System and method of in-situ bioremediation with butane-utilizing bacteria
OwnerFelix Anthony Perrielloinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method are disclosed in which butane-utilizing bacteria are used to degrade pollutants such as trichloroethene (TCE) and trichloroethane (TCA) in-situ at contaminated sites. In a preferred embodiment, pollutant concentrations are reduced by injecting a butane substrate and an oxygen-containing gas into a contaminated area to stimulate the growth of butane-utilizing bacteria which degrade the pollutants by cometabolism or direct metabolism. Use of the butane/oxygen injection system results in substantially improved treatment of contaminated sites.
Claims99
An in-situ bioremediation system comprising:
- a source of a butane substrate;
- a source of an oxygen-containing gas;
- and
- at least one injector in flow communication with the source of butane substrate and the source of oxygen-containing gas, wherein the butane substrate comprises at least about 10 weight percent butane.
A method of treating a contaminated site comprising:
- supplying a butane substrate to the contaminated site;
- and
- supplying an oxygen-containing gas to the contaminated site wherein the butane substrate comprises at least about 10 weight percent butane.
An in-situ bioremediation system comprising:
- means for supplying a butane substrate to a contaminated site;
- and
- means for supplying an oxygen-containing gas to the contaminated site, wherein the butane substrate comprises at least about 10 weight percent butane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.