Patent · US Expired

Mobile soil treatment apparatus and method

US5599137A · kind A · utility

21Cited by
12References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 13, 1995
Grant dateFeb 4, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 13, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB03D1/1487
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A mobile apparatus and method for treating contaminated soil is disclosed. The apparatus consists of three interconnected subunits, namely a fluidized bed reactor for segregating an aqueous soil slurry based on particle size; a metals extraction unit for removing heavy metals and other contaminants from the contaminated soil fraction; and a water treatment system utilizing a high density sludge process to remove metals from the contaminated aqueous phase. The fluidized bed reactor includes a relatively small mixing chamber and a relatively large settling chamber which are partially separated by a baffle. Pressurized gas and foaming agent are dispersed into the mixing chamber to segregate the soil particles into a first fraction containing relatively small, contaminated soil particles and a second fraction containing relatively large, uncontaminated soil particles. The first fraction is continuously withdrawn from an upper portion of the reactor as a foam and a soil slurry containing the relatively uncontaminated second fraction is continuously withdrawn from a lower portion of the reactor. The soil slurry is dewatered by means of a hydrocyclone and a solids trap. Water, foaming age…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.