Method and apparatus for remediating contaminated material
AssigneeB&S Research, Inc.
InventorsBrent J. Lashmett, Doug C. Lashmett, H. W. Lashmett, Larry R. Herzog, Thomas P. Tri, Merideth L. Karpik
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The apparatus of the present invention includes a tank containing a cleaning fluid having microorganisms therein. The material to be cleaned is placed within the tank and the microorganisms separate the contaminates from the material to be cleaned. The cleaning fluid is recirculated continuously through the cleaning tank and the contaminates are drawn off of the fluid within the container as the contaminates rise to and float upon the top surface of the fluid within the container.
Claims9
Apparatus for using a cleaning fluid to remove a contaminating material from a combination material containing said contaminating material and a reusable material, said apparatus comprising:
- a tank having a plurality of side walls and a bottom wall enclosing a cleaning chamber for containing said cleaning fluid;
- a skimming opening in one of said side walls positioned a first distance above said bottom wall and providing fluid communication from within said cleaning chamber to outside said cleaning chamber;
- a fluid circulation manifold positioned adjacent said bottom wall of said tank within said cleaning chamber, said manifold having a plurality of spray openings therein for introducing fluid into said cleaning chamber;
- a fluid outlet opening in at least one of said side walls and bottom wall positioned below said skimming opening so as to define a recirculating drain opening in said cleaning chamber;
- a recirculation pump having an inlet fluidly connected to said recirculating drain opening;
- a conduit system connecting said recirculating drain opening and said fluid circulation manifold to said recirculation pump whereby said pump will cause said cleaning fluid within said tank to be circulated from said outlet opening to said pump and from said pump to said manifold where said fluid is recirculated into said cleaning chamber through said spray holes in said manifold;
- a contaminant container outside said fluid chamber and in fluid communication with said fluid chamber only at said skimming opening for receiving said contaminating material exiting from said skimming opening, said contaminant container having a contaminant drain opening therein positioned below said skimming opening for discharging contaminating material without remixing said contaminating material with said cleaning fluid from said recirculation pump.
Apparatus for using a cleaning fluid having aerobic microorganisms therein for consuming petro chemicals to remove said petro chemicals from a combination material containing said petro chemicals and a reusable material, said apparatus comprising:
- a tank having a plurality of side walls and a bottom wall enclosing a cleaning chamber for containing said cleaning fluid;
- a skimming opening in one of said side walls positioned a first distance above said bottom wall and providing fluid communication from within said cleaning chamber to outside said cleaning chamber;
- a fluid circulation manifold positioned adjacent said bottom wall of said tank within said cleaning chamber, said manifold having a plurality of spray opening therein for introducing fluid into said cleaning chamber;
- a fluid opening in at least one of said side walls and bottom wall positioned below said skimming opening so as to define a recirculating drain opening in said cleaning chamber;
- a recirculation pump having an inlet fluidly connected to said recirculating during opening;
- a conduit system connecting said recirculating drain opening and said fluid circulation manifold to said recirculation pump whereby said pump will cause said cleaning fluid within said tank to be circulated from said recycling drain opening to said pump and from said pump to said manifold where said fluid is recirculated into said cleaning chamber through said spray holes in said manifold;
- and
- a contaminant container outside said fluid chamber and in fluid communication with said fluid chamber only at said skimming opening for receiving said petro chemicals exiting from said skimming opening, said contaminant container having a contaminant drain opening therein positioned below said skimming opening for discharging said petro chemicals without remixing said petro chemicals with said cleaning fluid from said recirculation pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.