# US 7,745,680 B1 · Compositions, methods, and systems for reducing contamination > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,745,680 B1 - Document ID: US7745680B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 11/471,232 - Filed: 2006-06-20 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2002-02-11 - Inventors: Henry Wilmore Cox, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7745680B1 ## CPC - A62D 3/38: by oxidation; by combustion - C02F 1/683: {by addition of complex-forming compounds} - C02F 1/722: {Oxidation by peroxides} - C02F 1/725: {by catalytic oxidation} - A62D 2101/47: containing oxygen, sulfur, selenium or tellurium, i.e. chalcogen - C02F 1/66: by neutralisation; pH adjustment (for degassing C02F1/20; using ion-exchange C02F1/42; for flocculation or precipitation of suspended impurities C02F1/52; for removing dissolved compounds C02F1/58) - C02F 2101/101: {Sulfur compounds} - C02F 2303/02: Odour removal or prevention of malodour - C02F 2305/026: Fenton's reagent - C02F 2307/08: Treatment of wastewater in the sewer, e.g. to reduce grease, odour - Y02W 10/37: using solar energy - A62D: CHEMICAL MEANS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES OR FOR COMBATING OR PROTECTING AGAINST HARMFUL CHEMICAL AGENTS; CHEMICAL MATERIALS FOR USE IN BREATHING APPARATUS - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT ## Abstract Exemplary compositions, methods, and systems are disclosed that can be useful for reducing a concentration of a contaminant associated with a medium, which can be any substance or material, such as soil, water, air, and/or fluid. In one exemplary method, the medium is treated with Fe-MDGA and an oxidizing agent in amounts effective to oxidize at least a portion of the contaminant. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. This abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for reducing a concentration of a contaminant associated with a medium, comprising treating the medium with Fe-MGDA and an oxidizing agent in amounts effective to oxidize at least a portion of the contaminant, wherein the contaminant is hydrogen sulfide or an organic compound having at least one aromatic functional group, said Fe-MGDA having an iron to MGDA molar ratio of approximately 3:1. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the medium is selected from soil, water, air, and fluid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the medium is selected from air, exhaust, and vent gas. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the medium is air within a space defined at least in part by a structure selected from: tunnel, mine, well, ditch, canyon, cavern, cave, hole, corner, niche, bunker, building, compartment, room, clean room, enclosure, container, tank, pipe, equipment, ship, airplane, vehicle, automobile, and train. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the medium is a fluid within a space defined at least in part by a structure selected from: tunnel, mine, well, ditch, canyon, cavern, cave, hole, corner, niche, bunker, building, compartment, room, clean room, enclosure, container, tank, pipe, equipment, ship, airplane, vehicle, automobile, and train. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the medium is selected from: liquid, water, groundwater, leachate, wastewater, sewer water, blackwater, graywater, bilge water, ballast water, feed water, process water, industrial water, irrigation water, recreational water, pond water, lake water, creek water, river water, rain water, runoff water, pool water, cooling water, non-potable water, potable water, drinking water, semi-pure water, spent ultra-pure water. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the medium is selected from: a solid, solids, rubbish, trash, refuse, waste, medical waste, radioactive waste, sweepings, scourings, rubble, debris, detritus, scum, grease, sludge, sewage, jetsam, and/or flotsam. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the medium is selected from: soil, clay, dust, sand, gravel, stones, rock, sediment, and activated charcoal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the contaminant is selected from: a chemical compound, a chemical mixture, an organic compound, an inorganic compound, and hydrogen sulfide. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the contaminant is selected from: an organic compound, an organic compound having at least one aromatic functional group, an organic compound having at least one aliphatic functional group, an inorganic compound, and hydrogen sulfide. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the contaminant is an organic compound having at least one aromatic functional group. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the contaminant is an organic compound having at least one aliphatic functional group. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the contaminant is selected from: lifeform, biological, pest, plant, invertebrate, mollusk, nematode, insect, parasite, mold, fungi, protozoa, amoeba, bacteria, virus, prion, protein, and amino acid. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the contaminant is hydrogen sulfide. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the oxidizing agent is a peroxide. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the oxidizing agent is hydrogen peroxide. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the oxidizing agent is calcium peroxide. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the oxidizing agent is magnesium peroxide. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the oxidizing agent is a persulphate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the oxidizing agent is sodium persulphate. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the oxidizing agent is potassium persulphate. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the oxidizing agent is ammonium persulphate. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the oxidizing agent is ozone. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said treating occurs in situ. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said treating occurs ex situ. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said treating occurs at a pH in the range of approximately 5 to approximately 8. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said treating occurs at approximately a pH of the medium. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a substantial portion of the contaminant is oxidized. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising sampling the medium for the contaminant. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising analyzing the contaminant. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the contaminant associated with the medium. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring a pre-oxidation concentration of the contaminant associated with the medium. ### Claim 33 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an amount of medium to treat. ### Claim 34 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining at least one treatment location for the medium. ### Claim 35 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising preparing the Fe-MGDA. ### Claim 36 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising mixing the Fe-MGDA and the oxidizing agent. ### Claim 37 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising conveying a mixture of the Fe-MGDA and the oxidizing agent. ### Claim 38 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising contacting the medium with Fe-MGDA and a oxidizing agent. ### Claim 39 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising reacting the contaminant with the Fe-MGDA and the oxidizing agent. ### Claim 40 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, to improve oxidation, adjusting an amount of at least one item selected from: the Fe-MGDA, the oxidizing agent, the medium, and the contaminant. ### Claim 41 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, to improve oxidation, adjusting a flowrate of at least one item selected from: the Fe-MGDA, the oxidizing agent, the medium, and the contaminant. ### Claim 42 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, to improve oxidation, controlling an amount of at least one item selected from: the Fe-MGDA, the oxidizing agent, the medium, and the contaminant. ### Claim 43 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, to improve oxidation, controlling a flowrate of at least one item selected from: the Fe-MGDA, the oxidizing agent, the medium, and the contaminant. ### Claim 44 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling a temperature of at least one item selected from: the medium, the contaminant, the Fe-MGDA, and the oxidizing agent. ### Claim 45 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling a pressure of at least one item selected from: the medium, the contaminant, the Fe-MGDA, and the oxidizing agent. ### Claim 46 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling a concentration of at least one item selected from: the medium, the contaminant, the Fe-MGDA, and the oxidizing agent. ### Claim 47 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising oxidizing the contaminant with the Fe-MGDA and the oxidizing agent. ### Claim 48 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing the concentration of the contaminant by a factor of at least 2. ### Claim 49 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing the concentration of the contaminant by a factor of at least 5. ### Claim 50 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing the concentration of the contaminant by a factor of at least 10. ### Claim 51 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing the concentration of the contaminant by a factor of at least 20. ### Claim 52 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing the concentration of the contaminant by a factor of at least 50. ### Claim 53 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing the concentration of the contaminant by a factor of at least 100. ### Claim 54 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing the concentration of the contaminant by a factor of at least 200. ### Claim 55 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing the concentration of the contaminant by a factor of at least 500. ### Claim 56 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing the concentration of the contaminant by a factor of at least 1000. ### Claim 57 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing the concentration of the contaminant by a factor of at least 2000. ### Claim 58 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing the concentration of the contaminant by a factor of at least 5000. ### Claim 59 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing the concentration of the contaminant by a factor of at least 10000. ### Claim 60 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing the concentration of the contaminant by a factor of at least 20000. ### Claim 61 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing the concentration of the contaminant by a factor of at least 50000. ### Claim 62 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising analyzing a post-oxidation concentration of the contaminant associated with the medium. ### Claim 63 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring a post-oxidation concentration of the contaminant associated with the medium. ### Claim 64 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a reduction in the concentration of the contaminant associated with the medium. ### Claim 65 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising conveying the medium after treatment. ### Claim 66 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising discharging the medium after treatment. ### Claim 67 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising dispersing a mixture of Fe-MGDA and a peroxide compound in a form selected from: liquid, foam, solid, gaseous, and aerosol. ### Claim 68 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising utilizing heat generated from said treating to produce work. ### Claim 69 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising utilizing heat generated from said treating to produce a temperature change in an environment. ### Claim 70 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising utilizing heat generated from said treating to produce a temperature change in a fluid. ### Claim 71 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising decontaminating the medium. ### Claim 72 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising sanitizing the medium. ### Claim 73 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising killing a biological selected from a: mold, fungi, protozoa, amoeba, bacteria, virus, and prion. ### Claim 74 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising rendering ineffective an amino acid or protein. ### Claim 75 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising denaturing a protein. ### Claim 76 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising producing an explosion. ### Claim 77 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising producing a controlled explosion. ### Claim 78 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising decomposing waste material containing at least one aliphatic or aromatic functional group. ### Claim 79 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising decontaminating a clean room environment. ### Claim 80 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising treating the medium to reduce a concentration of iron associated with the medium. ### Claim 81 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating said treating of the medium to improve oxidation. ### Claim 82 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising adding an organic compound to the medium to improve said method. ### Claim 83 A method for reducing a concentration in a volume of soil of a soil-contaminating organic compound, comprising contacting the volume of soil with Fe-MGDA and an oxidizing agent in amounts effective to treat the soil-contaminating organic compound, said Fe-MGDA having an iron to MGDA molar ratio of approximately 3:1. ### Claim 84 A method for reducing a concentration in a volume of water of a water-contaminating organic compound, comprising contacting the volume of water with Fe-MGDA and an oxidizing agent in amounts effective to treat the water-contaminating organic compound, said Fe-MGDA having an iron to MGDA molar ratio of approximately 3:1. ### Claim 85 A method for reducing a concentration in a volume of air of an air-contaminating organic compound, comprising contacting the volume of air with Fe-MGDA and an oxidizing agent in amounts effective to treat the air-contaminating organic compound, said Fe-MGDA having an iron to MGDA molar ratio of approximately 3:1. ### Claim 86 A method for decontaminating a medium containing a medium-contaminating compound, comprising contacting the medium with Fe-MGDA and an oxidizing agent in amounts effective to treat the medium-contaminating organic compound, said Fe-MGDA having an iron to MGDA molar ratio of approximately 3:1. ### Claim 87 A method for decontaminating a medium containing a medium-contaminating compound, comprising contacting the medium with Fe-MGDA and an oxidizing agent in amounts effective to oxidize the medium-contaminating organic compound, said Fe-MGDA having an iron to MGDA molar ratio of approximately 3:1. ### Claim 88 A method for decontaminating a medium containing a medium-contaminating compound having at least one oxidizable aliphatic or aromatic functional group, comprising contacting the medium with Fe-MGDA and an oxidizing agent in amounts effective to achieve oxidization of the medium-contaminating organic compound, said Fe-MGDA having an iron to MGDA molar ratio of approximately 3:1. ### Claim 89 A method for oxidizing a contaminant associated with a medium, comprising contacting the medium with Fe-MGDA and an oxidizing agent in amounts effective to non-dilutably reduce a concentration of the contaminant by a factor of at least 10, said Fe-MGDA having an iron to MGDA molar ratio of approximately 3:1. ### Claim 90 An oxidation process comprising contacting an oxidizable composition of matter with a reaction product of Fe-MGDA and a peroxide, said Fe-MGDA having an iron to MGDA molar ratio of approximately 3:1. ### Claim 91 An oxidation process comprising contacting an oxidizable composition of matter with a reaction product of Fe-MGDA and a persulphate, said Fe-MGDA having an iron to MGDA molar ratio of approximately 3:1. ### Claim 92 An oxidation process comprising contacting an oxidizable composition of matter with a reaction product of Fe-MGDA and ozone, said Fe-MGDA having an iron to MGDA molar ratio of approximately 3:1. ### Claim 93 An oxidation process comprising contacting an oxidizable composition of matter with a reaction product of Fe-MGDA and an oxidizing agent, said Fe-MGDA having an iron to MGDA molar ratio of approximately 3:1. ### Claim 94 A method of degrading an organic compound, comprising contacting an oxidizable organic compound with a reaction product of Fe-MGDA and a peroxide, said Fe-MGDA having an iron to MGDA molar ratio of approximately 3:1, and oxidizing said organic compound.