Method and apparatus for the in situ decontamination of underground water with the aid of solar energy

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:867185

Bench, Thomas R ^[1]; McCann, Larry D ^[2]

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1. Pittsburgh, PA
2. Elizabeth, PA

A method for the in situ decontamination of underground water containing -volatile contaminants comprising continuously contacting in situ underground water containing non-volatile contaminants with a liquid-absorbent material possessing high capillary activity, allowing the non-volatile contaminants to deposit in the material while the water moves upwardly through the material by capillary action, allowing substantially decontaminated water to be volatilized by impinging solar radiation, and then allowing the volatilized water to escape from the material into the atmosphere. An apparatus for the in situ decontamination of underground water containing non-volatile contaminants comprising at least one water-impermeable elongated conduit having an upper portion and first and second open ends and containing a homogeneous liquid-absorbent material possessing high capillary activity, means for supporting said conduit, and means for accelerating the escape of the volatilized decontamined water from the material, said means being detachably connected to the second end of the elongated conduit; wherein when underground water contaminated with non-volatile contaminants is continuously contacted in situ with the material contained in the first end of the conduit and the second end of the conduit is placed in contact with atmospheric air, non-volatile contaminants deposit in said material as the water moves upwardly through the material by capillary action, is then volatilized by impinging solar energy and escapes to the atmosphere.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC11-76PN00014
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4882071
• OSTI ID: 867185
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
apparatus
situ
decontamination
underground
water
solar
energy
containing
-volatile
contaminants
comprising
continuously
contacting
non-volatile
liquid-absorbent
material
possessing
capillary
activity
allowing
deposit
moves
upwardly
action
substantially
decontaminated
volatilized
impinging
radiation
escape
atmosphere
water-impermeable
elongated
conduit
upper
portion
homogeneous
means
supporting
accelerating
decontamined
detachably
connected
contaminated
contacted
contained
placed
contact
atmospheric
air
escapes
atmospheric air
ground water
situ decontamination
underground water
contaminated water
solar energy
solar radiation
upper portion
water containing
sorbent material
non-volatile contaminants
capillary action
material contained
situ underground
water contaminated
detachably connected
moves upward
material possessing
volatile contaminants
homogeneous liquid
-volatile contaminants
/210/159/202/203/