# US 5,710,361 A · In-situ treatment of waste stacks, soils or earth materials to immobilize metals contained therein > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,710,361 A - Document ID: US5710361A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/772,174 - Filed: 1996-12-18 - Granted: 1998-01-20 - Earliest claimed: 1995-12-15 - Assignees: J. R. Simplot Company - Inventors: Joseph G. Harrington; Roger B. Humberger; Michael L. Orr; Charles H. Schwartz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5710361A ## CPC - B09C 1/10: microbiologically, {biologically} or by using enzymes - B09B 1/00: Dumping solid waste - B09C 1/08: chemically - B09C 2101/00: In situ - 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) - B09B: DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A process for in situ immobilization of metals in waste stack affected zones including a waste stack and any adjacent boundary zone. One form of the process includes: (a) forming at least one treatment passageway which extends within the waste stack affected zone; (b) injecting a treatment liquid into the treatment passageway; said treatment liquid including at least one microbe nutrient which is capable of sustaining activity of the at least one microbe; (c) providing at least one microbe in sufficient proximity to the treatment passageway to receive treatment liquid therefrom; said at least one microbe being capable of growing in the presence of said treatment liquid; said at least one microbe also being capable of producing microbial sulfides which are sulfide by-products of microbial activity in the waste stack affected zone; (d) reacting the microbial sulfides in situ with metal ions or metal-containing compounds contained in said waste stack affected zone to form metal sulfides; (e) reducing solubility of the metal ions or metal-containing compounds contained in the waste stack affected zone as a result of forming the metal sulfides; and (f) inhibiting the migration rate of metal ions or metal-containing compounds within or from the waste stack affected zone. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for in situ immobilization of metals in waste stacks, soils, or earth materials having metals therein, comprising: forming at least one treatment passageway which extends into said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials; injecting a treatment liquid into the treatment passageway; said treatment liquid including at least one microbe nutrient which is capable of sustaining activity of at least one microbe; providing at least one microbe in sufficient proximity to the treatment passageway to receive treatment liquid therefrom; said at least one microbe being capable of growing in the presence of said treatment liquid; 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of injecting a treatment liquid is further characterized by the at least one microbe nutrient including a carbohydrate microbe nutrient. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of injecting a treatment liquid is further characterized by the at least one microbe nutrient including a carbohydrate microbe nutrient and ammonium sulfate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of providing at least one microbe includes inoculating at least portions of the treatment passageway with said at least one microbe. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of providing at least one microbe includes inoculating at least portions of the treatment passageway with said at least one microbe; said inoculating occurring by including the at least one microbe in the treatment liquid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the process further comprises a step of injecting one or more supplemental feedings of treatment liquid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of providing at least one microbe includes inoculating at least portions of the treatment passageway with said at least one microbe; said inoculating occurring by placing said at least one microbe in the treatment passageway after the forming step and prior to injecting treatment liquid in the treatment passageway. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of providing at least one microbe includes relying upon natural microbes which exist in said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of providing a microbe comprises utilizing microbes that previously existed in said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials before the step of forming at least one treatment passageway. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of forming at least one treatment passageway comprises drilling into said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of injecting a treatment liquid comprises injecting a treatment fluid having a pH from about 1 to about 2.5. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of injecting a treatment liquid comprises injecting a treatment liquid from which cysteine is specifically excluded. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of injecting includes forcing treatment liquid through the treatment passageway. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of injecting includes flowing treatment liquid through the treatment passageway under the force of gravity. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of forming at least one treatment passageway comprises forming at least one treatment passageway to a depth within said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials wherein said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials have a pH from about 3.5 to about 7. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the process further comprises treating a surface pool which exists on at least portions of said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials using a pool treatment composition; said pool treatment composition including at least one microbe nutrient which is a nutrient capable of sustaining activity of the at least one microbe. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of reacting the microbially produced sulfides comprises reacting the microbially produced sulfides with at least one metal selected from the group consisting of As, Se, Cd, Hg, Cu, and Cr. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of injecting a treatment liquid is done using a treatment liquid which is sufficiently low in cysteine content so that the at least one microbe are not inhibited from producing microbial sulfides. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of injecting a treatment liquid is further characterized by a treatment liquid which comprises from about 0.15 to about 10 grams per liter of carbohydrate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 herein the step of injecting a treatment liquid is further characterized by a treatment liquid which comprises from about 0.15 to about 10 grams per liter of carbohydrate and from about 0.025 to about 0.5 grams per liter of ammonium sulfate. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of injecting a treatment liquid is further characterized by a treatment liquid which comprises carbohydrate, phosphate ion and ammonium sulfate. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of injecting a treatment liquid comprise injecting and flowing a treatment liquid which comprises from about 0.15 to about 10 grams per liter of carbohydrate, from about 0.01 to about 0.25 grams per liter of phosphate ion and from about 0.025 to about 0.5 grams per liter of ammonium sulfate. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of injecting a treatment liquid is further characterized by a treatment liquid which comprises molasses and ammonium sulfate. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of injecting a treatment liquid is further characterized by a treatment liquid which comprises approximately 1 gram per liter of molasses and approximately 8 milligrams per liter of ammonium sulfate. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of injecting a treatment liquid is further characterized by a treatment liquid which comprises hydrolyzed potato starch and ammonium sulfate. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of providing at least one microbe comprises providing one or more microbes of a genus selected from the group consisting of the genera Desulfovibrio, Desulfomonas and Desulfomaculum. ### Claim 27 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. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) A process according to claim 27 wherein the step of providing at least one microbe comprises: forming at least one treatment passageway which extends within said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials; inoculating at least portions of the treatment passageway with said at least one microbe. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) A process according to claim 28 wherein the step of forming at least one treatment passageway comprises drilling into said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) A process according to claim 28 wherein the step of forming at least one treatment passageway comprises drilling into and through said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) A process according to claim 28 wherein the step of forming at least one treatment passageway comprises forming at least one treatment passageway to a depth within said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials wherein said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials have a pH from about 3.5 to about 7. ### Claim 32 (depends on 27) A process according to claim 27 wherein the step of providing at least one microbe is done before the step of treating a surface pool. ### Claim 33 (depends on 27) A process according to claim 27 wherein the step of providing a microbe is done simultaneously with the step of treating a surface pool. ### Claim 34 (depends on 27) A process according to claim 27 wherein the step of treating a surface pool is further characterized by the at least one microbe nutrient including a carbohydrate microbe nutrient. ### Claim 35 (depends on 27) A process according to claim 27 wherein the step of treating a surface pool is further characterized by the at least one microbe nutrient including a carbohydrate microbe nutrient and ammonium sulfate. ### Claim 36 (depends on 27) A process according to claim 27 wherein the step of providing at least one microbe includes relying upon natural microbes which exist in said waste stacks, soils, or earth materials. ### Claim 37 (depends on 27) A process according to claim 27 wherein the step of treating a surface pool is further characterized by a pool treatment composition which brings the pH of the pool to a range of from about 1 to about 2.5. ### Claim 38 (depends on 27) A process according to claim 27 wherein the step of treating a surface pool is further characterized by a pool treatment composition from which cysteine is specifically excluded. ### Claim 39 (depends on 27) A process according to claim 27 wherein the step of reacting the microbially produced sulfides comprises reacting the microbially produced sulfides with at least one metal selected from the group consisting of As, Se, Cd, Hg, Cu, and Cr. ### Claim 40 (depends on 27) A process according to claim 27 wherein the step of treating a surface pool is further characterized by a pool treatment composition which comprises from about 0.15 to about 10 grams per liter of carbohydrate. ### Claim 41 (depends on 27) A process according to claim 27 wherein the step of treating a surface pool is further characterized by a pool treatment composition which comprises from about 0.15 to about 10 grams per liter of carbohydrate and from about 0.025 to about 0.5 grams per liter of ammonium sulfate. ### Claim 42 (depends on 27) A process according to claim 27 wherein the step of treating a surface pool is further characterized by a pool treatment composition which comprises carbohydrate, phosphate ion and ammonium sulfate. ### Claim 43 (depends on 27) A process according to claim 27 wherein the step of treating a surface pool is further characterized by a pool treatment composition which comprises from about 0.15 to about 10 grams per liter of carbohydrate, from about 0.01 to about 0.25 grams per liter of phosphate ion and from about 0.025 to about 0.5 grams per liter of ammonium sulfate. ### Claim 44 (depends on 27) A process according to claim 27 wherein the step of treating a surface pool is further characterized by a pool treatment composition which comprises molasses and ammonium sulfate. ### Claim 45 (depends on 27) A process according to claim 27 wherein the step of treating a surface pool is further characterized by a pool treatment composition which comprises approximately 1 gram per liter of molasses and approximately 8 milligrams per liter of ammonium sulfate. ### Claim 46 (depends on 27) A process according to claim 27 wherein the step of treating a surface pool is further characterized by a pool treatment composition which comprises hydrolyzed potato starch and ammonium sulfate. ### Claim 47 (depends on 27) A process according to claim 27 wherein the step of providing at least one microbe comprises providing one or more microbes of a genus selected from the group consisting of the genera Desulfovibrio, Desulfomonas and Desulfomaculum. ### Claim 48 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. ### Claim 49 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. ### Claim 50 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. ### Claim 51 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.