Method and apparatus for remediating contaminated soil
First Claim
1. An apparatus for remediating contaminated material, comprising:
- (a) means for conveying a contaminated material from a receiving location to a transfer location;
(b) means for dispensing an absorbent material on the contaminated material between said receiving and transfer locations;
(c) means for receiving the contaminated and absorbent materials at said transfer location and for concurrently mixing the materials together and transporting them from said transfer location to a deposit location;
(d) means for applying an oxidizing material on the contaminated and absorbent materials between said transfer and deposit locations to produce mixing of the oxidizing material therewith between said transfer and deposit locations; and
(e) means for injecting oxygen containing gas the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials between said transfer and deposit locations concurrently as the oxidizing material is being applied and the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials are being mixed to produce a reaction therebetween which forms reaction by-products more environmentally acceptable than the contaminated material for discharge at said deposit location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A remediating apparatus has a conveyor which moves contaminated material, a main hopper which holds a load of contaminated material and dispenses the material onto the conveyor at a receiving location, and an auxiliary hopper adjacent the main hopper which holds a load of an absorbent material and dispenses the material onto the contaminated material as the material is moved toward a transfer location. The apparatus also has an oxidizing material applicator and an aerator associated with an elongated mixing chamber. Also, a mixing and conveying auger rotatably mounted in the mixing chamber concurrently mixes the contaminated and absorbent material received in the mixing chamber at the transfer location and transports them from the transfer location to a deposit location. Spray nozzles of the applicator connected in communication with the mixing chamber spray pressurized oxidizing material on the mixture of contaminated and absorbent materials. Air nozzles of the aerator connected in communication with the mixing chamber inject air under pressure in the mixture of contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials to aerate the materials concurrently as the oxidizing material is sprayed thereon and the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials are being mixed to produce a reaction therebetween and form reaction by-products which are more environmentally acceptable than the contaminated material for discharge at the deposit location.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An apparatus for remediating contaminated material, comprising:
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(a) means for conveying a contaminated material from a receiving location to a transfer location; (b) means for dispensing an absorbent material on the contaminated material between said receiving and transfer locations; (c) means for receiving the contaminated and absorbent materials at said transfer location and for concurrently mixing the materials together and transporting them from said transfer location to a deposit location; (d) means for applying an oxidizing material on the contaminated and absorbent materials between said transfer and deposit locations to produce mixing of the oxidizing material therewith between said transfer and deposit locations; and (e) means for injecting oxygen containing gas the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials between said transfer and deposit locations concurrently as the oxidizing material is being applied and the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials are being mixed to produce a reaction therebetween which forms reaction by-products more environmentally acceptable than the contaminated material for discharge at said deposit location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. The apparatus of claim wherein said aerating means includes a supply of compressed air and a plurality of air nozzles connected in communication with said air supply and with said mixing chamber at a plurality of spaced locations between said transfer and deposit locations for receiving and injecting air under pressure in the mixture of contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials.
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14. An apparatus for remediating contaminated material, comprising:
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(a) an elongated frame; (b) means on said frame for continuously conveying contaminated material from a receiving location to a transfer location; (c) means on said frame for holding a load of contaminated material and dispensing the material in a continuous flow at said receiving location; (d) means on said frame for holding a load of an absorbent material and dispensing the material in a continuous flow on the contaminated material as the latter material is conveyed between said receiving and transfer locations; (e) means on said frame for receiving the contaminated and absorbent materials at said transfer location and for concurrently mixing the materials together and transporting them from said transfer location to a deposit location; (f) means on said frame for spraying an oxidizing material on the contaminated and absorbent materials at a first plurality of spaced locations between said transfer and deposit locations to produce mixing of the oxidizing material with the contaminated and absorbent materials as the latter are mixed together and transported from said transfer to deposit locations; and (g) means on said frame for injecting oxygen containing gas the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials at a second plurality of spaced locations between said transfer and deposit locations concurrently as the oxidizing material is sprayed thereon and the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials are mixed together and transported from said transfer to deposit locations to produce a reaction therebetween which forms reaction by-products more environmentally acceptable than the contaminated material for discharge at said deposit location. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for remediating contaminated material, comprising the steps of:
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(a) conveying a contaminated material from a receiving location to a transfer location; (b) dispensing an absorbent material on the contaminated material between the receiving and transfer locations; (c) receiving the contaminated and absorbent materials at the transfer location and concurrently mixing the materials together and transporting them from the transfer location to a deposit location; (d) applying an oxidizing material on the contaminated and absorbent materials between the transfer and deposit locations to produce mixing of the oxidizing material therewith between the transfer and deposit locations; and (e) aerating the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials between the transfer and deposit locations concurrently as the oxidizing material is being applied and the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials are being mixed to produce a reaction therebetween and form reaction by-products which are more environmentally acceptable than the contaminated material for discharge at the deposit location. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for remediating contaminated material, comprising the steps of:
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(a) holding a load of contaminated material and dispensing the material in a continuous flow from the load thereof at the receiving location; (b) receiving contaminated material in the continuous flow thereof at the receiving location and conveying the material from the receiving location to a transfer location; (c) holding a load of absorbent material and dispensing the material in a continuous flow from the load thereof and onto the contaminated material being conveyed between the receiving and transfer locations; (d) receiving the contaminated and absorbent materials at the transfer location and concurrently mixing the materials together and transporting them from the transfer location to a deposit location; (e) spraying a liquid oxidizing material at a first plurality of spaced locations between the transfer and deposit locations onto the contaminated and absorbent materials to produce mixing of the oxidizing material therewith between the transfer and deposit locations; and (f) aerating the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials at a second plurality of spaced locations between the transfer and deposit locations by injecting air under pressure into the materials concurrently as the oxidizing material is being sprayed and the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials are being mixed the produce a reaction therebetween and form reaction by-products which are more environmentally acceptable than the contaminated material for discharge at the deposit location. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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Specification