Methods and systems for groundwater remediation

• US 7,175,770 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2004
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Groundwater & Environmental Services Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Groundwater & Environmental Services Incorporated
• Inventors: Whisman, Charles B. III
• Primary Examiner(s): HOPKINS, ROBERT A
• Application Number:
  US10/802,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20040238459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 210/747, 210/759, 210/760, 405/128.45, 405/128.5, 405/128.3, 405/128.7, 405/128.75, 166/264
• US Class Current: 210/747.8
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/002 involving in-situ ground water treatment
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/08 chemically
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/686 Devices for dosing liquid additives
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/72 by oxidation C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/722 Oxidation by peroxides
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/725 by catalytic oxidation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/74 with air aeration of stretches of water C02F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/003 Explosive compounds, e.g. TNT
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/34 containing oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/363 PCB's; PCP's
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/06 Contaminated groundwater or leachate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/008 Mobile apparatus and plants, e.g. mounted on a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/23 O3
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/18 Removal of treatment agents after treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/20 Prevention of biofouling
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2305/023 Reactive oxygen species, singlet oxygen, OH radical

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for the remediation of contaminated water, soils and/or sediments. In some embodiments, the system includes one or more conduits for injection of hydrogen peroxide and ozone based reagents.

Claims

1. A method for treating groundwater and/or soil comprising:

a) conducting two or more different reagents separately through two or more conduits residing in a bore hole;

b) dispensing said two or more different reagents into said bore hole through injection ports associated with said two or more conduits, wherein at least one of said reagents is an oxidizing agent, and at least one of said reagents is capable of forming hydroxyl radicals by contacting said oxidizing agent;

c) preventing substantial contact of said two or more reagents with each other in said bore hole; and

d) forming hydroxyl radicals outside said bore hole by contacting of said two or more reagents outside said bore hole.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said preventing of substantial contact of said two or more reagents in said bore hole is facilitated with at least one diffusion barrier placed between said injection ports.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said two or more reagents are conducted through two conduits.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said injection ports comprise a diffuser, well screen, or sprayer.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one reagent is a gas and at least one further reagent is a liquid.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said liquid flows through said conduit at a flow rate between about 0.5 and 25 gpm.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said liquid flows through said conduit at a flow rate of about 0.5 gpm.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein said gas flows through said conduit at a flow rate between about 0.1 and 150 scfm.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein said gas flows through said conduit at a flow rate above about 15 scfm.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein said gas comprises ozone, oxygen, or air.

11. The method of claim 5 wherein said gas comprises ozone.

12. The method of claim 5 wherein said gas comprises air.

13. The method of claim 5 wherein said liquid comprises hydrogen peroxide.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said two or more reagents are pulsed through said conduits.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said groundwater or said soil is in a container.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said container is above ground.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said reagents comprise persulfate, hydrogen peroxide, ozone, oxygen, air, sodium permanganate, potassium permanganate, calcium peroxide, iron, catalyst, nutrients, carbon, or acid, or water solution thereof.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein one of said two or more different reagents further comprises persulfate.

19. The method of claim 2 wherein said diffusion barrier comprises bentonite or grout.

20. The method of claim 5 wherein said liquid comprises persulfate.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said diffusion barrier comprises bentonite or grout.

22. A method for treating groundwater and/or soil comprising:

a) conducting a gaseous reagent comprising ozone through a first conduit residing in a bore hole and conducting a liquid reagent comprising hydrogen peroxide through a second conduit residing in said bore hole;

b) dispensing said reagents into said bore hole through injection ports associated with each of said conduits;

c) preventing substantial contact of said gaseous and liquid reagents with each other in said bore hole; and

d) forming hydroxyl radicals outside said bore hole by contacting of said gaseous and liquid reagents outside said bore hole.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said gaseous reagent flows through said conduit at a flow rate above about 15 scfm.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein said gaseous reagent flows through said conduit at a flow rate up to about 40 scfm.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the concentration of ozone in said gaseous reagent is between about 1,000 ppmv and about 100,000 ppmv.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein said preventing of substantial contact of said two or more reagents in said bore hole is facilitated with at least one diffusion barrier placed between said injection ports.

27. A system for treating groundwater and/or soil comprising:

a) one conduit for conducting two or more different reagents into said groundwater and/or soil through a bore hole;

b) one injection port associated with said conduit for dispensing said two or more different reagents;

c) a diffusion barrier placed in said conduit above said injection port, isolating reagent injection location to a minimum depth within the borehole.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein said diffusion barrier comprises a well packer.

29. The system of claim 27 wherein said bore hole is packed with sand around said injection port.

30. The system of claim 27 wherein said injection port comprises a diffuser, well screen, or sprayer.

31. The system of claim 27 wherein said reagents comprise air and hydrogen peroxide.

32. The system of claim 27 wherein said reagents flow through said conduit at a flow rate of about 0.5 gpm to 20 gpm.

33. The system of claim 27 wherein said reagents flow through said conduit at about 1 scfm to 30 scfm.

34. The system of claim 27 wherein said system comprises a reagent line for gas and a reagent line for liquid in said conduit, wherein said reagent lines terminate within said injection port.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein said reagent lines each terminate at different points within said injection port.

36. The system of claim 34 wherein a further diffusion barrier is placed in said conduit between the termini of the reagent lines.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein said further diffusion barrier is a well packer.

38. The system of claim 34 wherein said gas flows through said reagent line at a flow rate from about 0.1 to about 150 scfm.

39. The system of claim 34 wherein said gas flows through said reagent line at a flow rate from about 1 to about 30 scfm.

40. The system of claim 34 wherein said gas flows through said reagent line at a flow rate above about 15 scfm.

41. The system of claim 34 wherein said liquid flows through said reagent line at a flow rate between about 0.5 and about 25 gpm.

42. The system of claim 34 wherein said liquid flows through said reagent line at a flow rate between about 0.5 gpm and about 10 gpm.

43. The system of claim 34 wherein said liquid flows through said reagent line at a flow rate between about 2 gpm and about 5 gpm.

44. The system of claim 34 wherein said liquid flows through said reagent line at a flow rate of about 0.5 gpm.

45. The system of claim 34 wherein said gas comprises air and said liquid comprises hydrogen peroxide.

46. A method of reducing organic compounds dissolved or suspended in a body of water and/or soil comprising injecting two or more reagents into said body of water and/or soil using the system of claim 27.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein said organic compounds are VOCs, MTBE, BTEX, TBA, TAME, PCBs, NVOCs, or petroleum hydrocarbons.

48. A method of increasing dissolved oxygen in a body of water and/or soil comprising injecting two or more reagents into said body of water and/or soil using the system of claim 27.

49. The system of claim 27 wherein said two or more different reagents are each independently selected from persulfate, hydrogen peroxide, ozone, oxygen, air, sodium permanganate, potassium permanganate, calcium peroxide, iron, catalyst, nutrients, carbon, and acid, or water solution thereof.

50. The system of claim 27 wherein:

one of said reagents comprises air, oxygen, or ozone; and

one of said reagents comprises hydrogen peroxide.

51. The system of claim 27 wherein said reagents further comprise persulfate.

52. The system of claim 27 wherein said groundwater or said soil is in a container.

53. The system of claim 51 wherein said container is above ground.

54. The system of claim 34 wherein:

said gas comprises air, oxygen, or ozone; and

said liquid comprises hydrogen peroxide.

55. A method of treating a body of water and/or soil comprising injecting two or more reagents into said body of water and/or soil using the system of claim 27.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein said body of water is groundwater.

57. The method of claim 55 wherein said treating occurs in situ.

58. The method of claim 55 wherein said two or more reagents comprise air and hydrogen peroxide or ozone and hydrogen peroxide.

59. The method of claim 55 wherein at least one reagent is hydrogen peroxide which is injected at a flow rate above about 0.5 gpm.

60. The method of claim 55 wherein at least one reagent is hydrogen peroxide which is injected at a flow rate at or above about 2 gpm.

61. The method of claim 55 wherein said reagents each independently comprise persulfate, hydrogen peroxide, ozone, oxygen, air, sodium permanganate, potassium permanganate, calcium peroxide, iron, catalyst, nutrients, carbon, or acid, or water solution thereof.

62. The method of claim 55 wherein said reagents each independently comprise hydrogen peroxide and persulfate.

63. A method of treating groundwater and/or soil comprising contacting two or more reagents, wherein at least one of said reagents is an oxidizing agent, and at least one of said reagents is capable of forming hydroxyl radicals by contacting said oxidizing agent, wherein said contacting occurs after said two or more reagents have diffused into said groundwater and/or soil from separate conduits or separate points at an injection port within a single conduit, where said separate conduits or separate points are separated by a diffusion barrier, and wherein said contacting produces hydroxyl radicals.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein said groundwater and/or soil is in a container.

65. The method of claim 63 wherein at least one of said two or more reagents oxidizes organic molecules dissolved or suspended in said groundwater and/or adsorbed in said soil.

66. The method of claim 63 wherein said contacting produces a further reagent that can react with organic molecules dissolved or suspended in said groundwater and/or adsorbed in said soil.

67. The method of claim 63 wherein one of said two or more reagents comprises hydrogen peroxide and another of said two or more reagents comprises one or more of ozone, oxygen, and/or air.

68. The method of claim 63 wherein said organic molecules comprise pollutants.

69. The method of claim 68 wherein said pollutants are VOCs, MTBE, BTEX, TBA, TAME, PCBs, NVOCs, or petroleum hydrocarbons.

70. The method of claim 63 wherein said two or more reagents are injected below ground into said water and/or soil.

71. The method of claim 63 wherein two of said two or more reagents are ozone and hydrogen peroxide.

72. The method of claim 63 wherein two of said two or more reagents are air and hydrogen peroxide.

73. The method of claim 71 wherein said ozone is injected into the ground at a deeper level than said hydrogen peroxide.

74. The method of claim 63 wherein said diffusion barrier is located inside said bore hole.

75. The method of claim 63 wherein said diffusion barrier is located inside a conduit.

76. The method of claim 75 wherein said diffusion barrier is a well packer.

77. The method of claim 63 wherein said bore hole is about 2 to about 12 inches in diameter and about 2 to about 100 feet deep.

78. The method of claim 63 wherein said bore hole is packed with sand at said injection ports.

79. The method of claim 63 wherein said diffusion barrier comprises bentonite or grout in said bore hole.

80. The method of claim 63 wherein said reagents each independently comprise persulfate, hydrogen peroxide, ozone, oxygen, air, sodium permanganate, potassium permanganate, calcium peroxide, iron, catalyst, nutrients, carbon, and acid, or water solution thereof.

81. The method of claim 63 wherein said reagents each independently comprise hydrogen peroxide and persulfate.

82. The method of claim 63 wherein:

one of said reagents comprises air, ozone, or oxygen; and

one of said reagents comprises hydrogen peroxide.

83. The method of claim 63 wherein one of said two or more reagents further comprises persulfate.

84. A method of reducing organic compounds dissolved, absorbed, or suspended in a body of water and/or soil comprising:

a) conducting two or more different reagents into said body of water and/or soil separately through two or more conduits residing in a bore hole;

b) dispensing said two or more different reagents into said bore hole through injection ports associated with said two or more conduits, wherein at least one of said reagents is an oxidizing agent, and at least one of said reagents is capable of forming hydroxyl radicals by contacting said oxidizing agent;

c) preventing substantial contact of said two or more reagents with each other in said bore hole; and

d) forming hydroxyl radicals outside said bore hole by contacting of said two or more reagents outside said bore hole

e) allowing the formed hydroxyl radicals to contact said body of water and/or soil to reduce organic compounds dissolved, absorbed, or suspended in a body of water and/or soil.

85. The method of claim 84 wherein said organic compounds are VOCs, MTBE, BTEX, TBA, TAME, PCBs, NVOCs, or petroleum hydrocarbons.

86. A method of increasing dissolved oxygen in groundwater and/or soil comprising:

a) conducting two or more different reagents into said groundwater and/or soil separately through two or more conduits residing in a bore hole;

b) dispensing said two or more different reagents into said bore hole through injection ports associated with said two or more conduits, wherein at least one of said reagents is an oxidizing agent, and at least one of said reagents is capable of forming hydroxyl radicals by contacting said oxidizing agent;

c) preventing substantial contact of said two or more reagents with each other in said bore hole; and

d) forming hydroxyl radicals outside said bore hole by contacting of said two or more reagents outside said bore hole

e) allowing the formed hydroxyl radicals to contact said groundwater and/or soil to increase dissolved oxygen in said groundwater and/or soil.