Method of in situ decontamination
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A process for removing contaminant from a vadose zone comprising the steps of:
- establishing a borehole at a desired angle into the vadose zone;
introducing a porous fill material into the borehole and positioning the fill material adjacent to portions of the vadose zone containing the contaminant;
positioning one end of a hollow conduit having a solid air impermeable side wall adapted for ease of installation and removal, subsequent to removal of the contaminant, into the borehole and adjacent to but not through an upper portion of the contaminant in the vadose zone, the conduit having its other end connected to pump means capable of applying suction to the conduit;
sealing an upper portion of the borehole around the conduit from the atmosphere;
applying suction to the conduit and the borehole to reduce pressure in a portion of the vadose zone and cause
1) air and contaminant vapors to move through the vadose zone and into the borehole and
2) creation of a liquid-vapor contaminant concentration gradient to facilitate vaporization of liquid contaminant and movement of the vapor through the vadose zone into the borehole; and
removing air and contaminant vapors which are substantially free of liquids through at least a portion of the porous fill material and from the borehole.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Decontamination is provided by establishing a borehole into the vadose zone, introducing porous fill material into the borehole, positioning a hollow conduit into the borehole, and applying suction to the conduit and the borehole to reduce pressure and cause air and contaminant vapors to move through the vadose zone and into the borehole and through the porous fill material contained therein.
50 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A process for removing contaminant from a vadose zone comprising the steps of:
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establishing a borehole at a desired angle into the vadose zone; introducing a porous fill material into the borehole and positioning the fill material adjacent to portions of the vadose zone containing the contaminant; positioning one end of a hollow conduit having a solid air impermeable side wall adapted for ease of installation and removal, subsequent to removal of the contaminant, into the borehole and adjacent to but not through an upper portion of the contaminant in the vadose zone, the conduit having its other end connected to pump means capable of applying suction to the conduit; sealing an upper portion of the borehole around the conduit from the atmosphere; applying suction to the conduit and the borehole to reduce pressure in a portion of the vadose zone and cause
1) air and contaminant vapors to move through the vadose zone and into the borehole and
2) creation of a liquid-vapor contaminant concentration gradient to facilitate vaporization of liquid contaminant and movement of the vapor through the vadose zone into the borehole; andremoving air and contaminant vapors which are substantially free of liquids through at least a portion of the porous fill material and from the borehole. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of removing one or more volatile contaminant from an unsaturated zone comprising:
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evacuating a hole at a desired angle to a desired depth; inserting one end of a solid wall, air impermeable hollow pipe adapted for ease of installation and removal, subsequent to removal of the contaminant into the hole to a desired depth and to a depth adjacent to an upper portion of the contaminant in the unsaturated zone or above the contaminant in the unsaturated zone; filling at least a portion of the hole with an air permeable fill material; establishing a substantially airtight seal around the pipe at an upper portion of the hole; creating a reduced pressure atmosphere in the pipe and the hole to cause air and vapor phase contaminant to flow into the hole and the pipe; and removing air and the vapor phase contaminant which is substantially free of liquid phase water or contaminant through at least a portion of the air permeable fill material and from the hole. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method of removing volatile contaminant from an unsaturated zone comprising:
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opening a hole at a desired angle into the unsaturated zone; positioning an end of a solid wall, air impermeable hollow pipe adapted for ease for installation and removal subsequent to removal of the contaminant, into the hole and adjacent to or above the contaminant in the unsaturated zone and to but not extending through the contaminant in the unsaturated zone air permeable fill material; establishing an airtight seal around the pipe at the hole; reducing the pressure in the pipe and the hole to cause air and contaminant vapors to flow into the hole and through the air permeable material; and removing air and contaminant vapors substantially free of liquids from the hole through at least part of the air permeable fill material and the pipe. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A process for removing contaminants from a vadose zone comprising the steps of:
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establishing a borehole at a desired angle into the vadose zone; introducing a porous fill material into the borehole and positioning the fill material adjacent to portions of the vadose zone containing the contaminant; positioning one end of a hollow conduit having a solid, air impermeable side wall adapted for ease of installation and removal, subsequent to removal of the contaminant, into the borehole to a depth no lower than an upper portion of the vadose zone containing the contaminant, the conduit having its other end connected to pump means capable of applying suction to the conduit; sealing an upper portion of the borehole around the conduit from the atmosphere; applying suction to the conduit and the borehole to create lowered pressure along the depth of the borehole to reduce pressure in portions of the vadose zone adjacent to the borehole and cause (1) air and contaminant vapors to move through the vadose zone and into the borehole and (2) creation of a liquid-vapor contaminant concentration gradient to facilitated vaporization of liquid contaminant and movement of the vapor through the vadose zone into the borehole; and removing air and contaminant vapors substantially free of water or contaminant in liquid form through at least a portion of the porous fill material and from the borehole.
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19. A method of removing volatile contaminant from an unsaturated zone comprising:
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opening a hole at a desired angle into the unsaturated zone; positioning an end of a solid wall, air impermeable hollow pipe adapted for ease of installation and removal, subsequent to removal of the contaminant into the hole and to a depth no lower than an upper portion of the unsaturated zone containing the contaminant and air permeable fill material in the hole; establishing an airtight seal around the pipe at the hole; reducing the pressure in the pipe and the hole to create lowered pressure along the depth of the hole, thereby causing air and contaminant vapors to flow into the hole from portions of the unsaturated zone adjacent to the hole and through the air permeable fill material; and removing air and contaminant vapors substantially free of liquid water or liquid contaminant from the hole through at least a portion of the air permeable fill material and the pipe.
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20. A method of removing volatile contaminant from an unsaturated zone comprising:
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opening a hole at a desired angle into the unsaturated zone; establishing an airtight seal between the hole and a solid wall, air impermeable hollow pipe adapted for ease of removal, subsequent to removal of the contaminant, and located at the hole, the pipe extending toward or into the hole to a depth no lower than an upper portion of the contaminant; reducing the pressure in the pipe and the hole to cause air and contaminant vapors to flow into the hole; and removing air and contaminant vapors substantially free of liquids from the hole.
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Specification