Correction method for contaminated sites

US5192163A · kind A · utility

Inventor

• Joseph W. Fleming · Hanover, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 29, 1992
• Grant date: Mar 9, 1993
• Expiry date: May 29, 2012

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S210/912
• WIPO field: Environmental technology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The method essentially creates a lake, if one does not already exist, and uses this lake as a "moving" treating pond for soils contaminated with toxic radicals or compounds containing higher valence state metals. Reducing agent compositions such as saccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides, FeS.sub.4, Na.sub.2 SO3, NaSO.sub.2, Na.sub.2 S, and Na.sub.2 S.sub.2 O.sub.5 are introduced into the lake. Contaminated soil from one side of the lake is dragged into the lake, the water of which contains the reducing agent compositions, then is tilled at the bottom of the lake to fully expose the soil to the reducing agent composition, and then is raked upwardly along an opposite side of the lake to form a shoreline of cleaned soil material. Contaminant-consuming micro-organisms and plant life may also be introduced into the lake. The earthmoving process is repeated until lake has passed through and treated all of the contaminated soil site. The method performs all decontamination on-site and avoids the requirement for any backfilling of the site after decontamination of the site. The method is particularly useful in contaminated areas having high water tables.