US4778628A — Underground waste barrier structure

Claim 1

Independent Claim 80 words

An underground waste barrier structure comprising: (1) waste material; (2) a first unbroken container formed of activated carbonaceous material completely enclosing said waste material, said first container being large enough to hold at least one 55 gallon drum; (3) a second unbroken container formed of zeolite completely enclosing said first container, whereby said first container removes organic material that may leave said waste material and prevents said organic material from fouling said zeolite; and (4) earth covering said second container.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 80 words

An underground waste barrier structure comprising: (1) waste material; (2) a first unbroken container formed of activated carbonaceous material completely enclosing said waste material, said first container being large enough to hold at least one 55 gallon drum; (3) a second unbroken container formed of zeolite completely enclosing said first container, whereby said first container removes organic material that may leave said waste material and prevents said organic material from fouling said zeolite; and (4) earth covering said second container.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 12 words

A structure according to claim 1 wherein said waste material is radioactive.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 14 words

A structure according to claim 1 wherein said activated carbonaceous material is bone char.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 13 words

A structure according to claim 1 wherein said zeolite is a natural zeolite.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 12 words

A structure according to claim 4 wherein said natural zeolite is erionite.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 21 words

A structure according to claim 1 wherein said first and second containers are each about 3 to about 9 inches thick.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 18 words

A structure according to claim 1 including a third unbroken closed container of clay, enclosing said second container.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

A structure according to claim 7 wherein said third container is about 3 to about 6 inches thick.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 15 words

A structure according to claim 1 wherein said waste material is sealed in steel drums.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 20 words

A structure according to claim 1 including means for supporting the walls and ceiling of said first and second containers.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 126 words

An underground waste barrier structure comprising: (1) earth forming a space therein having a ceiling, walls, and a floor; (2) an unbroken layer of zeolite completely covering said ceiling, walls, and floor and forming a closed container of said zeolite; (3) means for immobilizing said layer of zeolite; (4) an unbroken layer of activated carbonaceous material forming a closed container of said activated carbonaceous material within said closed container of zeolite; (5) means for immobilizing said layer of activated carbonaceous material; and (6) waste material in an amount of at least 55 gallons, enclosed within said layer of activated carbonaceous material, whereby said layer of activated carbonaceous material removes organic material that may leave said waste material and prevents said organic material from fouling said zeolite.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 126 words

An underground waste barrier structure comprising: (1) earth forming a space therein having a ceiling, walls, and a floor; (2) an unbroken layer of zeolite completely covering said ceiling, walls, and floor and forming a closed container of said zeolite; (3) means for immobilizing said layer of zeolite; (4) an unbroken layer of activated carbonaceous material forming a closed container of said activated carbonaceous material within said closed container of zeolite; (5) means for immobilizing said layer of activated carbonaceous material; and (6) waste material in an amount of at least 55 gallons, enclosed within said layer of activated carbonaceous material, whereby said layer of activated carbonaceous material removes organic material that may leave said waste material and prevents said organic material from fouling said zeolite.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 147 words

A method of disposing of waste material comprising: (1) forming a recessed area within the earth; (2) lining said recessed area with a layer of zeolite; (3) lining said layer of zeolite with a layer of activated carbonaceous material to form a cavity of a size sufficient to hold at least one 55 gallon drum; (4) placing said waste material within said cavity; (5) forming a ceiling over said waste material of a layer of said zeolite on a layer of said activated carbonaceous material, said layers cojoining with said respective layers formed in steps (2) and (3) to form a closed container of said activated carbonaceous material inside a closed container of said zeolite; and (6) covering said ceiling with earth, whereby said layer of activated carbonaceous material removes organic material that may leave said waste material and prevents said organic material from fouling said zeolite.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 147 words

A method of disposing of waste material comprising: (1) forming a recessed area within the earth; (2) lining said recessed area with a layer of zeolite; (3) lining said layer of zeolite with a layer of activated carbonaceous material to form a cavity of a size sufficient to hold at least one 55 gallon drum; (4) placing said waste material within said cavity; (5) forming a ceiling over said waste material of a layer of said zeolite on a layer of said activated carbonaceous material, said layers cojoining with said respective layers formed in steps (2) and (3) to form a closed container of said activated carbonaceous material inside a closed container of said zeolite; and (6) covering said ceiling with earth, whereby said layer of activated carbonaceous material removes organic material that may leave said waste material and prevents said organic material from fouling said zeolite.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 56 words

A structure according to claim 1 which lies in a trench about 6 to about 16 feet in width at the bottom, about 12 to about 18 feet wide at the top, with a height of about 12 to about 30 feet, and with sides that slope at an angle of about 5° to about 10°.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 13 words

A structure according to claim 1 wherein said waste material contains organic matter.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 55 words

A structure according to claim 11 wherein said space is about 6 to about 16 feet in width at the bottom, about 12 to about 18 feet wide at the top, with a height of about 12 to about 30 feet, and with sides that slope at an angle of about 5° to about 10°.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 13 words

A structure according to claim 11 where said waste material contains organic matter.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 56 words

A method according to claim 12 wherein said recessed area is about 6 to about 16 feet in width at the bottom, about 12 to about 18 feet wide at the top, with a height of about 12 to about 30 feet, and with sides that slope at an angle of about 5° to about 10°.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 13 words

A method according to claim 12 where said waste material contains organic matter.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-10-18	1992-04-18	1992-10-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-10-18	1996-04-18	1996-10-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-10-18	2000-04-18	2000-10-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Underground waste barrier structure

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