Chemical tailoring of steam to remediate underground mixed waste contaminents
First Claim
1. A method for in situ decontamination of a subsurface area containing mixed-waste, comprising:
- providing a quantity of steam;
chemically tailoring the steam with an additive to form a steam-additive mixture;
pressuring the steam-additive mixture;
injecting the pressurized steam-additive mixture underground and adjacent an area containing the mixed-waste;
directing the pressurized steam-additive mixture through a subsurface area containing the mixed-waste;
providing a subatmospheric extraction means located in spaced relation to the injected steam-additive mixture;
whereby the steam-additive mixture mobilizes at least one of the components in the mixed-waste and such is passed through the subsurface area toward the subatmospheric extraction means for withdrawal from the area containing the mixed-waste.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method to simultaneously remediate mixed-waste underground contamination, such as organic liquids, metals, and radionuclides involves chemical tailoring of steam for underground injection. Gases or chemicals are injected into a high pressure steam flow being injected via one or more injection wells to contaminated soil located beyond a depth where excavation is possible. The injection of the steam with gases or chemicals mobilizes contaminants, such as metals and organics, as the steam pushes the waste through the ground toward an extraction well having subatmospheric pressure (vacuum). The steam and mobilized contaminants are drawn in a substantially horizontal direction to the extraction well and withdrawn to a treatment point above ground. The heat and boiling action of the front of the steam flow enhance the mobilizing effects of the chemical or gas additives. The method may also be utilized for immobilization of metals by using an additive in the steam which causes precipitation of the metals into clusters large enough to limit their future migration, while removing any organic contaminants.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for in situ decontamination of a subsurface area containing mixed-waste, comprising:
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providing a quantity of steam; chemically tailoring the steam with an additive to form a steam-additive mixture; pressuring the steam-additive mixture; injecting the pressurized steam-additive mixture underground and adjacent an area containing the mixed-waste; directing the pressurized steam-additive mixture through a subsurface area containing the mixed-waste; providing a subatmospheric extraction means located in spaced relation to the injected steam-additive mixture; whereby the steam-additive mixture mobilizes at least one of the components in the mixed-waste and such is passed through the subsurface area toward the subatmospheric extraction means for withdrawal from the area containing the mixed-waste. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for in situ decontamination of a contaminated subsurface area containing mixed-waste including organics and metals or radionuclides, comprising:
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providing an injection well system comprising at least one injection well located within the contaminated area; providing at least one extraction well located within the contaminated area and spaced from the at least one injection well; chemically tailoring the steam with an additive; concurrently injecting the steam-additive into the injection well system and applying subatmospheric pressure to the extraction well, whereby the steam-additive is pushed and drawn in a substantially horizontal direction through the contaminated subsurface area toward the extraction well and whereby said steam-additive causes mobilization of at least an organic component of the mixed-waste and causes either mobilization or immobilization of at least a metallic or radionuclide component of the mixed-waste; withdrawing through the extraction well at least the mobilized contaminants; and ceasing injection of the steam-additive into the injection well system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification