Oxidation of organic compounds

• US 7,785,038 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evonik Active Oxygens LLC
• Original Assignee: FMC Corporation
• Inventors: Block, Philip A., Brown, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): KRECK, JOHN J
• Application Number:
  US12/089,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20080264876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 405/128.1, 405/128.75, 588/320
• US Class Current: 405/128.1
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/002 involving in-situ ground water treatment
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/08 chemically
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/722 Oxidation by peroxides
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/725 by catalytic oxidation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/306 Pesticides
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/322 Volatile compounds, e.g. benzene
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/36 containing halogen
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/363 PCB's; PCP's
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/06 Contaminated groundwater or leachate

Abstract

An improved method and compositions for treating organic compounds present in soil, groundwater and other environments is disclosed. The method involves the use of a composition comprising a solid state, water soluble peroxygen compound and zero valent iron.

Claims

1. A method of oxidizing a contaminant present in an environmental medium, said method comprising contacting the contaminant with a composition comprising a water soluble persulfate compound and zero valent iron wherein the persulfate compound is a dipersulfate.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the dipersulfate is selected from sodium, potassium or ammonium persulfate or a combination thereof.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the persulfate compound is a combination of a dipersulfate and monopersulfate.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the environmental medium is selected from soil, groundwater, process water or wastewater.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the contaminant is an organic compound selected from the group consisting of volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorobiphenyls, pesticides and herbicides.

6. A method as in claim 1 wherein the zero valent iron has a nanoscale particle size of from about 10 nanometers to about 1 micron.

7. A method as in claim 1 wherein the zero valent iron has a micro scale particle size of from about 1 micron to about 5 microns.

8. A method as in claim 1 wherein the concentration of the persulfate compound is from about 0.5 mg/L to about 250,000 mg/L.

9. A method as in claim 1 wherein the concentration of the zero valent iron is from about 1 ppm to about 1000 ppm on a metal basis.

10. A method as in claim 1 wherein the oxidation is performed in situ or ex situ.

11. A method as in claim 1 wherein the water soluble persulfate compound is sodium persulfate.

12. A method as in claim 11 wherein the zero valent iron and the sodium persulfate are present in a suspension.

13. A method as in claim 5 wherein the organic compound is selected from the group consisting of trichioroethylene (TCE), vinyl chloride, tetrachloroethylene (PCE), methylene chloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA), carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, chlorobenzenes, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethyl benzene, ethylene dibromide, methyl tertiary butyl ether, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorobiphenyls, phthalates, I,4-dioxane, nitrosodimethyl amine, and methyl tertbutyl ether.