Environmental remediation of dense organic contaminants using polyaphron treatments

US6602024B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY AND AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE · US

Inventors

• Kalliat T. Valsaraj · Baton Rouge, US
• Karsten E. Thompson · Baton Rouge, US
• Danny D. Reible · Baton Rouge, US
• Le Yan · Shanghai, CN

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 3, 2002
• Grant date: Aug 5, 2003
• Expiry date: Jul 3, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B09C1/002
• WIPO field: Environmental technology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A novel method that promotes upward mobilization of dense nonaqueous-phase liquid contaminants. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: (1) injecting a treating agent (e.g., a polyaphron solution) comprising a light organic-phase fluid (e.g., kerosene, xylene, octane, hexane, etc.) into the Earth's subsurface, targeted within or adjacent to the dense contaminant source zone; and (2) injecting a post-flush agent comprising a polyvalent cation (e.g., Al3+, Fe3+, etc.), or similar species, once the treating agent is displaced throughout the source zone. The treating agent converts the contaminant to a density less than the density of groundwater by inducing in-situ mixing. The post-flush agent destabilizes the polyaphrons thus allowing the contaminant and the treating agent to mix.