Apparatus and method for phosphate-accelerated bioremediation

Patent · Wed Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:871554

Looney, Brian B ^[1]; Pfiffner, Susan M ^[2]; Phelps, Tommy J ^[2]; Lombard, Kenneth H ^[3]; Hazen, Terry C ^[3]; Borthen, James W ^[4]

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1. Aiken, SC
2. Knoxville, TN
3. Augusta, GA
4. Seattle, WA

An apparatus and method for supplying a vapor-phase nutrient to contaminated soil for in situ bioremediation. The apparatus includes a housing adapted for containing a quantity of the liquid nutrient, a conduit in communication with the interior of the housing, means for causing a gas to flow through the conduit, and means for contacting the gas with the liquid so that a portion thereof evaporates and mixes with the gas. The mixture of gas and nutrient vapor is delivered to the contaminated site via a system of injection and extraction wells configured to the site and provides for the use of a passive delivery system. The mixture has a partial pressure of vaporized nutrient that is no greater than the vapor pressure of the liquid. If desired, the nutrient and/or the gas may be heated to increase the vapor pressure and the nutrient concentration of the mixture. Preferably, the nutrient is a volatile, substantially nontoxic and nonflammable organic phosphate that is a liquid at environmental temperatures, such as triethyl phosphate or tributyl phosphate.

• Research Organization: WESTINGHOUSE SAVANNAH RIVER CO
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5753109
• OSTI ID: 871554
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/210/166/405/
adapted
apparatus
bioremediation
causing
communication
concentration
conduit
configured
contacting
containing
contaminated
contaminated site
contaminated soil
delivered
delivery
desired
environmental
environmental temperature
evaporates
extraction
flow
gas
heated
housing
housing adapted
increase
injection
interior
liquid
liquid nutrient
means
method
mixes
mixture
nonflammable
nontoxic
nutrient
organic
organic phosphate
partial
partial pressure
passive
phosphate
phosphate-accelerated
phosphate-accelerated bioremediation
portion
preferably
pressure
provides
quantity
site
situ
situ bioremediation
soil
substantially
supplying
temperatures
tributyl
tributyl phosphate
triethyl
vapor
vapor pressure
vapor-phase
vapor-phase nutrient
vaporized
via
volatile