In-situ vapor stripping for removing volatile organic compounds from groundwater
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
InventorsSteven M. Gorelick, Haim Gvirtzman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An in-situ system for removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from groundwater. The technique includes gas-lift pumping and in-situ vapor stripping.
Claims23
A system for removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from groundwater, comprising:
- means for injecting a gas into a well, the well extending through a vadose zone into a saturated zone, to force groundwater flow towards and up the well, and to cause VOCs to be transferred from the groundwater to rising gas bubbles inside the well;
- at the top of the well, means for collecting VOC vapor contained within the gas bubbles;
- and
- means for directing groundwater flow from the well into the vadose zone to infiltrate groundwater therethough for the release of VOCs.
An in-situ system for removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from groundwater, comprising:
- means for injecting gas into a well to cause groundwater to flow towards and up the well, and to cause VOCs to be transferred from the groundwater to rising gas bubbles in the well;
- means at the top of the well for separating the gas bubbles including VOC vapor from the groundwater rising in the well;
- extraction means at the top of the well for collecting the VOC vapor after separation from the groundwater;
- and
- drainage means for infiltrating the groundwater from the top of the well into a vadose zone.
A method for removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from groundwater, comprising:
- injecting a gas into a well extending into a saturated zone to force groundwater flow towards and up the well, and to cause VOCs to be transferred from the groundwater to rising gas bubbles inside the well;
- near the top of the well, collecting VOC vapor contained within the gas bubbles;
- and
- directing groundwater flow in the well into a vadose zone to return the groundwater thereto.
A method of removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from groundwater, comprising:
- (a) injecting gas into a well to cause groundwater to flow towards the well and to cause VOCs to be transferred from the groundwater to rising gas bubbles in the well;
- (b) near the top of the well, separating the gas bubbles including VOC vapor from the groundwater rising in the well;
- (c) after separation from the groundwater, collecting and extracting from the well VOC vapor;
- and
- (d) directing the groundwater rising in the well into a vadose zone.
A method of removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from groundwater, comprising:
- (a) injecting gas into a well to cause groundwater to flow towards the well and to cause VOCs to be transferred from the groundwater to rising gas bubbles in the well;
- (b) near the top of the well, separating the gas bubbles including VOC vapor from the groundwater rising in the well;
- (c) after separation from the groundwater, collecting the VOC vapor;
- (d) treating or destroying the VOC vapor;
- and (e) after said collecting, directing the groundwater into a vadose zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.