Dynamic underground stripping: steam and electric heating for in situ decontamination of soils and groundwater
- Livermore, CA
- Pleasanton, CA
- Berkeley, CA
A dynamic underground stripping process removes localized underground volatile organic compounds from heterogeneous soils and rock in a relatively short time. This method uses steam injection and electrical resistance heating to heat the contaminated underground area to increase the vapor pressure of the contaminants, thus speeding the process of contaminant removal and making the removal more complete. The injected steam passes through the more permeable sediments, distilling the organic contaminants, which are pumped to the surface. Large electrical currents are also applied to the contaminated area, which heat the impermeable subsurface layers that the steam has not penetrated. The condensed and vaporized contaminants are withdrawn by liquid pumping and vacuum extraction. The steam injection and electrical heating steps are repeated as necessary. Geophysical imaging methods can be used to map the boundary between the hot, dry, contamination-free underground zone and the cool, damp surrounding areas to help monitor the dynamic stripping process.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Assignee:
- Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 5449251
- OSTI ID:
- 870058
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
underground
stripping
steam
electric
heating
situ
decontamination
soils
groundwater
process
removes
localized
volatile
organic
compounds
heterogeneous
rock
relatively
time
method
injection
electrical
resistance
heat
contaminated
increase
vapor
pressure
contaminants
speeding
contaminant
removal
complete
injected
passes
permeable
sediments
distilling
pumped
surface
currents
applied
impermeable
subsurface
layers
penetrated
condensed
vaporized
withdrawn
liquid
pumping
vacuum
extraction
steps
repeated
geophysical
imaging
methods
map
boundary
hot
dry
contamination-free
zone
cool
damp
surrounding
help
monitor
stripping process
steam injection
electrical heating
contaminant removal
situ decontamination
resistance heating
organic contaminant
organic compound
organic compounds
vapor pressure
electrical resistance
electrical current
surface layer
volatile organic
organic contaminants
surface layers
imaging method
electrical currents
electrical heat
electric heat
heating step
process removes
dynamic underground
underground stripping
resistance heat
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