In-situ surfactant and chemical oxidant flushing for complete remediation of contaminants and methods of using same

• US 7,021,863 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tersus Environmental, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Surbec Environmental LLC
• Inventors: Shiau, Bor-Jier
• Primary Examiner(s): KRECK, JOHN J
• Application Number:
  US10/909,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20050013665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 405/128.15, 405/128.25, 405/128.45, 405/128.75, 405/128.5
• US Class Current: 405/128.15
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/002 involving in-situ ground water treatment
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/02 Extraction using liquids, e.g. washing, leaching , flotation
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/08 chemically
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 2101/00 In situ

Abstract

The present invention relates to removal of subsurface contaminants and methods of same. In more particular, but not by way of limitation, the present invention relates to an integrated method for remediating subsurface contaminants through the use of a low concentration surfactant solution (and methods of making and using novel surfactant solutions) followed by an abiotic polishing process to thereafter achieve a substantially reduced subsurface contaminant concentration that surfactant flushing alone cannot achieve.

Claims

1. A method for substantially removing subsurface contaminants, comprising the step of:

introducing an effective amount of at least one preselected surfactant solution, wherein the preselected surfactant solution is a mixture of sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate and linear alkyl diphenyloxide disulfonate, wherein the effective amount of the at least one preselected surfactant is capable of substantially removing subsurface contaminants.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the subsurface contaminant is a dense non-aqueous phase liquid.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the subsurface contaminant is a light non-aqueous phase liquid.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the weight percent of effective amount of the at least one preselected surfactant solution is in a range from about 0.05% to about 15%.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the weight percent of effective amount of the at least one preselected surfactant solution is in a range from about 3% to about 8%.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the weight percent of effective amount of the at least one preselected surfactant solution is in a range from about 1% to about 3%.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the weight percent of effective amount of the at least one preselected surfactant solution is in a range from about 0.05% to about 1%.

2. A method for substantially expediting subsurface remediation of contaminants comprising the steps of:

introducing at least one surfactant capable of remediating at least one subsurface contaminant, wherein the surfactant is a mixture of sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate and linear alkyl diphenyloxide disulfonate.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the subsurface contaminant is a dense non-aqueous phase liquid.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the subsurface contaminant is a light non-aqueous phase liquid.