Method for in situ contaminant extraction from soil
OwnerScott H. DeYounginventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for the in situ removal of contaminants from contaminated soil wherein exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine is injected at an elevated temperature into contaminated soil creating a sweep gas driving volatile organic chemicals out of the in situ soil. The mechanical energy from the internal combustion engine is utilized in separating the volatile organic chemicals from the sweep gas and/or increasing the flow rate of the sweep gas through the contaminated soil by either increasing the injection pressure and/or reducing the pressure on the recovery well.
Claims20
A method for the in situ removal of volatile contaminants from contaminated soil comprising the steps of:
- injecting hot exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine into and through said contaminated soil thereby volatilizing a portion of said volatile contaminants and
- removing a volatile organic chemical containing gas from said soil while said soil remains in situ.
In a process for the in situ removal of volatile contaminants from contaminated soil wherein a sweep gas is injected through an injection well into said contaminated soil and a volatile organic chemical containing sweep gas is removed from a recovery well, the improvement comprising utilizing as said sweep gas the exhaust obtained from an internal combustion engine.
A structure for the in situ removal of volatile contaminants from soil comprising:
- an internal combustion engine generating exhaust gas;
- means for injecting said exhaust gas into said contaminated soil;
- and
- means for removing a volatile organic chemical containing gas from said soil while said soil remains in situ.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.