Patent · US Expired

Phosphate mineral-based reactive barrier containment system

US6290637A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
16References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 16, 1999
Grant dateSep 18, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 16, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG21F9/34
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A phosphate mineral based reactive barrier system. Phosphate minerals are known to be sinks for heavy metal contaminants. The reactive barrier prevents the release of contaminants from waste materials, sediments or dredged materials via reaction with the contaminants at the interface between the barrier and the waste material, sediments or dredged material. The barrier is comprised of a phosphate mineral material where the form of the phosphate mineral is variable but primarily insoluble. This barrier is placed below, around, and/or on top of the contaminated materials such that the contaminated materials are completely enveloped, capped, or contained by a grout curtain. The barrier can be in a (i) slurry form, (ii) blended matrix form with other inorganic agents, or (iii) composite form with a geotextile or geofabric. These methods of construction can be used singly or jointly. In some cases, pH control may be used to optimize the chemical reactions within the barrier system. The barrier mechanism relies on the phenomena of adsorption, surface precipitation and co-precipitation of metal phosphate surface precipitates to chemically retard diffusion from the waste material. Immobili…

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