Loading patent…
OwnerFalk Doringinventor
Estimating the term…
This invention relates to a method for sterilizing microorganisms and/or decomposing organic and inorganic pollutants in a region of ground soil by passing a specified direct current through the contaminated soil region with a controlled voltage applied between at least one pair of electrodes incorporated into the ground soil. For decomposition of the organic and inorganic pollutants, it is postulated that the applied electric field increases the natural capacitance of the individual soil particles to over capacitance sufficient to cause the soil particles to discharge electrons. This electric discharge, in turn, provides the reaction energy to promote the redox reactions which effects decomposition of the pollutants. The voltage is preferable controlled to optimize the amplitude and frequency of the electric discharges emitted by the soil particles which have become subject to over capacitance. Preferably, the applied electric field is aligned with the natural electric field of the soil particles being treated. A voltage of at least 0.4 V to 2 V per meter of electrode distance for each pair of electrodes is required.
A method for sterilizing microorganisms or decomposing organic and inorganic pollutants or both in a contaminated ground region of soil containing water and soil particles having a natural polarization and capacitance, which comprises:
A method for the treatment of organic and inorganic contaminants in a region of ground soil containing soil particles and ground water which comprises applying to at least one pair of electrodes extending into said ground soil region a voltage of at least 0.4 V per meter of electrode distance per pair of electrodes and passing a direct current through said soil particles in order to alter the capacitance of said soil particles and cause an electric discharge from soil particles when their capacitance is overloaded.
An in situ method for removing contaminants in ground soil having a moisture content of not less than 6%, which comprises:
An electrochemical method for the treatment of contaminants in a region of ground soil containing soil particles having a natural capacitance which comprises passing a direct current through said soil particles to increase said natural capacitance of said soil particles sufficiently to cause electric discharges from said soil particles.
A method for sterilizing microorganisms or decomposing organic and inorganic pollutants or both in a contaminated ground region of soil containing water and soil particles, which comprises:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.