In situ bioremediation of contaminated groundwater using electron acceptor salts
AssigneeChevron U.S.A. Inc.
InventorRavindra Vasant Kolhatkar
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Abstract
A process is provided for bioremediating petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated groundwater by applying at least one electron acceptor salt to a ground surface overlying the contaminated groundwater. The process includes identifying characteristics of the aquifer, in which the contaminated groundwater is found, to enable treatment of aquifers at a range of depths below the ground surface.
Claims25
A process for bioremediating contaminated groundwater in a subsurface aquifer, comprising:
- applying at least one electron acceptor salt to a ground surface overlying the contaminated groundwater;
- and
- increasing a first concentration of the at least one electron acceptor salt in the contaminated groundwater within a plume of contamination in an aquifer to at least as high as a second concentration of the at least one electron acceptor salt in a portion of uncontaminated groundwater within the same aquifer.
A process for bioremediating contaminated groundwater in a subsurface aquifer which includes both contaminated groundwater and uncontaminated groundwater, comprising:
- a. determining a sulfate concentration of a sample of the uncontaminated groundwater;
- b. determining a sulfate concentration of a sample of the contaminated groundwater;
- and
- c. applying at least one sulfate salt to the ground surface overlying the contaminated groundwater in sufficient quantity to increase the sulfate concentration in the contaminated groundwater to at least 20 mg per liter of the contaminated groundwater.
A process for bioremediating contaminated groundwater in a subsurface aquifer, comprising:
- a. identifying an aquifer with contaminated groundwater which contains less than 20 mg of sulfate per liter of contaminated groundwater, in an aquifer having a hydraulic conductivity within the range from 10−3 cm/sec to 1 cm/sec, the contaminated groundwater being at a depth in the range from 5 feet to 25 feet below the ground surface;
- b. selecting a ground surface overlying the contaminated groundwater;
- and
- c. supplying at least one electron acceptor salt to the ground surface.
A process for bioremediating contaminated groundwater in a subsurface aquifer, comprising:
- applying at least one electron acceptor salt to a ground surface overlying the contaminated groundwater,
- wherein the contaminated groundwater that is bioremediated ranges in depth from 5 feet to 25 feet below the ground surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.