Method for decontaminating soils
First Claim
1. A method for the substantially complete dehalogenation of trace haloorganic contaminants in a soil, sediment, or sludge comprising the step of contacting a soil, sediment, or sludge containing less than 5% by weight of a haloorganic contaminant with a reagent of the formula MX, where M is a metal selected from the group consisting of K, Na, Ca, Zn, Mg, Ra, and Pb, and X is hydroxide, carbonate, oxide, or acetate, in the presence of a phase compatibilizing agent, for a time sufficient to effect the dehalogenation of at least 90% of said contaminant.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for substantially degrading and detoxifying soils contaminated with haloorganic compounds is shown. The method comprises contacting a soil, sediment, or sludge containing less that 5% by weight of a haloorganic contaminant, with a reagent of the formula MX, where M is a metal selected from the group consisting of K, Na, Ca, Zn, Mg, Ba, Pb, and X is hydroxide, carbonate, oxide, or acetate. The contact and subsequent reaction is carried out under conditions which insure the phase compatibility of the haloorganic contaminant and the reagent, and preferably under anhydrous conditions. The contact is carried out for a time sufficient to effect the dehalogenation of at least 90% of the contaminant.
25 Citations
37 Claims
- 1. A method for the substantially complete dehalogenation of trace haloorganic contaminants in a soil, sediment, or sludge comprising the step of contacting a soil, sediment, or sludge containing less than 5% by weight of a haloorganic contaminant with a reagent of the formula MX, where M is a metal selected from the group consisting of K, Na, Ca, Zn, Mg, Ra, and Pb, and X is hydroxide, carbonate, oxide, or acetate, in the presence of a phase compatibilizing agent, for a time sufficient to effect the dehalogenation of at least 90% of said contaminant.
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6. A method for the substantially complete dehalogenation of trace haloorganic contaminants in a soil, sediment, or sludge comprising the step of contacting a soil, sediment, or sludge containing less than 5% by weight of a haloorganic contaminant with a mixture containing
(a) an aprotic solvent; - and
(b) a reagent of the formula MX, where M is a metal selected from the group consisting of K, Na, Ca, Zn, Mg, Ba, and Pb, and X is hydroxide, carbonate, oxide, or acetate; under conditions which ensure the phase compatibility of said haloorganic contaminant and said reagent, for a time sufficient to effect the dehalogenation of at least 90% of said contaminant. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for the detoxification of trace haloorganic contaminants in a soil, sediment, or sludge comprising the step of contacting a soil, sediment, or sludge containing less than 5% by weight of a haloorganic contaminant with a mixture containing
(a) an aprotic solvent; -
(b) a reagent of the formula MX where M is a metal selected from the group consisting of K, Na, Ca, Zn, Mg, Ba, and Pb, and X is hydroxide, carbonate, oxide, or acetate; and (c) a phase compatibilizing agent for said haloorganic compound and said reagent, for a time sufficient to effect the dehalogenation of at least 90% of said contaminant. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for the substantially complete detoxification of aromatic polychloroorganics in a soil, sediment, or sludge comprising the step of contacting a contaminated soil, sediment, or sludge containing less than 1% by weight of aromatic polychloroorganics, under anhydrous conditions, with a mixture containing
(a) a hydrocarbon solvent, (b) from 1.5 to 100 molar equivalents, relative to the total moles of halo atoms in said contaminant in said soil, sediment, or sludge, of a reagent of the formula MX where M is a metal selected from the group consisting of K, Na, and Ca and X is hydroxide, carbonate, or oxide, and (c) from 10 to 100 moles, relative to the total moles of aromatic polychloroorganic contaminant, of a phase compatibilizing agent selected from the group consisting of alcohols, ethers, nitriles, amines, and amides, at a temperature above 180° - C. for from 15 to 250 minutes,
to lower the content of residual contaminant in said soil to less than 100 ppm.
- C. for from 15 to 250 minutes,
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17. A method for the substantially complete dehalogenation of trace trichloroethylene contaminant in a soil, sediment, or sludge comprising the step of contacting a soil, sediment, or sludge containing less than 5% by weight of trichloroethylene with a reagent of the formula MX, where M is a metal selected from the group consisting of K, Na, Ca, Zn, Mg, Ba, and Pb, and X is hydroxide, carbonate, oxide, or acetate, in the presence of a phase compatibilizing agent, for a time sufficient to effect the dehalogenation of at least 90% of said contaminant.
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18. A method for the substantially complete dehalogenation of trace haloorganic contaminants in a soil, sediment, or sludge comprising the step of contacting a soil, sediment, or sludge containing less than 5% by weight of a haloorganic contaminant with a reagent of the formula MX present in from 1.5 to 100 mols per total mols of halo atom in said contaminant, where M is a metal selected from the group consisting of K, Na Ca, Zn, Mg, Ba, and Pb, and X is hydroxide, carbonate, oxide, or acetate, at a temperature above 150°
- C., in the presence of a phase compatibilizing agent present in from 10 to 1000 mols per mol of haloorganic contaminant in said soil, sediment, or sludge, for a time sufficient to effect the dehalogenation of at least 90% of said contaminant.
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19. A method for the substantially complete dehalogenation of trace haloorganic contaminants in a soil, sediment, or sludge comprising the step of contacting a soil, sediment, or sludge containing less than 5% by weight of a haloorganic contaminant with a mixture containing
(a) an aprotic solvent; - and
(b) a reagent of the formula MX, where M is a metal selected from the group consisting of K, Na, Ca, Zn, Mg, Ba, and Pb, and X is hydroxide, carbonate, oxide, or acetate; at a temperature sufficiently high to ensure the phase compatibility of said haloorganic contaminant and said reagent without an extrinsically added phase compatibilizing agent, for a time sufficient to effect the dehalogenation of at least 90% of said contaminant. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method for the substantially complete dehalogenation of trace haloorganic contaminants in a soil, sediment, or sludge comprising the step of contacting a soil, sediment, or sludge containing less than 5% by weight of a haloorganic contaminant with a mixture containing
(a) an aprotic solvent; -
(b) a reagent of the formula MX, where M is a metal selected from the group consisting of K, Na, Ca, Zn, Mg, Ba, and Pb, and X is hydroxide, carbonate, oxide, or acetate; and (c) a phase compatibilizing agent present in from 10 to 1000 mols per mol of haloorganic contaminant in said soil, sediment, or sludge, and selected from the group consisting of alcohols, nitriles, ethers, amines, and amides; the phase compatibility of said reagent and said soil, sediment, or sludge achieved by maintaining the temperature of said contact above 150°
C., and for a time sufficient to effect the dehalogenation of at least 90% of said contaminant. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A method for the detoxification of trace haloorganic contaminants in a soil, sediment, or sludge comprising the step of contacting a soil, sediment, or sludge containing less than 5% by weight of a haloorganic contaminant with a mixture containing
(a) an aprotic solvent selected from the group consisting of amines, ethers, and hydrocarbons; -
(b) a reagent of the formula MX, where M is a metal selected from the group consisting of K, Na, Ca, Zn, Mg, Ba, and Pb, and X is hydroxide, carbonate, oxide, or acetate; and (c) a phase compatibilizing agent for said haloorganic compound and said reagent, for a time sufficient to effect the dehalogenation of at least 90% of said contaminant. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for the substantially complete detoxification of aromatic polychloroorganics in a soil, sediment, or sludge comprising the step of contacting a contaminated soil, sediment, or sludge containing less than 1% by weight of aromatic polychloroorganics, under anhydrous conditions, with a mixture containing
(a) a hydrocarbon solvent, (b) from 1.5 to 100 molar equivalents, relative to the total moles of halo atoms in said contaminant in said soil, sediment, or sludge, of a reagent of the formula MX where M is a metal selected from the group consisting of K, Na, and Ca and X is hydroxide, carbonate, or oxide, and (c) from 10 to 1000 moles, relative to the total moles of aromatic polychloroorganic contaminant, of a phase compatibilizing agent selected from the group consisting of alcohols, ethers, nitriles, amines, and amides, at a temperature above 180° - C. for from 15 to 250 minutes,
to lower the content of residual contaminant in said soil to less than 50 ppm. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
- C. for from 15 to 250 minutes,
Specification