SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DECONTAMINATING SOIL AND GROUNDWATER

• US 20090080979A1
• Filed: 09/22/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fruits & Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fruits & Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Zehler, Carl Nick
• Application Number:
  US12/235,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20090080979A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 405/128.300
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/002 involving in-situ ground water treatment
• 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 1/08 chemically
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/10 microbiologically, biologically or by using enzymes

Abstract

A system for decontaminating a soil and groundwater region. The system has a well manifold assembly comprising a conduit adapted to be inserted into a contaminated area of the soil and groundwater region, a vacuum system for withdrawing fluid and vapor from the soil and groundwater region, and a remediating fluid injection system in fluid connection with the conduit. The remediating fluid injection system is adapted to inject a remediating fluid into the soil and groundwater region for treating contaminants in the soil and groundwater region. The conduit is linked to both the remediating fluid injection system and to the vacuum system. The vacuum system is operated to perform a dual-phase extraction of fluid and vapor from the soil and groundwater region to create a negative pressure in the soil and groundwater region. Next, remediating fluid is injected into the soil and groundwater region.

Claims

1. A system for decontaminating a soil and groundwater region, the system comprising:

a well manifold assembly comprising a conduit adapted to be inserted into a contaminated area of the soil and groundwater region;

a vacuum system including a vacuum pump in fluid connection with the conduit for withdrawing fluid and vapor from the soil and groundwater region; and

a remediating fluid injection system in fluid connection with the conduit, the remediating fluid injection system is adapted to inject a remediating fluid into the soil and groundwater region for treating contaminants in the soil and groundwater region,

wherein the conduit is linked to both the remediating fluid injection system accommodating a flow of the remediating fluid injected in a first direction into the soil and groundwater region and to the vacuum system for accommodating a flow of the fluid and vapor withdrawn from the soil and groundwater region in a second direction.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the conduit comprises a first chamber along which the flow of remediating fluid is injected into the soil and groundwater region and a second chamber through which the flow of fluid and vapor is withdrawn from the soil and groundwater region.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the remediating fluid injected into the soil and groundwater region flows downwardly in the first chamber and the fluid and vapor withdrawn from the soil and groundwater region flows upwardly in the second chamber.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the conduit comprises an outer pipe and an inner pipe, the outer and inner pipe being co-axially positioned relative to one another.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the first chamber is defined within a space between the inner and outer pipe, and wherein the second chamber is defined along the inner pipe.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the outer pipe comprises a plurality of openings formed along at least a portion of the outer pipe.

7. The soil and groundwater decontamination system of claim 4 wherein the inner pipe comprises a distal opening and the outer pipe comprises a distal end of the conduit, the distal opening being axially located above the distal end of the conduit.

8. The soil and groundwater decontamination system of claim 7 wherein the distal opening of the inner pipe is positioned below a water level of the water table and the distal opening of the outer pipe is positioned below the water level of the water table.

9. The soil and groundwater decontamination system of claim 1 wherein the remediating fluid comprises at least one of an oxidizing agent, a biological agent, a surfactant, and a co-solvent.

10. A method of decontaminating a soil and groundwater region, the method comprising:

providing a well manifold assembly comprising a conduit inserted into the soil and groundwater region, a vacuum system in fluid connection with the conduit, and a remediating fluid injection system in fluid connection with the conduit;

operating the vacuum system to perform a dual-phase extraction of fluid and vapor from the soil and groundwater region comprising drawing fluid and vapor from the soil and groundwater region into and through the conduit, and creating a negative pressure in the soil and groundwater region;

after withdrawing an amount of fluid and vapor and creating the negative pressure in the soil and groundwater region, injecting a remediating fluid from the remediating fluid injection system into the soil and groundwater region, the remediating fluid being conveyed through the conduit and dispersed into the soil and groundwater region by the negative pressure created in the soil and groundwater region.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the conduit comprises a first chamber for receiving the flow of remediating fluid and a second chamber for receiving the flow of fluid and vapor from the soil and groundwater region.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the operating the vacuum system comprises drawing fluid and vapor from the soil and groundwater region into the first chamber, directing the fluid and vapor along the first chamber to an opening of the second chamber, and passing the fluid and vapor through the second chamber to the vacuum system.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising allowing the remediating fluid injected into the substrate to mix and react with contaminants in the soil and groundwater region to treat the soil and groundwater and assist in removal of contaminants from the soil and groundwater region.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising reengaging the vacuum system after the allowing the remediating fluid to mix and react with the contaminants to remove the remediating fluid and vapor from the soil and groundwater region.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the remediating fluid comprises at least one of an oxidizing agent, a biological agent, a surfactant, and a co-solvent.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the operating the vacuum system lowers the water table in a portion of the soil and groundwater region adjacent the conduit.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the remediating fluid flows downwardly in the first chamber and the fluid and vapor from the soil and groundwater region flows upwardly in the second chamber.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the allowing the remediating fluid to mix and react with contaminants comprises a time delay between the injecting the remediating fluid and the reengaging the vacuum system.