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In-situ remediation of contaminated heterogeneous soils

  • US 5,476,992 A
  • Filed: 11/17/1993
  • Issued: 12/19/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A process for the in-situ remediation of a contaminated heterogeneous soil region comprising:

  • (a) introducing material for treating contaminants in said contaminated heterogeneous soil region selected from the group consisting of microorganisms, nutrients, electron acceptors, catalysts, adsorbents, surfactants, electron donors, co-metabolites, chelating agents, ion exchange resins, buffers, salts and combinations thereof, into at least one liquid permeable region within said contaminated heterogeneous soil region to form at least one treating zone within said contaminated heterogeneous soil region,(b) transmitting direct electric current through at least one low permeability soil region within said contaminated heterogeneous soil region between a first electrode and a second electrode having opposite charge, wherein (i) said first electrode is located at a first end of said contaminated heterogeneous soil region and said second electrode is located at the opposite end of said contaminated heterogeneous soil region or (ii) said first electrode is located at a first end of each of said low permeability soil regions and said second electrode is located at the opposite end of each of said low permeability soil regions, (1) to cause an electroosmotic flow from said second electrode to said first electrode, (2) to cause an electromigratory movement of ionic contaminants in a direction toward the electrode of opposite charge, or (3) to cause an electroosmotic flow from said second electrode to said first electrode and an electromigratory movement of ionic contaminants in a direction toward the electrode of opposite charge, and(c) applying a hydraulic gradient across said contaminated heterogeneous soil region to cause a hydraulic flow from the high pressure end of said contaminated heterogeneous soil region to the low pressure end of said contaminated heterogeneous soil region.

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