# US 5,705,690 A · Urea-surfactant clathrates and their use in bioremediation of hydrocarbon contaminated soils and water

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- Number: US 5,705,690 A
- Document ID: US5705690A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/300,006
- Filed: 1994-09-02
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1994-09-02
- Assignees: Exxon Research & Engineering Co.
- Inventors: Ramesh Varadaraj; Cornelius Hendrick Brons
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5705690A

## CPC

- B09C 1/10: microbiologically, {biologically} or by using enzymes
- C02F 3/34: characterised by the microorganisms used
- C02F 3/344: {for digestion of mineral oil}
- C07C 275/02: Salts; Complexes; Addition compounds
- C02F 2305/06: Nutrients for stimulating the growth of microorganisms
- B09C: RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL (gatherers for removing stone or the like from the soil A01B43/00; sterilising soil by steam A01G11/00; removing undesirable matter, e.g. rubbish, from the land E01H15/00)
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)
- C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS

## Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides compounds comprising an adduct of urea with a non-ionic surfactant. Another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a composition suitable for enhancing the bioremediation of contaminated soils and water which comprises at least one adduct of urea with a non-ionic surfactant, preferably in combination with a phosphorous source.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A composition for enhancing the biodegradation of hydrocarbon contaminated soil, water and sludge consisting essentially of a phosphorous source and at least one urea-surfactant adduct wherein the composition has an N:P ratio ranging from about 10:2 to about 10:0.5; wherein the surfactant is selected from the group of non-ionic surfactants consisting of alkylethoxylates, alkyl ethoxylated phosphates, alkyl ethoxylated amines, alkylethoxylated ammonium salts, alkyl ethoxylated sugars, and alkylethoxylated polyhydric alcohols and their cyclic ethers; wherein the surfactant's alkyl group has from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms; and wherein the urea and non-ionic surfactant in the adduct are present in a weight ratio ranging from about 98:2 to about 75:25.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1 wherein the surfactant has from about 2 to about 50 ethylene oxide groups.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The composition of claim 2 including 2 adducts of urea and a non-ionic surfactant of which are present in equal weight amounts.