Oxidation of Organic Compounds

• US 20080264876A1
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evonik Active Oxygens LLC
• Original Assignee: FMC Corporation
• Inventors: Block, Philip A., Brown, Richard A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,785,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/759
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/002 involving in-situ ground water treatment
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/08 chemically
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/722 Oxidation by peroxides
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/725 by catalytic oxidation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/306 Pesticides
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/322 Volatile compounds, e.g. benzene
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/36 containing halogen
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/363 PCB's; PCP's
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/06 Contaminated groundwater or leachate

Abstract

An improved method and compositions for treating organic compounds present in soil, groundwater and other environments is disclosed. The method involves the use of a composition comprising a solid state, water soluble peroxygen compound and zero valent iron.

Claims

1. A method of oxidizing a contaminant present in an environmental medium, said method comprising contacting the contaminant with a composition comprising a water soluble peroxygen compound and zero valent iron.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the environmental medium is selected from soil, groundwater, process water or wastewater.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the contaminant is an organic compound selected from the group consisting of volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorobiphenyls, pesticides and herbicides.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the peroxygen compound is a dipersulfate.

5. A method as in claim 4, wherein the dipersulfate is selected from sodium, potassium or ammonium persulfate or a combination thereof.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the peroxygen compound is a monopersulfate.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein the monopersulfate is selected from sodium and potassium monopersulfate.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein the peroxygen compound is a combination of a dipersulfate and monopersulfate.

9. A method as in claim 1 wherein the zero valent iron has a nanoscale particle size of from about 10 nanometers to about 1 micron.

10. A method as in claim 1 wherein the zero valent iron has a micro scale particle size of from about 1 micron to about 5 microns.

11. A method as in claim 1 wherein the concentration of the peroxygen compound is from about 0.5 mg/L to about 250,000 mg/L.

12. A method as in claim 1 wherein the concentration of the zero valent iron is from about 1 ppm to about 1000 ppm on a metal basis.

13. A method as in claim 1 wherein the oxidation is performed in situ or ex situ.

14. A method as in claim 1 wherein the water soluble peroxygen compound is sodium persulfate.

15. A method as in claim 1 wherein the zero valent iron and the sodium persulfate are present in a suspension.

16. A method as in claim 3 wherein the organic compound is selected from the group consisting of trichloroethylene (TCE), vinyl chloride, tetrachloroethylene (PCE), methylene chloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA), carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, chlorobenzenes, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethyl benzene, ethylene dibromide, methyl tertiary butyl ether, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorobiphenyls, phthalates, 1,4-dioxane, nitrosodimethyl amine, and methyl tertbutyl ether.

17. A method as in claim 1 wherein the contaminant is present in soil or groundwater.

18. A composition suitable for use in treating a contaminant present in an environmental medium, said composition comprising a water soluble peroxygen compound and zero valent iron.

19. A composition as in claim 18 wherein the peroxygen compound is a monopersulfate or a dipersulfate.

20. A composition as in claim 19 wherein the peroxygen compound is sodium persulfate.