In situ remedial alternative and aquifer properties evaluation probe system

• US 20060046297A1
• Filed: 08/31/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enchem Engineering Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Enchem Engineering Incorporated
• Inventors: Ball, Raymond G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,659,123 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/28
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/0826 and measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. permeation rate or pressure change
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/24 Earth materials G01N33/42 takes precedence

Abstract

In general, the purpose of the probe system is to provide improved rapid field methods using re-designed direct push technology (DPT) and “push-pull testing” concepts to evaluate in situ chemical, biochemical, surfactant, adsorptive media, and leaching and fixation remediation technologies for hazardous subsurface contaminant(s). The probe system and methods described here when applied to a hazardous waste site being considered for in situ remediation of contaminants (organic or inorganic) by the listed treatment technologies will yield information that greatly reduces the uncertainty with regards to treatment effectiveness for the in situ soil, groundwater, and contaminant(s) conditions affecting dosage requirements and reaction rate(s) for various reactants. The probe system described here is multi-purpose in that it was designed: 1) to measure the relative permeability of the subsurface soil and groundwater to a liquid or gas ejectant, 2) to recover soil gas, soil, or groundwater samples for contaminant analyses, 3) to measure the chemical dosage and reaction, dissolution, adsorption, desorption, leaching, or fixation rate of a reactant such as a chemical or biochemical oxidant, metallic or bimetallic dehalogenating agent, surfactant or emulsifier solution, adsorbent media regenerant, leaching or fixation reagent that is injected into the matrix and withdrawn during a push-pull test, 4) to perform combinations of the above, 5) to measure the in situ adsorption capacity of adsorbent media and subsequently measure the effectiveness of regenerant(s) for the adsorbent media, and (6) to measure the effectiveness of a treated soil column for inorganic contaminant(s) leaching or fixation. In addition to being an in situ remedial alternatives evaluation tool, the probe system can be used as a reactant(s) delivery device after the specific remedial technology has been selected.

Claims

1. A probe system comprising:

a hollow tubular steel probe shaft of variable length and width sections,

a hollow steel drive point or optional, interchangeable, hollow steel soil sampler with plastic inner-sleeve proximally attached to the hollow tubular steel probe shaft,

a driving mechanism,

a regulating device for measuring and controlling the rate of probe advancement,

chambers for the ejection of distinct fluids from each chamber,

slots around the periphery of the chambers,

a sealant or lubricant for one of the chambers,

a fluid for permeability measurement,

a reactant for a push-pull test from a chamber,

a chemical feed and injection system connected to the tubular probe shaft,

a gas or liquid sampling system connected to the probe shaft,

an adsorbent media,

a soil column sample,

a sensor network, communication, and data acquisition unit.

2. The probe system of claim 1 further comprising:

a sealant such as, but not limited, to a bentonite slurry or polymer.

3. The probe system of claim 1 further comprising:

a lubricant such as, but not limited, to vegetable oil.

4. The chambers of claim 1 further comprising:

an upper chamber with optional short expanded width section, and a lower chamber.

5. The slots of claim 1 further wherein said slots are vertical or horizontal.

6. The reactant of claim 1 comprising:

a liquid such as (but not limited to) hydrogen peroxide, Fenton'"'"'s reagent, modified Fenton'"'"'s reagent, permanganate, persulfate, ozone, and mixtures of these;

a gas such as (but not limited to) ozone, pure oxygen, air, or mixtures of these;

or metallic or bimetallic nanoparticles containing such metals as (but not limited to) iron, palladium, platinum, for inducing chemical dehalogenation;

or biochemicals such microbial food source or nutrient containing compounds for inducing a biochemical reaction with subsurface contaminant(s) in soil, a soil column sample and/or groundwater;

a surfactant or emulsifier for desorbing and solubilizing contaminant(s) from any non-aqueous phase liquid and/or the subsurface soil into groundwater;

a regenerant such as (but not limited to) Fenton'"'"'s reagent for regenerating the adsorbent media;

or a leaching agent such as (but not limited to) an acid or fixation agent such as (but not limited to) calcium phosphate for inducing contaminant leaching or fixation in a soil column sample, respectively.

7. The reactant of claim 6 comprising:

a liquid or gas for inducing a precipitate to form so as to reduce the permeability of the soil to contaminant migration.

8. The adsorbent media of claim 1 comprising:

a solid adsorbent media to adsorb contaminant(s) from the soil gas or groundwater that preferably can be regenerated.

9. The soil column sample of claim 1 comprising:

a soil sample containing inorganic or organic compounds that has been chemically leached or fixed so as to render the inorganic or organic compounds leachable or nonleachable, respectively.

10. The probe system of claim 1 having two injection and/or withdrawal lines to the lower chamber whereby only one line is used when configured in the push-pull test mode and two lines are used when configured in the gaseous reactant mode.

11. The probe system of claim 1 having a sampling line to the upper chamber when configured in any of the three potential modes.

12. The regulating device of claim 1 further comprising:

a rate of advancement monitoring mechanism,

a driving mechanism controller to accept input from the advancement monitoring mechanism,

a driving mechanism.

13. The communications and data acquisition unit device of claim 1 further comprising

down hole wireless or non-wireless sensors or combinations thereof for monitoring of soil gas temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide;

and for monitoring groundwater water level, pH, oxidation-reduction potential, and temperature

a communications and computer interface,

and a power supply.

14. The probe system of claim 1 comprising

a means for:

liquid injection at constant flow rate while measuring the change in pressure or at a constant pressure while measuring change in flow rate,

sample withdrawal of soil gas, soil, or groundwater, and liquid or gas ejection and withdrawal for performing a push-pull test, adsorbent media regeneration test, or soil contaminant chemical oxidation, biochemical oxidation, dissolution, leaching and fixation test.

17. A method of the probe system in claim 1 that can be configured in the gaseous reactant mode that comprises:

a hollow tubular steel probe shaft with a hollow steel drive point at the end connected to direct push technology driving mechanism using a vibratory percussion or slide hammer or pneumatics,

a regulating device for measuring and controlling a constant rate of probe advancement,

vertical or horizontal slots around the periphery of the probe and the separation of the probe into an upper and lower chamber with provision for a separating distance between the two chambers provided by a solid riser,

the lower chamber allows for injection of a gaseous or gaseous/liquid mixture of reactant(s) into the aquifer while the upper chamber allows for collection of groundwater containing the reaction by-products in a modified push-pull test with the subsequent re-injection of the groundwater (using an aboveground pump) into the lower chamber to create a re-circulating groundwater flow.

18. A method of the probe system of claim 1 can be configured in the in situ packed bed adsorbent or soil column sample mode that comprises:

a hollow steel tubular probe shaft with a hollow drive point at the end connected to direct push technology driving mechanism using a vibratory percussion or slide hammer or pneumatics,

a regulating device for measuring and controlling a constant rate of probe advancement,

separation of the probe into a lower chamber with vertical or horizontal slots around the periphery and a packed bed in situ adsorbent media upper chamber above the lower chamber containing an contaminant(s) adsorbent media, such as (but not limited to) activated carbon or zeolite or a soil column sample to be treated,

the packed bed in situ adsorbent media upper chamber having support plates and one-way check valves on both ends of the chamber to allow for groundwater flow upwards into the adsorbent media or soil column when the lower chamber is submerged and the top check valve is closed, or to allow for either injection or extraction of fluid from the media or soil contained in the upper chamber while the bottom check valve is closed.

15. A method for using said probe system comprising

measuring the relative permeability of subsurface soil and groundwater to either a liquid or gas,

sampling and profiling contaminant(s) concentration in the soil gas, soil, or groundwater, injecting and extracting a liquid, gaseous, or gaseous/liquid mixture, metallic or bimetallic nanoparticles, reactants, surfactant, or emulsifier the subsequent measurement of the chemical, biochemical, metallic or bimetallic nanoparticle, surfactant, emulsifier, or adsorbent dosage and reaction rate, adsorption-desorption and rate, or leaching and fixation agent dosage and reaction rate and the combination of the above.

16. A method for using said probe system comprising:

relative permeability or changes in relative permeability after reactant applications,

in situ hydraulic conductivity in the saturated zone,

groundwater velocity and porosity,

profile of contaminant concentration in soil gas, or soil, in the unsaturated (above the groundwater surface) or in soil or groundwater in the saturated zone (below the groundwater surface),

in situ chemical and biochemical oxidation dosage and reaction rate for contaminate reduction,

surfactant and/or emulsifier dosage for contaminant(s) recovery

residual subsurface non-aqueous phase liquid quantification using surfactants, emulsifiers, and/or a partitioning tracer,

in situ adsorbent media contaminant adsorption capacity and adsorbent rate, adsorbent media regenerant effectiveness, rate, and dosage,

soil column sample chemical or biochemical oxidation, dissolution, leaching or fixation evaluation.

19. A method of data acquisition comprising

software for recording, graphing, and analyzing the data collected by the wireless or non-wireless sensors;

or combinations thereof.