In-situ treatment of waste stacks, soils or earth materials to immobilize metals contained therein

A process for in situ immobilization of metals in waste stacks, soils, or earth materials, comprising:

• treating a surface pool which exists on at least portions of said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials using a pool treatment composition;
• providing at least one microbe in said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials;
• said at least one microbe being capable of growing in the presence of said treatment composition;
• said at least one microbe also being capable of producing microbial sulfides which are sulfide by-products of microbial activity in said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials;
• said pool treatment composition including at least one microbe nutrient which is a nutrient capable of sustaining activity of the at least one microbe;
• percolating pool treatment composition into said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials from the surface pool;
• reacting the microbial sulfides in situ with metal ions or metal-containing compounds contained in said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials to form metal sulfides;
• reducing solubility of the metal ions or metal-containing compounds contained in said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials as a result of forming the metal sulfides;
• inhibiting the migration rate of metal ions or metal-containing compounds within or from said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials.

A process for in situ immobilization of metals in waste stacks, soils, or earth materials, comprising:

• flowing a liquid onto said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials;
• said liquid including at least one microbe nutrient which is capable of sustaining activity of at least one microbe;
• providing at least one microbe in said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials to receive said at least one microbe nutrient from said liquid flowed onto said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials;
• said at least one microbe being capable of growing in the presence of said liquid and said at least one microbe nutrient;
• said at least one microbe also being capable of producing microbial sulfides which are sulfide by-products of microbial activity in said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials;
• reacting the microbial sulfides in situ with metal ions or metal-containing compounds contained in said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials to form metal sulfides;
• reducing solubility of the metal ions or metal-containing compounds contained in said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials as a result of forming the metal sulfides;
• inhibiting the migration rate of metal ions or metal-containing compounds within or from said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials.

A process for in situ immobilization of metals in waste stacks, soils, or earth materials, comprising:

• flowing a waste liquid onto said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials, said waste liquid including at least one microbe nutrient which is capable of sustaining activity of at least one microbe;
• said at least one microbe also being capable of producing microbial sulfides which are sulfide by-products of microbial activity in said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials;
• reacting the microbial sulfides in situ with metal ions or metal-containing compounds contained in said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials to form metal sulfides;
• reducing solubility of the metal ions or metal-containing compounds contained in said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials as a result of forming the metal sulfides;
• inhibiting the migration rate of metal ions or metal-containing compounds within or from said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials.

A process for in situ immobilization of metals in waste stacks, soils, or earth materials, comprising:

• flowing a waste liquid onto said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials;
• said waste liquid including at least one microbe and at least one microbe nutrient which is capable of sustaining activity of the at least one microbe;
• said at least one microbe also being capable of producing microbial sulfides which are sulfide by-products of microbial activity in said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials;
• reacting the microbial sulfides in situ with metal ions or metal-containing compounds contained in said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials to form metal sulfides;
• reducing solubility of the metal ions or metal-containing compounds contained in said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials as a result of forming the metal sulfides;
• inhibiting the migration rate of metal ions or metal-containing compounds within or from said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials.

A process for in situ immobilization of metals in waste stacks, soils, or earth materials, comprising:

• adding at least one microbe nutrient which is capable of sustaining activity of at least one microbe to a liquid;
• flowing the liquid with added at least one microbe nutrient onto said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials;
• said liquid being at a low pH;
• wherein there is at least one microbe within said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials;
• said at least one microbe being inactive in said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials except at locations in which the pH increases due to neutralization of the low pH liquid as the liquid flows into said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials;
• said at least one microbe also being capable of producing microbial sulfides which are sulfide by-products of microbial activity in said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials;
• reacting the microbial sulfides in situ with metal ions or metal-containing compounds contained in said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials to form metal sulfides;
• reducing solubility of the metal ions or metal-containing compounds contained in said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials as a result of forming the metal sulfides;
• inhibiting the migration rate of metal ions or metal-containing compounds within or from said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials.