# US 10,478,876 B2 · Method of increasing hydrophobicity of native water-bearing zones

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- Number: US 10,478,876 B2
- Document ID: US10478876B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/620,544
- Filed: 2017-06-12
- Published: 2017-12-14
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2016-06-13
- Assignees: Regenesis Bioremediation Products
- Applicants: Regenesis Bioremediation Products
- Inventors: Kristen A. Thoreson; Jeremy Birnstingl; Scott B. Wilson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478876B2

## CPC

- B09C 1/002: {involving in-situ ground water treatment}
- B09C 1/08: chemically
- C02F 1/281: {using inorganic sorbents}
- C02F 1/283: {using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them}
- C02F 1/288: {using composite sorbents, e.g. coated, impregnated, multi-layered}
- B09C 2101/00: In situ
- C02F 1/285: {using synthetic organic sorbents}
- C02F 2101/306: {Pesticides}
- C02F 2101/322: {Volatile compounds, e.g. benzene}
- C02F 2101/36: containing halogen
- C02F 2103/06: Contaminated groundwater or leachate
- B09C: RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL (gatherers for removing stone or the like from the soil A01B43/00; sterilising soil by steam A01G11/00; removing undesirable matter, e.g. rubbish, from the land E01H15/00)
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)

## Abstract

Methods for increasing hydrophobicity of native water-bearing zones or aquifers comprising the step of permanently embedding non-degradable, solid colloidal materials formed to have a particulate size of less than 10 microns. Exemplary materials include activated carbon, zeolites and hydrophobically treated clays. The particulate colloidal materials are coated with an agent to facilitate their distribution, including anionic polymers, chelating agents or combinations thereof. The materials are applied preferably by low pressure injection and are particularly effective at containing the migration of hydrocarbon contaminants, typically present as a plume, for at least several decades.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for the retardation of the migration of hydrophobic contaminants through the subsurface of a water-bearing zone comprising the steps of:
a) providing a non-degradable, solid, colloidal material to which said hydrophobic contaminants will sorb, said colloidal material having a particle size of less than 10 microns and having a surface treatment formed thereon to facilitate distribution of the colloid material through soil and groundwater;
b) applying said colloidal material provided in step a) to the subsurface of said water-bearing zone by a method selected from the group consisting of injection within the subsurface of said water-bearing zone at a pressure of less than 100 psi, gravity feed and percolation such that once applied, said surface treatment is operative to facilitate distribution of said colloidal material into position within the subsurface of said water-bearing zone a distance up to 5 meters; and
c) permanently embedding said colloidal material distributed within the subsurface of said water-bearing zone in step b) as facilitated by said surface treatment to sorb said hydrophobic contaminants passing therethrough for a period of at least 30 years.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said non-degradable, solid, colloidal material is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, zeolites, hydrophobically altered clays, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said surface treatment is selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), carrageenan, polyacrylic acid, xanthum gum, polyacrylates, polyacrylamides, co-polymers of acrylamide and acrylate, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said surface treatment comprises at least one chelating agent.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 where said chelating agent is selected from the group consisting of citrates, phosphates, silicates, borates, sulfates, carbonates, aminocarboxylic acids and salts thereof, polyamines, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said surface treatment comprises the combination of at least one chelating agent and either an anionic or nonionic polymer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said hydrophobic contaminants consist of gasoline, diesel, motor oil and their constituents, chlorinated solvents including trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, dichloroethenes, vinyl chloride, chlorinated ethanes, chlorinated benzenes, fluorinated compounds including perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid, pesticides, herbicides, organic compound-based agricultural fertilizers and combinations thereof.