Groundwater And Subsurface Remediation

• US 20100116725A1
• Filed: 01/15/2010
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kerfoot Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Thinkvillage-Kerfoot LLC
• Inventors: Kerfoot, William B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,557,110 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/150
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/23123 consisting of rigid porous or perforated material
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/23124 consisting of flexible porous or perforated material, e.g. fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/231265 being tubes, tubular elements, cylindrical elements or set of tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/237613 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/002 involving in-situ ground water treatment
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/08 chemically
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 2101/00 In situ
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/00 Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage C02F3/00 - C02F9/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/725 by catalytic oxidation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/32 Hydrocarbons, e.g. oil
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/36 containing halogen
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/06 Contaminated groundwater or leachate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/782 Ozone generators
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/784 Diffusers or nozzles for ozonation
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1208 characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means E21B33/1277 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of treating a site containing contaminants and apparatus are described The method and apparatus sparges the site with an air/ozone gas stream delivered with a hydroperoxide, which is a substantial byproduct of a reaction of a contaminant present in the aquifer or soil formation with the ozone.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating subsurface water comprising:

a first cylindrical member and a second cylindrical member, the second cylindrical member being coaxially disposed within the first cylindrical member, the cylindrical members being disposed in the subsurface water to deliver at least a first fluid and a second fluid with one of the fluids forming a coating over the other of the fluids;

an ozone generator;

an air compressor and compressor/pump control mechanism to deliver ozone (O₃) from the ozone generator to one of a cylindrical member as one of the fluids.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a source of a liquid hydroperoxide.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the liquid hydroperoxide is selected from the group consisting of formic peracid, hydroxymethyl hydroperoxide, 1-hydroxylethyl hydroperoxide, and chloroformic peracid or their derivatives.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of cylindrical members disposed within confines of the first cylindrical member.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein air and ozone is delivered to a central inner chamber of the first cylindrical member and a liquid hydroperoxide is delivered to the plurality of cylindrical members.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the plurality of cylindrical members disposed within confines of the first cylindrical member have a porosity characteristic that permits bubbles in a range of 50 to 200 microns to be released into the surrounding formation.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a feed mechanism to deliver a selected liquid hydroperoxide to a cylindrical member as the second one of the fluids.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the feed mechanism is a pump.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein air and ozone is delivered to a central inner chamber of the first cylindrical member and a liquid hydroperoxide is delivered to an outer chamber of the second cylindrical member.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein when ozone/air is delivered to the central inner chamber of the first cylindrical member, bubbles are produced that tend to travel upwards through the soil formation.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a sidewall of the first and second cylindrical member has a porosity characteristic that permits bubbles of between 5-200 microns in diameter to be released into the surrounding formation.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further being disposed through a vadose zone and an underlying aquifer in the soil formation.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further being coupled to appropriate piping to connect to the air/ozone and the apparatus

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a packer disposed above said apparatus.

15. The packer of claim 14 comprising a first internal compartment forming an aperture through the packer;

and

a second compartment filled with water-absorbing pellets wherein the water-absorbing pellets expand to seal a well, well annulus, or borehole.

16. The packer of claim 15 further comprising a stopper.

17. The packer of claim 15 wherein a first and a second wall, forming the first and second compartment respectively is comprised of a material compatible with high levels of ozone.

18. The packer of claim 16 wherein the material comprises high density polyethylene (HDPE).

19. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a well having a casing.

20. The casing of claim 19 further comprising an inlet well screen and an outlet well screen to promote recirculation of water into the casing and through surrounding ground area.