Liquid purification or separation – Processes – Including geographic feature
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-01
2001-07-03
Smith, Duane (Department: 1724)
Liquid purification or separation
Processes
Including geographic feature
C210S667000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254785
ABSTRACT:
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to technology for treatment of water, and more particularly to remediation of groundwater utilizing a passive, in situ, or ex situ treatment method for the remediation of contaminants in groundwater.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
A wide variety of technologies are utilized to remediate contaminated groundwater, including the method of pumping groundwater to the surface and treating groundwater in reactors, or bioremediation with microbial populations in situ, or ex situ, or injection of catalysts into the ground to encourage natural remediation of contaminants in groundwater.
In Horn, U.S. Pat. No. 5,635,394, a bioreactor is disclosed which serves as a biological air filter for purification of air streams. In Fernandao, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,616,253 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,936, various methods are disclosed for utilizing a palladized iron bimetallic system for the dechlorination of chlorinated organic compounds in contaminated soils and various effluents. In Howson, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,059, a method is disclosed for remediation of contaminated solutions by a tiered metal wall or column having reducing metal particles, to dehalogenate hydrocarbon contaminants. In Sivavec, U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,639, a method is disclosed for remediation of aqueous solutions of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons utilizing in situ or ex situ reactions with ferrous sulfide. In Thornton, U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,441, a method is disclosed for the addition of metallic iron particles to an aqueous solution containing hexavalent chromium to precipitate and reduce the hexavalent chromium to trivalent chromium. In Gillham, U.S. Pat. No. 5,266,213, a method is disclosed for remediation of aqueous halogenated organic compounds utilizing a metal in a trench to produce reducing conditions.
The above described and other methods of remediation have shortcomings which require the installation of an in situ permanent or semi-permanent reactor apparatus to contact contaminated groundwater. A commonly used method of remediation requires that groundwater is pumped to the surface into reactors containing reacting agents for treatment. Continuous pumping of groundwater is costly and inefficient, and in situ placement of remediation mechanisms can be obstructed underground by clogging and biological fouling of filters. Thus there exists room for improvement within the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus and process directed towards the treatment of water.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus that operates in situ and utilizes passively induced movement of groundwater through the apparatus.
It is an additional object of this invention to provide an apparatus that contains a permeable treatment media that provides for the passive remediation of contamination in groundwater.
It is a further and more particular object of this invention to provide a method for inserting and maintaining an in situ treatment media for the passive remediation of contamination in groundwater.
It is yet a further and more particular object of this invention to provide an in situ or ex situ passive system for treatment and/or filtering of groundwater, without the need for mechanical pumps.
It is yet an additional and more particular object of this invention to provide in situ treatment of groundwater within a defined area or container underground, with removal of treated water by pumping, siphoning, or passive flow.
These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by
an apparatus and a process for treating contaminated water including: providing a treatment media within a defined treatment zone; providing an enclosure for the treatment media; providing a flow of contaminated water through the permeable treatment media, by locating the treatment media between a first and a second location, the two locations being in hydraulic communication; establishing a lower pressure head at the second location; maintaining a pressure differential between the first location and second location; with the pressure differential removing treated groundwater from the permeable treatment media by siphon or natural passive flow.
Thus, the objects of the invention are accomplished by the apparatus containing permeable treatment media, and a process for treatment of contaminated water as described herein.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4473477 (1984-09-01), Beall
patent: 4664809 (1987-05-01), Fenton et al.
patent: 4919568 (1990-04-01), Hurley
patent: 5318698 (1994-06-01), Bernhardt
patent: 5468097 (1995-11-01), Bernhardt
patent: 5514279 (1996-05-01), Blowes et al.
patent: 5534154 (1996-07-01), Gillham
patent: 5547589 (1996-08-01), Carroll, II
International Search Report for PCT/US97/23935, Apr. 3, 1998.
Nichols Ralph L.
Phifer Mark A.
Hardaway/Mann IP Group
Lawrence Frank M.
Smith Duane
Towler, III Oscar A.
Westinghouse Savannah River Company
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