Landfill leachate control process and product
AssigneeEng, Inc.
InventorTrevor P. Castor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention involves the selective emplacement of an impermeable polymeric barrier in the semi-permeable substructure, faulted or fractured geologic barriers which underlie leaking waste disposal sites. The emplacement of the barrier requires the creation of a horizontal fracture below the waste disposal site and the injection of a gellable solution containing a synthetic or biologically produced polymer into the fracture. The solution is then allowed or caused to gel in situ within the subterranean formation. A proppant may be dispersed in the gellable solution. The proppant may be a waste active material.
Claims10
A method for treating the geologic base of a waste landfill to prevent the migration of waste from the landfill to the surrounding environment comprising:
- selecting a gellable solution which in a gelled state is impermeable to and resistant to degradation by said waste, said gellable solution including a waste-active material capable of acting on the waste in the landfill,
- creating a fracture in said geologic base,
- filling said fracture with said gellable solution, and
- allowing or causing said gellable solution to gel thereby forming an impermeable barrier beneath the waste for blocking the migration of waste from the landfill.
A product useful in forming a barrier to prevent the migration of waste from a landfill to the surrounding environment comprising:
- a gellable solution which in a gelled state is impermeable to and resistant to degradation by said waste,
- a waste-active material selected from the group of materials consisting of ion exchange materials and absorbent materials, and
- a selected proppant dispersed in said gel, said proppant having the ability to fill a fracture space and maintain said fracture space permeable to fluids.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.