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US 5,997,749 AGranted
Methods for the remediation of chemical contamination in subsurface water bearing geological structures
AssigneeCorrectivation, LLC
InventorsJohn Michael Citterbart, Sam Kumar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Compositions and methods for decreasing chemical contamination in subsurface water bearing geological formations, comprising an oxidized form of lignitic coal, or its derivatives, preferably leonardite, and at least one surface active agent. The compositions can be applied to an affected water bearing formation by conventional groundwater management methods, e.g., injection wells and groundwater extraction systems.
Claims46
A method of decreasing chemical contamination bound to subsurface water bearing geological formations having primary and secondary porosities, comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying a composition into an affected subsurface water bearing geological formation to form a water soluble complex with the chemical contamination bound to the surface areas of the primary and secondary porosities of the subsurface water bearing geological formation, said composition comprising:
- the soluble eluting materials of an oxidized form of lignitic coal;
- and at least one surface active agent in concentrations sufficient to complex with a chemical contaminant in a subsurface water bearing geological formation, and water, wherein the insoluble inert substances of the oxidized form of lignitic coal are excluded from said composition;
- (b) monitoring a condition of an affected subsurface water bearing geological formation;
- said condition is selected from a group consisting of:
- the types, concentrations, electronegativities and molecular sizes of the chemical contaminants, the volume of chemical contamination, the hydrogeology, and the lithology;
- (c) continuing the application of a composition into an affected subsurface water bearing geological formation until the chemical contamination has decreased;
- (d) removing from the treated subsurface water bearing geological formation the groundwater containing a dissolved complex formed between the chemical contamination and a composition;
- and
- (e) washing excess composition from the treated subsurface water bearing geological formation.
7 more elements
A method of decreasing chemical contamination bound to subsurface water bearing geological formations having primary and secondary porosities, comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying a composition into an affected subsurface water bearing geological formation to form a water soluble complex with the chemical contamination bound to the surface areas of the primary and secondary porosities of the subsurface water bearing geological formation, said composition comprising the soluble eluting materials of an oxidized form of lignitic coal in a concentration sufficient to complex with a chemical contaminant in a subsurface water bearing geological formation, and water, wherein the insoluble inert substances of the oxidized form of lignitic coal are excluded from said composition;
- (b) monitoring a condition of an affected subsurface water bearing geological formation;
- said condition is selected from a group consisting of:
- the types, concentrations, electronegativities and molecular sizes of the chemical contaminants, the volume of chemical contamination, the hydrogeology, and the lithology;
- (c) continuing the application of a composition into an affected subsurface water bearing geological formation until the chemical contamination has decreased;
- (d) removing from the treated subsurface water bearing geological formation the groundwater containing a dissolved complex formed between the chemical contamination and a composition;
- and
- (e) washing excess composition from the treated subsurface water bearing geological formation.
5 more elements
A method of decreasing free chemical contamination in a body of groundwater contained within the subsurface water bearing geological formation having primary and secondary porosities, comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying a composition into an affected body of groundwater within a subsurface water bearing geological formation to form a water soluble complex with the free chemical contamination not bound to the surface areas of the primary and secondary porosities of the subsurface water bearing geological formation, said composition comprising:
- the soluble eluting materials of an oxidized form of lignitic coal;
- and at least one surface active agent in concentrations sufficient to complex with a chemical contaminant in a subsurface water bearing geological formation, and water, wherein the insoluble inert substances of the oxidized form of lignitic coal are excluded from said composition;
- (b) monitoring a condition of an affected body of groundwater contained within the subsurface water bearing geological formation;
- said condition is selected from a group consisting of:
- the types, concentrations, electronegativities and molecular sizes of the chemical contaminants, the volume of chemical contamination, the hydrogeology, and the lithology;
- (c) continuing the application of a composition into an affected subsurface water bearing geological formation until the free chemical contamination has decreased;
- (d) removing from the treated body of groundwater contained within the subsurface water bearing geological formation the groundwater containing a dissolved complex formed between the free chemical contamination and a composition;
- and
- (e) washing excess composition from the treated body of groundwater contained within the subsurface water bearing geological formation.
7 more elements
A method of decreasing free chemical contamination in a body of groundwater contained within the subsurface water bearing geological formation having primary and secondary porosities, comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying a composition into an affected body of groundwater within a subsurface water bearing geological formation to form a water soluble complex with the free chemical contamination not bound to the surface areas of the primary and secondary porosities of the subsurface water bearing geological formation, said composition comprising the soluble eluting materials of an oxidized form of lignitic coal in a concentration sufficient to complex with a chemical contaminant in a subsurface water bearing geological formation, and water, wherein the insoluble inert substances of the oxidized form of lignitic coal are excluded from said composition;
- (b) monitoring a condition of an affected body of groundwater contained within the subsurface water bearing geological formation;
- said condition is selected from a group consisting of:
- the types, concentrations, electronegativities and molecular sizes of the chemical contaminants, the volume of chemical contamination, the hydrogeology, and the lithology;
- (c) continuing the application of a composition into an affected subsurface water bearing geological formation until the free chemical contamination has decreased;
- (d) removing from the treated body of groundwater contained within the subsurface water bearing geological formation the groundwater containing a dissolved complex formed between the free chemical contamination and a composition;
- and
- (e) washing excess composition from the treated body of groundwater contained within the subsurface water bearing geological formation.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.