Contaminant remediation, biodegradation and volatilization methods and apparatuses

An apparatus for in situ removal of contaminants from soil or from ground water, said apparatus comprising:

• at least one injection well extending into the ground water;
• means for providing an oxygen-containing substance to the contaminants to volatilize and biodegrade the contaminants in the ground water and soil;
• means for permitting upward migration of said volatilized and biodegraded contaminants without one or more venting conduits;
• and
• means for increasing the rate of biodegradation by augmenting available oxygen to microorganisms present in the soil or ground water.

A method of in situ removal of contaminants from soil or from ground water, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) establishing in situ at least one injection well into the ground water;
• b) providing an oxygen-containing substance to the contaminants to volatilize and biodegrade the contaminants in the ground water and soil;
• c) permitting upward migration of the volatilized and biodegraded contaminants without one or more venting conduits;
• and
• d) providing microorganisms into the subsurface.

An apparatus for in situ removal of contaminants from soil or from ground water, said apparatus comprising:

• at least one injection well extending into the ground water;
• means for providing an oxygen-containing substance to the contaminants to volatilize and biodegrade the contaminants in the ground water and soil;
• means for permitting upward migration of the volatilized and biodegraded contaminants without one or more venting conduits;
• and
• means for providing microorganisms into the subsurface.

A method of in situ removal of contaminants from soil or from ground water, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) establishing in situ at least one injection well into the ground water;
• b) providing an oxygen-containing substance to the contaminants to volatilize and biodegrade the contaminants in the ground water and soil;
• c) permitting upward migration of the volatilized and biodegraded contaminants without one or more venting conduits;
• d) sampling soil or water;
• e) isolating at least one microorganism useful in biodegrading the contaminants;
• f) fermenting the isolated microorganisms to increase their population;
• and
• g) inserting the fermented microorganisms in situ.

A method of in situ removal of contaminants from soil or from ground water, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) establishing in situ at least one injection well into the ground water;
• b) providing an oxygen-containing substance to the contaminants to volatilize and biodegrade the contaminants in the ground water and soil;
• c) permitting upward migration of the volatilized and biodegraded contaminants without one or more venting conduits;
• d) providing an elongated tube reservoir capped at one end;
• e) providing entry ports in the elongated tube reservoir;
• f) surrounding the entry ports with filtration means;
• and
• g) collecting contaminants in the elongated tube reservoir by passage thereof through the filtration means.

An apparatus for in situ removal of contaminants from soil or from ground water, said apparatus comprising:

• at least one injection well extending into the ground water;
• means for providing an oxygen-containing substance to the contaminants to volatilize and biodegrade the contaminants in the ground water and soil;
• means for permitting upward migration of said volatilized and biodegraded contaminants without one or more venting conduits;
• an elongated tube reservoir capped at one end and comprising entry ports therein;
• filtration means surrounding said entry ports;
• and
• means for collecting contaminants which enter said elongated tube reservoir by passage through said filtration means.

A method of in situ removal of contaminants from soil or ground water, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) establishing in situ at least one venting lateral means comprising gas-permeable openings therein;
• b) establishing in situ at least one injection wells;
• c) providing an oxygen-containing substance to the contaminants;
• and
• d) placing vertical venting means comprising sand beneath the venting lateral means;
• whereby volatile contaminants in the ground water or soil are removed through the venting lateral means.

An apparatus for in situ removal of contaminants from soil or ground water, said apparatus comprising:

• venting lateral means having gas-permeable openings therein;
• at least one injection well;
• means for providing an oxygen-containing substance, the oxygen-containing substance comprising at least one substance selected from the group consisting of oxygen-containing fluids and oxygen-containing solids, to the contaminants;
• vertical venting means comprising sand beneath said venting lateral means;
• and
• whereby volatile contaminants in the ground water or soil are removed through said venting lateral means.

A method of in situ gas sparging and bioremediation for removal of contaminants from soil or from ground water present in the soil in the form of a ground water aquifer, there being a vadose zone existing down to a water table defining the upper boundary of the ground water aquifer, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) establishing one or more injection wells extending through the vadose zone to a depth below the water table;
• b) establishing one or more extraction wells in the vadose zone extending to a depth above the water table;
• c) providing an oxygen-containing substance to the contaminants;
• d) stimulating with the oxygen-containing substance microorganisms present in the soil or the ground water;
• e) increasing the rate of biodegradation of volatile and non-volatile contaminants by providing in situ oxygen in the oxygen-containing substance;
• and
• f) extracting, via the one or more extraction wells, an effluent containing volatile contaminants and biodegradation by-products of both volatile and non-volatile contaminants from the soil or the ground water.

An apparatus for in situ gas sparging and bioremediation for removal of contaminants from soil and from ground water present in the soil in the form of a ground water aquifer, there being a vadose soil zone existing down to a water table defining the upper boundary of the ground water aquifer, said apparatus comprising:

• one or more injection wells extending through the vadose zone to a depth below the water table;
• one or more extraction wells in the vadose zone extending to a depth above the water table;
• means for providing an oxygen-containing substance to the contaminants, the oxygen-containing substance comprising at least one substance selected from the group consisting of oxygen-containing fluids and oxygen-containing solids;
• means for stimulating via the oxygen-containing substance microorganisms present in the soil or the ground water and increasing the rate of biodegradation of volatile and non-volatile contaminants;
• and
• means for extracting, via the one or more extraction wells, an effluent containing volatile contaminants and biodegradation by-products of both volatile and non-volatile contaminants from the soil or the ground water.

An apparatus for laterally dispersing substances outward from an injection well, said apparatus comprising:

• means for transporting said substances vertically downward into said injection well;
• at least one injection tube vertically disposable around said injection well and in fluid communication with said means for transporting;
• and
• means for moving said injection tube radially outward from said injection well comprising means for pivoting said injection tube outward from said injection well, said pivoting via a rigid well liner vertically disposed in said well;
• hinge means for connecting said injection tube to said rigid well liner;
• a slip ring member slidably disposed around said rigid well liner and extension rod hingably connected to said injection tube and hingably connected to said slip ring member;
• and
• means for vertically sliding said slip ring member along said rigid well liner.