Patent · US Expired

In situ thermally enhanced biodegradation of petroleum fuel hydrocarbons and halogenated organic solvents

US5753122A · kind A · utility

28Cited by
11References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 4, 1996
Grant dateMay 19, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 4, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S210/909
  • WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An in situ thermally enhanced microbial remediation strategy and a method for the biodegradation of toxic petroleum fuel hydrocarbon and halogenated organic solvent contaminants. The method utilizes nonpathogenic, thermophilic bacteria for the thermal biodegradation of toxic and carcinogenic contaminants, such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes, from fuel leaks and the chlorinated ethenes, such as trichloroethylene, chlorinated ethanes, such as 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and chlorinated methanes, such as chloroform, from past solvent cleaning practices. The method relies on and takes advantage of the pre-existing heated conditions and the array of delivery/recovery wells that are created and in place following primary subsurface contaminant volatilization efforts via thermal approaches, such as dynamic underground steam-electrical heating.

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