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Method and apparatus for in situ decontamination of a site contaminated with a volatile material

  • US 5,664,911 A
  • Filed: 07/23/1996
  • Issued: 09/09/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of removing a contaminant from a contaminated region of the earth containing water, comprising:

  • contacting a portion of a treatment region with an electrically conductive matrix;

    heating the treatment region of the contaminated region of the earth to a temperature below the normal boiling point of water by a substantially spatially uniform and continuous conduction frequency electric field applied to the electrically conductive matrix and extending through the treatment region, the electric field causing an alternating conduction frequency electric current to flow through the treatment region without arcing so that at least a portion of the contaminant becomes vapor at a temperature below the boiling point of water;

    blocking a portion of a surface of the earth above the treatment region to prevent air from flowing nonuniformly into the treatment region; and

    establishing a collection region from an auxiliary well at subatmospheric pressure within or below the treatment region for drawing in ambient air and moving it at a substantially constant speed into substantially all of the treatment region from the surface of the earth so as to transport the volatile contaminant to the auxiliary well at the collection region.

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