Use of bicarbonates in the biodegradation of hydrocarbon contaminants
AssigneeChurch & Dwight Co., Inc.
InventorM. Stephen Lajoie
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Abstract
A method is disclosed for treating a solid or liquid medium, e.g., soil or groundwater, which is contaminated with a hydrocarbon contaminant, e.g. diesel fuel or gasoline, by adding to the medium in the presence of water and at least one microorganism capable of metabolizing at least one hydrocarbon contaminant present, ammonium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, or potassium bicarbonate, or combinations thereof, such that said hydrocarbon contaminant is eliminated or reduced to a desired lower level. The bicarbonate is added to the contaminated medium as a solution prepared by dissolving the bicarbonate or combination of bicarbonates in water, or as a solid bicarbonate or mixture of solid bicarbonates.
Claims20
A method for treating a solid or liquid medium contaminated with a hydrocarbon contaminant by adding to the medium in the presence of water and at least one microorganism capable of metabolizing at least one hydrocarbon compound present, a salt composition comprising a bicarbonate selected from the group consisting of ammonium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, and mixtures thereof, said salt composition yielding ammonium and bicarbonate ions when dissolved in water, such that said hydrocarbon contaminant is eliminated or reduced to a desired lower level, said salt composition being added to said medium as a solution prepared by dissolving the composition in water, or as a solid composition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.