Process for the decontamination of toxic, heavy-metal containing soils
OwnerBruce E. Holbein, Denis K. Kidbyinventors
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Abstract
The present invention relates to the decontamination of soil and the like and, in particular, soils which are contaminated with metal as a result of the activities of human beings. The invention provides a physical and a chemical means for treating soil aggregate so as to obtain a product aggregate having a relatively low metal content. The physical means is characterized by the classification of a soil aggregate into portions of differing size and metal content. The chemical means is characterized by contacting a soil aggregate with an aqueous lixiviant comprising an organic acid component to lift metal from the aggregate. The physical and chemical means may be used in a combined process for decontaminating soil aggregate.
Claims64
In a process for the decontamination of a contaminated soil aggregate so as to obtain a soil product having a metal content lower than that of the contaminated soil aggregate, said contaminated soil aggregate comprising at least one metal selected from the group comprising Pb, Ni, Cu, Cd, Zn, Hg, Ag, Au, Pt, and Pd, said process including the step of separating metal from said contaminated soil aggregate, the step of
- contacting said contaminated soil aggregate with an aqueous lixiviant for separating metal, present in said contaminated soil aggregate, from said contaminated soil aggregate, said lixiviant comprising an organic acid component, said organic acid component comprising one or more carboxylic acids,
- and wherein said metal separated by said lixiviant from said contaminated soil aggregate comprises at least one metal selected from the group comprising Pb, Ni, Cu, Cd, Zn, Hg, Ag, Au, Pt, and Pd.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.