Subsurface decontamination method

• US 6,268,205 B1
• Filed: 04/28/1999
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BioManagement Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: BioManagement Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Trezzo, Jerrold A., Kiest, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beisner, William H.
• Application Number:
  US09/301,087
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 435/262, 435/262.5, 435/264, 405/128, 588/205, 588/206, 588/207, 588/218, 588/248, 210/610, 210/620, 210/631, 210/759, 210/747
• US Class Current: 210/631
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/08 chemically
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/10 microbiologically, biologically or by using enzymes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/722 Oxidation by peroxides

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of decontaminating subsurface soil and/or groundwater in situ through the underground injection, immediately after mixing, of water and a powderized formulation of a dry mixture of metallic peroxides, such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, or other metallic peroxides, blended with decomposition rate modifiers, pH adjusters and iron salts, which, depending upon the concentrations of these individual compounds, generates hydrogen peroxide and subsequent powerful oxidizing agents on a desired, timed-release basis over a first relatively short period of time (e.g. several days). The reaction between the hydrogen peroxide and the iron salts produces hydroxyl and perhydroxyl radicals which rapidly oxidize organic contaminants leaving a residual which time-releases oxygen to thereafter enhance intrinsic bioremediation processes over a second longer period of time (e.g. several months). Micronutrients, macronutrients or other beneficial compounds may be included to further enhance intrinsic bioremediation processes.

Claims

1. A process for treating a zone of underground hydrocarbon contamination which is at a level above that which is desired comprising the steps of:

(A) determining the approximate pH and organic carbon load of the zone;

(B) providing a dry powdered mixture of;

a) a peroxide of one or more of Calcium, Magnesium, or other metallic peroxides;

b) pH adapters to maintain the pH of the fluid in an underground zone to approximately 7 to 9;

decomposition rate modifiers; and

(C) providing a quantity of water,

(D) mixing the dry ingredients with the water to form a slurry;

(E) immediately thereafter injecting in situ said slurry into the contaminated underground zone and allowing it to partially or wholely react with the hydrocarbon contamination; and

(F) after a period of time, testing the zone to determine the level of contamination and repeating at least Steps (B), (C), (D) and (E) of the process until a level of contamination below the acceptable level is detected by testing.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the dry powder mixture of step (B) also includes a decomposition rate modifier that controls the reaction rate of the peroxide with the water so as to ensure that such reaction substantially occurs in situ and over a period of time.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein the dry powder mixture includes calcium peroxide, monopotassium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate, and ferric sulfate.

4. The process of claim 2 wherein the dry powder mixture includes calcium peroxide, magnesium peroxide, sodium carbonate peroxylhydrate, monopotassium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate, and ferrous sulfate.

5. The process of claim 2 wherein the dry powder mixture includes calcium peroxide, sodium carbonate peroxylhydrate, monopotassium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate, and ferrous sulfate.

6. The process of claim 2 wherein the dry powder mixture includes calcium peroxide, magnesium peroxide, monopotassium phosphate and ferric sulfate.

7. The process of claim 2 wherein the dry powder mixture includes calcium peroxide, sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate, monopotassium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate and ferric sulfate.

8. The process of claim 2 wherein the dry powder mixture includes calcium peroxide, magnesium peroxide, sodium acid pyrophosphate and ferric sulfate.

9. The process of claim 2 wherein the dry powder mixture includes calcium peroxide, sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate, sodium acid pyrophosphate and ferrous sulfate.

10. The process of claim 2 wherein the dry powder mixture includes calcium peroxide, magnesium peroxide, sodium acid pyrophosphate and ferrous sulfate.

11. The process of claim 2 wherein the dry powder mixture includes sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate, magnesium peroxide, monopotassium phosphate and ferric sulfate.

12. The process of claim 2 wherein the dry powder mixture includes sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate, magnesium peroxide, monopotassium phosphate and ferrous sulfate.

13. The process of claim 2 wherein the dry powder mixture includes sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate, magnesium peroxide, sodium acid pyrophosphate and ferrous sulfate.

14. The process of claim 2 wherein the dry powder mixture includes sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate, magnesium peroxide, sodium acid pyrophosphate and ferric sulfate.

15. The process of claim 2 wherein the dry powder mixture includes sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate, magnesium peroxide, monoammonium phosphate and ferric sulfate.

16. The process of claim 2 wherein the dry powder mixture includes sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate, monopotassium phosphate and ferric sulfate.

17. The process of claim 2 wherein the dry powder mixture includes sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate, monopotassium phosphate and ferrous sulfate.

18. The process of claim 2 wherein the dry powder mixture includes sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate, sodium acid pyrophosphate and ferric sulfate.

19. The process of claim 2 wherein the dry powder mixture includes sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate, sodium acid pyrophosphate and ferrous sulfate.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein said slurry generates hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals and perhydroxyl radicals in situ on a timed-release basis, thereby allowing said slurry to be placed in situ before the generation of said hydrogen peroxide substantially occurs.