Aquifer remediation barrier for removal of inorganic contaminants
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Interior
InventorsDavid L. Naftz, James A. Davis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A permeable barrier for decontaminating groundwater having two distinct components for increasing contaminant removal. Preferably, the barrier material is a mixture or distinct layers of bone-char phosphate material and iron oxide pellets. The barrier material can be incorporated as part of a shallow trenching decontamination system, or incorporated in a non-pumping well, or array of non-pumping wells, as part of a deep underground decontamination system. The system can be used for removing, among other things, a radionuclide, such as uranium, from water.
Claims14
A permeable barrier for decontaminating groundwater, said barrier being disposed in a flow path for groundwater to be decontaminated and said barrier comprising a bone-char phosphate and iron oxide pellets.
A system for decontaminating groundwater comprising an array of non-pumping treatment wells disposed in a flow area for groundwater to be decontaminated, each of said wells containing a barrier comprised of bone-char phosphate and iron oxide pellets for decontaminating groundwater flowing therethrough.
A system for decontaminating groundwater, comprising a trench disposed in a flow area for groundwater to be decontaminated and a barrier comprised of bone-char phosphate and iron oxide pellets disposed within said trench for decontaminating groundwater flowing therethrough.
A groundwater decontamination system comp rising a non-pumping well decontamination unit, a barrier comprised of bone-char phosphate and iron oxide pellets incorporated within said decontamination unit, and means for lowering said unit down through a non-pumping well into an acquifer containing contaminated water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.