Environmental remediation method and apparatus

• US 20050045544A1
• Filed: 10/12/2004
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kerfoot Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: William B. Kerfoot
• Inventors: Kerfoot, William B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,156,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/220
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/002 involving in-situ ground water treatment
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/08 chemically
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/10 microbiologically, biologically or by using enzymes
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 2101/00 In situ
• 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 1/727 using pure oxygen or oxygen rich gas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/322 Volatile compounds, e.g. benzene
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/363 PCB's; PCP's
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/06 Contaminated groundwater or leachate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/02 Fluid flow conditions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2305/06 Nutrients for stimulating the growth of microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/02 Aerobic processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/10 Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage

Abstract

This invention relates to remediation systems, and more particularly to remediation systems for water, soil, and sediment bodies using thin-layer coated microbubbles.

Claims

1-29. -29. canceled.

30. An apparatus for remediating a contaminated area using a liquid-coated microbubble including one or more gases comprising:

an injection well;

a source of a liquid suitable for promoting biological degradation of organic compounds;

a source for delivering a gas;

an aerosolizer for aerosolizing the gas;

a microporous diffuser disposed in the well for generating coated microbubbles of a controlled size comprising the gas and a liquid coating.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the microporous diffuser injects the gas and liquid simultaneously.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising:

a controller for controlling the ratio of gas and liquid in generating the coated microbubble.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising:

a controller for controlling mixing of ambient air with said liquids.

34. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising:

an agitator to pulse or surge the microbubbles into the well to improve transport of coated microbubbles through the contaminated area.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the agitator comprises a submersible pump.

36. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the bubble sizer for the coated microbubbles comprises:

a layered fine bubble production chamber.

37. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the controller for controlling mixing comprises:

a wellhead control for equalizing flow between formations of differing permeability.

38. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the agitator alternates pumping of water and coated microbubble injection.

39. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the liquid oxidizing agent is hydrogen peroxide, or an intermediate by-product of decomposition of ozone and an organic compound, including formic peracid, acetic peracid, hydroxymethylhydroperoxide, or 2-hydroxy-2-propyl hydroperoxide.

40-55. -55. canceled.