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US 5,266,213 AGranted
Cleaning halogenated contaminants from groundwater
OwnerRobert W. Gillhaminventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Groundwater is contained under highly reducing conditions. The Eh value is brought down to -100 or -200 mV, at which the contaminant breaks down, probably by a hydrolysis reaction. The contaminated groundwater is fed through a trench containing a metal such as iron filings, which is effective, under strict exclusion of oxygen, and over a period of time, to lower the Eh. Alternatively, the water may be pumped through an enclosed tank containing iron, or other metal, filings or other high-surface-area form.
Claims6
Procedure for cleaning an halogenated organic contaminant from groundwater in an aquifer, comprising the steps, in combination,
- of providing a body of metal;
- of covering the body of metal in such a manner as to prevent substantially all traces of oxygen from reaching an anaerobic portion of the body of metal;
- of providing the metal in the form of a body of particulates, cutting, or fibres, of such consistency that the body is permeable to the flow of the groundwater through the body;
- of conducting the said contaminated groundwater from its native aquifer into and through the body of metal;
- of so conducting the groundwater from the native aquifer into the body of metal that the groundwater substantially does not come into contact with atmospheric oxygen prior to entering the anaerobic portion of the body of metal;
- of causing the groundwater to percolate through the said anaerobic portion, and to remain in contact with the metal therein, for a substantial period of time.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.