Method and apparatus for forming a slurry

A method for reducing contamination of a contaminated soil, comprising the following steps:

• transporting the contaminated soil to within a slurry-forming apparatus;
• transporting water to within the slurry-forming apparatus;
• mixing the contaminated soil with the water in the slurry-forming apparatus to thereby form a contaminated soil slurry;
• transporting the contaminated soil slurry from the slurry-forming apparatus to a separate bioreactor vessel through a first substantially closed conduit;
• growing microbes within the slurry in the bioreactor vessel and removing the contaminant from the contaminated soil slurry to reduce a concentration of a contaminant within the soil and to thereby reduce the contamination of the soil;
• and
• transporting the water from the bioreactor vessel to the slurry-forming apparatus through a second substantially closed conduit.

A soil remediation method wherein spillage of contaminated soil at a soil remediation site is substantially inhibited, the remediation site comprising a substantially central area surrounded by an outlying area, the method comprising the following steps:

• defining a plurality of slurry-forming apparatus locations throughout at least one of the substantially central area and the outlying area;
• defining a bioreactor vessel location within the central area;
• providing at least one slurry-forming apparatus at the slurry-forming apparatus locations and utilizing the apparatus to form a contaminated soil slurry from contaminated soil substantially proximate to the apparatus;
• providing a bioreactor vessel at the bioreactor vessel location;
• transporting the contaminated soil slurry from the slurry-forming apparatus to the bioreactor vessel through a first substantially closed conduit, the transporting of the soil slurry through the substantially closed conduit substantially inhibiting spillage of contaminated soil between the outlying area and the substantially central area;
• and
• partially filling the bioreactor vessel with water;
• transporting the water from the bioreactor vessel to the one or more slurry-forming apparatuses through a second substantially closed conduit;
• and
• cycling the water between the bioreactor vessel and the one or more slurry-forming apparatuses to provide a slurry-forming apparatuses water to form the contaminated soil slurry.

A method for microbial decontamination of a contaminated soil, comprising the following steps:

• washing the contaminated soil in a slurry-forming apparatus to form a slurry comprising a contaminated liquid and a substantially decontaminated soil, the washing in the slurry-forming apparatus comprising providing the contaminated soil within a vessel, the vessel having a cylindrical vessel wall, a downwardly-sloped floor joined to the vessel wall and a baffle along an interior surface of the vessel wall, the baffle comprising a longitudinal slope;
• injecting water into the vessel through a fluid inlet, the water being directed downwardly by the longitudinal slope of the baffle, the water being thereby sent into a downward and curvilinear flow along the interior surface of the vessel wall;
• mixing the soil with the water having a downward and curvilinear flow to wash the soil;
• separating the substantially decontaminated soil from the contaminated liquid;
• providing the separated contaminated liquid within a bioreactor;
• and
• microbial decontamination of the contaminated liquid to reduce a contaminant concentration with the liquid.

A method for microbial decontamination of a contaminated soil, comprising the following steps:

• providing the contaminated soil within a vessel, the vessel having a cylindrical vessel wall, a downwardly-sloped floor joined to the vessel wall and a baffle along an interior surface of the vessel wall;
• the baffle comprising a longitudinal slope;
• injecting water into the vessel through a fluid inlet, the water being directed downwardly by the longitudinal slope of the baffle, the water being thereby sent into a downward and curvilinear flow along the interior surface of the vessel wall;
• mixing the soil with the water having a downward and curvilinear flow to wash the soil and to form a slurry comprising a contaminated liquid and a substantially decontaminated soil;
• separating the substantially decontaminated soil from the contaminated liquid;
• providing the separated contaminated liquid within a bioreactor;
• and
• microbial decontamination of the contaminated liquid to reduce a contaminant concentration within the liquid.

A method for microbial decontamination of a contaminated soil, comprising the following steps:

• washing the contaminated soil in a slurry-forming apparatus to form a slurry comprising a contaminated liquid and a substantially decontaminated soil;
• separating the substantially decontaminated soil from the contaminated liquid;
• transporting the contaminated liquid from the slurry-forming apparatus to a bioreactor vessel through a substantially closed conduit and;
• microbial decontamination of the contaminated liquid to reduce a contaminant concentration within the liquid.

A method for forming and expelling a slurry, comprising the following steps:

• providing a vessel, the vessel having a cylindrical vessel wall, a downwardly-sloped floor joined to the vessel wall and an outlet in about the center of the downwardly-sloped floor;
• the cylindrical vessel wall having an interior surface and a top;
• providing a first baffle along the interior surface of the vessel wall;
• the first baffle comprising a longitudinal slope;
• providing a fluid inlet to within the vessel;
• injecting a fluid stream into the vessel through the fluid inlet, the fluid stream being directed downwardly by the longitudinal slope of the baffle, the fluid being thereby sent into a downward and curvilinear flow along the interior surface of the vessel wall;
• providing a granular material in the vessel;
• mixing the granular material with the fluid having a downward and curvilinear flow to form a slurry;
• flowing the slurry through the outlet of the vessel to expel the slurry;
• and
• wherein the fluid stream comprises water injected into the vessel at a water injection rate, wherein the granular material is soil, and wherein the soil is provided at a soil provision rate, the soil provision rate and the water injection rate being together controlled to maintain a ratio of soil to water within the apparatus of from about 4:6 to about 6:4 during the mixing step.