Hybrid joule heating/electro-osmosis process for extracting contaminants from soil layers
Abstract
Joule (ohmic) heating and electro-osmosis are combined in a hybrid process for removal of both water-soluble contaminants and non-aqueous phase liquids from contaminated, low-permeability soil formations that are saturated. Central to this hybrid process is the partial desaturation of the formation or layer using electro-osmosis to remove a portion of the pore fluids by induction of a ground water flow to extraction wells. Joule heating is then performed on a partially desaturated formation. The joule heating and electro-osmosis operations can be carried out simultaneously or sequentially if the desaturation by electro-osmosis occurs initially. Joule heating of the desaturated formation results in a very effective transfer or partitioning of liquid state contaminants to the vapor phase. The heating also substantially increases the vapor phase pressure in the porous formation. As a result, the contaminant laden vapor phase is forced out into soil layers of a higher permeability where other conventional removal processes, such as steam stripping or ground water extraction can be used to capture the contaminants. This hybrid process is more energy efficient than joule heating or steam stripping for cleaning low permeability formations and can share electrodes to minimize facility costs.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Univ. of California, Oakland, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1174362
- Patent Number(s):
- 6576116
- Application Number:
- 08/874,167
- Assignee:
- The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01N - INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y10 - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC Y10S - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
Citation Formats
Carrigan, Charles R., and Nitao, John J. Hybrid joule heating/electro-osmosis process for extracting contaminants from soil layers. United States: N. p., 2003.
Web.
Carrigan, Charles R., & Nitao, John J. Hybrid joule heating/electro-osmosis process for extracting contaminants from soil layers. United States.
Carrigan, Charles R., and Nitao, John J. Tue .
"Hybrid joule heating/electro-osmosis process for extracting contaminants from soil layers". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1174362.
@article{osti_1174362,
title = {Hybrid joule heating/electro-osmosis process for extracting contaminants from soil layers},
author = {Carrigan, Charles R. and Nitao, John J.},
abstractNote = {Joule (ohmic) heating and electro-osmosis are combined in a hybrid process for removal of both water-soluble contaminants and non-aqueous phase liquids from contaminated, low-permeability soil formations that are saturated. Central to this hybrid process is the partial desaturation of the formation or layer using electro-osmosis to remove a portion of the pore fluids by induction of a ground water flow to extraction wells. Joule heating is then performed on a partially desaturated formation. The joule heating and electro-osmosis operations can be carried out simultaneously or sequentially if the desaturation by electro-osmosis occurs initially. Joule heating of the desaturated formation results in a very effective transfer or partitioning of liquid state contaminants to the vapor phase. The heating also substantially increases the vapor phase pressure in the porous formation. As a result, the contaminant laden vapor phase is forced out into soil layers of a higher permeability where other conventional removal processes, such as steam stripping or ground water extraction can be used to capture the contaminants. This hybrid process is more energy efficient than joule heating or steam stripping for cleaning low permeability formations and can share electrodes to minimize facility costs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jun 10 00:00:00 EDT 2003},
month = {Tue Jun 10 00:00:00 EDT 2003}
}