Electromagnetic method and apparatus for the decontamination of hazardous material-containing volumes

A method for the extraction of hazardous materials trapped in an impervious subsurface formation, comprising the steps of:

• inserting a radio-frequency antenna apparatus in a borehole in close proximity to said formation;
• radiating electromagnetic energy into said formation by means of said radio-frequency antenna, to produce fractures in said formation;
• and
• transporting said materials to a storage facility through a production flow line which extends from a distal section of said antenna apparatus to said storage facility.

A method for the extraction of hazardous materials from a hazardous material-containing volume situated beneath a structure, comprising the steps of:

• radiating electromagnetic energy into said volume by means of a flexible radio frequency antenna apparatus disposed in a substantially horizontal borehole directed underneath said structure;
• rendering said materials less viscous;
• and
• transporting said materials to a storage facility through a production flow line which extends from said distal section of said antenna apparatus to said storage facility.

A method for the decontamination of a thin layer of hazardous material, comprising the steps of:

• radiating electromagnetic energy into said thin layer by means of a radio frequency antenna apparatus horizontally embedded in said thin layer;
• focusing said electromagnetic energy into a lateral wave mode by means of a lens system embedded adjacent to said antenna;
• maintaining said thin layer at elevated temperatures for a period of time sufficient to convert liquid materials into vapor by-products;
• collecting said vapor by-products through a plurality of apertures in a distal section of said apparatus;
• and
• transporting said vapor by-products to a storage facility through a production flow line which extends from said distal section of said antenna apparatus to said storage facility.

A method for the decontamination of a thin layer of hazardous material, comprising the steps of:

• radiating electromagnetic energy into said thin layer by means of a radio frequency antenna apparatus horizontally embedded in said thin layer;
• focusing said electromagnetic energy into a lateral wave mode by means of a lens system embedded adjacent to said antenna;
• and
• rendering said hazardous materials relatively innocuous.

A method for recovering toxic metals from a hazardous material-containing volume, comprising the steps of:

• creating a DC electric field in said volume to direct the migration of said toxic metals toward a negatively-charged region of said electric field;
• radiating electromagnetic energy into said volume to increase the flow rate of said toxic metals;
• and
• transporting said toxic metals from said volume to a storage facility.