Catalytic destruction of groundwater contaminants in reactive extraction wells

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2002

OSTI ID:874642

Reinhard, Martin ^[1]

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1. Stanford, CA

A system for remediating groundwater contaminated with halogenated solvents, certain metals and other inorganic species based on catalytic reduction reactions within reactive well bores. The groundwater treatment uses dissolved hydrogen as a reducing agent in the presence of a metal catalyst, such a palladium, to reduce halogenated solvents (as well as other substituted organic compounds) to harmless species (e.g., ethane or methane) and immobilize certain metals to low valence states. The reactive wells function by removing water from a contaminated water-bearing zone, treating contaminants with a well bore using catalytic reduction, and then reinjecting the treated effluent into an adjacent water-bearing zone. This system offers the advantages of a compact design with a minimal surface footprint (surface facilities) and the destruction of a broad suite of contaminants without generating secondary waste streams.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 6431281
• OSTI ID: 874642
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

catalytic
destruction
groundwater
contaminants
reactive
extraction
remediating
contaminated
halogenated
solvents
metals
inorganic
species
based
reduction
reactions
bores
treatment
dissolved
hydrogen
reducing
agent
presence
metal
catalyst
palladium
reduce
substituted
organic
compounds
harmless
ethane
methane
immobilize
valence
function
removing
water
water-bearing
zone
treating
bore
reinjecting
treated
effluent
adjacent
offers
advantages
compact
design
minimal
surface
footprint
facilities
broad
suite
generating
secondary
waste
streams
reducing agent
catalytic reduction
water contaminated
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