In-situ x-ray treatment of organically contaminated material
AssigneeThe Titan Corporation
InventorsRandy D. Curry, John R. Bayless
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Organically contaminated earth-bound material is treated in-situ by positioning one or more x-ray converters in chambers formed in an earth and/or water site containing such earth-bound material and irradiating the contaminated material in-situ adjacent to each chamber with x-radiation from the x-ray converter to decompose the organic compounds. A high energy electron beam from a electron beam source is directed to the x-ray converter to produce the x-radiation. The electron beam source, such as a linear induction accelerator or an RF linear accelerator may be positioned either within the chamber near the x-ray converter or above ground.
Claims6
A method of treating organically contaminated material, comprising the steps of:
- a) positioning an x-ray converter in a chamber formed in earth-bound material contaminated by organic compounds;
- and
- b) irradiating the contaminated material in-situ adjacent to the chamber with x-radiation from the x-ray converter to decompose said organic compounds;
- wherein step b) comprises the step of:
- c) directing a high energy electron beam to the x-ray converter to produce said x-radiation by guiding said high energy electron beam to the x-ray converter from an above-ground electron beam source.
A method of treating an earth and/or water site containing organically contaminated material, comprising the steps of:
- a) forming a plurality of chambers throughout the site for receiving one or more x-ray converters;
- b) positioning an x-ray converter in each chamber;
- c) irradiating the contaminated material in-situ adjacent to each chamber with x-radiation from the x-ray converter to decompose said organic compounds;
- and
- d) directing directing a high energy electron beam to the x-ray converter to produce said x-radiation by guiding said high energy electron beam to the x-ray converter from an above-ground electron beam source.
A system for treating organically contaminated material, comprising
- an x-ray converter positioned in a chamber formed in earth-bound material contaminated by organic compounds;
- a high energy electron beam source;
- and
- means for directing a high energy electron beam from the electron beam source to the x-ray converter to produce x-radiation for irradiating the contaminated material in-situ adjacent to the chamber with said x-radiation to decompose said organic compounds;
- wherein the high energy electron beam source is positioned above ground and the system further comprises
- means for guiding the electron beam from the electron beam source to the x-ray converter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.