancelled)

90. A system to remediate contaminated soil, comprising:

a first site comprising at least partially contained contaminated soil;

a second site comprising at least partially contained contaminated soil;

a heat source thermally coupled to the contaminated soil at the first site, wherein the heat source is configured to apply heat to the contaminated soil at the first site; and

wherein the first site and the second site are coupled such that vapors produced by heating the contaminated soil at the first site are used to at least partially heat the contaminated soil at the second site during use.

91-117. -117. (cancelled)

118. A system to remediate contaminated soil, comprising:

a site comprising at least partially contained contaminated soil, wherein the contaminated soil comprises an upper portion and a lower portion;

a heat source thermally coupled to the contaminated soil, wherein the heat source is configured to heat the contaminated soil; and

a fluid source coupled to the contaminated soil, wherein the fluid source is configured to direct fluid from the lower portion of the contaminated soil into the upper portion of the contaminated soil;

wherein the fluid transfers heat from the lower portion to the upper portion of the contaminated soil during use.

119-142. -142. (cancelled)

143. A system to remediate contaminated soil, comprising:

a site comprising at least partially contained contaminated soil, the contaminated soil comprising an upper portion and a lower portion;

a first heat source disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion of contaminated soil; and

a second heat source at least partially disposed in the upper portion of the contaminated soil;

wherein the upper portion and the lower portion of contaminated soil are at least partially heated by the first heat source and the second heat source at substantially the same time during use.

144-169. -169. (cancelled)