Method for treating contaminated water
AssigneeLehigh University
InventorWei-xian Zhang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Zero valent iron particles (14) having enhanced surface area are used to treat contaminated groundwater in-situ or above ground. Hollow and/or porous zero valent iron particles (14) having a generally spherical shape and porous surface are produced using a sacrificial substrate (10) and thermal treatment.
Claims17
A method for treatment or remediation of soil or groundwater contaminated with unwanted pollutants comprising the steps of:
- a) preparing generally spherical zero valent iron particles having a diameter no larger than about ten millimeters and a porosity greater than 0.1;
- and
- b) placing said particles in said soil or a path of groundwater flow;
- whereby said particles effect reduction of said pollutants.
A method for preparing porous iron particles having a size up to 10 millimeters comprises the steps of:
- a) preparing a generally spherical substrate of a material that can be converted to volatile matter or a gas at elevated temperature;
- b) coating said substrate with metallic iron to form a substantially continuous layer at least 0.25 nm thick;
- c) exposing said coated substrate to one of a chemical reagent or a temperature high enough to remove said substrate to form a hollow iron particle;
- and
- d) reducing iron oxides in said particle to metallic iron.
A method for treatment or remediation of groundwater contaminated with unwanted pollutants comprising the steps of:
- a) preparing generally spherical zero valent iron particles having a diameter no larger than about ten millimeters and a porosity greater than 0.1;
- b) charging said particles into a receptacle having an inlet and an outlet defining a pathway through said particles,
- c) introducing said pollutant groundwater into said inlet;
- and
- d) recovery cleaned water from said outlet.
A generally spherical hollow zero valent iron particle being no larger than about ten millimeters in diameter and having a porosity greater than 0.1.
A zero valent iron particle fabricated by:
- a) preparing a generally spherical substrate of a material that can be converted to volatile matter or a gas at elevated temperature;
- b) coating said substrate with metallic iron to form a substantially continuous layer at least 0.25 nm thick;
- c) exposing said coated substrate to one of a chemical reagent or a temperature high enough to remove said substrate to form a hollow iron particle;
- and
- d) reducing iron oxide in said particle to metallic iron.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.