Dry Coated Zero Valent Iron (ZVI) Material for Environmental Remediation of Dissolved Phase and Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid (DNAPL) Chlorinated Solvents

Abstract

A dry-coated zero valent iron (ZVI) based material that provides for treatment of dissolved phase chlorinated solvents and the Dense-Non-Aqueous-Phase Liquids (DNAPLs) of these solvents when present as pure solvent in groundwater systems when mixed as a slurry with water. The ZVI particles are individually coated with a hydrophobic, oleophilic vegetable oil or similar material. The coated ZVI particles, when emplaced in groundwater systems provides for rapid adsorption of both dissolved phase and DNAPLs into the oleophilic coating, promoting direct contact with the ZVI surface, providing for an abiotic surface reduction of the chlorinated solvents by the ZVI. The coating protects the reactive surfaces of the ZVI from passivation and oxidation during both preparation of the slurry and delivery of the slurry to the subsurface. The dry-coated ZVI product further includes dispersing and thickening agents that allow for mixing and delivery of the dry-coated ZVI product to the subsurface.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.