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US4906302A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Solids decontamination method with ammonia
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-04-04
•
Granted: 1990-03-06
•
Expires: 2009-04-04
Abstract
Abstract A method of decontaminating solid material consisting of removing organic hazardous waste from contaminated solid material with an aqueous ammonia solution. The resulting aqueous ammonia solution containing organic hazardous waste is further processed to isolate the organic hazardous waste in a small volume for disposal. Solid material such as soil so treated can be returned to the excavation site without further processing.
Inventors
- 👤 James E. Bruya
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:40
CPC Classifications
B; B09; B09C; B09C1/00; B09C1/02; B01; B01D; B01D11/00; B01D11/02; B01D11/028; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/902; Y10S210/908; Y10S210/909
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for decontaminating solid material contaminated with an organic hazardous waste comprising the steps of: (a) contacting said solid material contaminated with the organic hazardous waste with an aqueous ammonia solution for a period of time effective to transfer at least a portion of said organic hazardous waste from the solid material to the aqueous ammonia solution; and (b) separating the aqueous ammonia solution containing the organic hazardous waste from the solid material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for decontaminating solid material contaminated with an organic hazardous waste comprising the steps of: (a) contacting said solid material contaminated with the organic hazardous waste with an aqueous ammonia solution for a period of time effective to transfer at least a portion of said organic hazardous waste from the solid material to the aqueous ammonia solution; and (b) separating the aqueous ammonia solution containing the organic hazardous waste from the solid material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the organic hazardous waste is nonpolar.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the organic hazardous waste is selected from the group consisting of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, phthalate esters, mononuclear aryls, dinuclear aryls, substituted mononuclear aryls, polychlorinated biphenyls, chlorinated benzenes, chlorinated naphthalenes, chlorinated phenols, halogenated phenyl ethers, alkyl chlorinated hydrocarbons, and petroleum products.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the organic hazardous waste is selected from the group consisting of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, phthalate esters, polychlorinated biphenyls, chlorinated benzenes, naphthalene, oil, grease, and diesel fuel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the aqueous ammonia solution comprises from about 0.1% to about 10% ammonia by weight.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the aqueous ammonia solution further comprises an organic promoter to enhance removal of the organic hazardous waste from the solid material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the organic promoter is selected from the group consisting of an unsubstituted hydrocarbons and chlorinated hydrocarbons.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the organic promoter is selected from the group consisting of pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, mineral oil, fuel oil, toluene, Freon 113, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the organic promoter is hexane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said contaminated material is in particulate form.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the contacting step comprises forming a slurry of the solid material and the aqueous ammonia solution.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said solid material has a particle size of less than about 7.5 cm in diameter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the slurry is agitated during said contacting step.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said contacting occurs over a period of time ranging from about 1 to about 10 minutes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said separating step comprises permitting said solid material to settle from the aqueous ammonia solution containing said organic hazardous waste and recovering the aqueous ammonia solution.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the separating step further comprises centrifuging said recovered aqueous ammonia solution to remove suspended solid material from the recovered aqueous ammonia solution.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 16, wherein after the separating step, the organic hazardous waste is isolated from the aqueous ammonia solution.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said isolating step comprises contacting the aqueous ammonia solution containing the organic hazardous waste with an organic extracting solvent, thereby extracting said organic hazardous waste from said aqueous ammonia solution, and recovering said organic extracting solvent containing said organic hazardous waste.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 18, further comprising distilling said organic extracting solvent containing the organic hazardous waste, thereby removing the organic hazardous waste from the organic extracting solvent.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 18, wherein the organic extracting solvent is selected from the group consisting of pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, toluene, Freon 113, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the organic extracting solvent is hexane.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said isolating step comprises volatilizing ammonia from the aqueous ammonia solution, thereby forming an organic phase consisting essentially of organic hazardous waste and an aqueous phase, and separating said organic phase from said aqueous phase.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 22, wherein said volatilizing step comprises heating the aqueous ammonia solution to a temperature, and for a period of time, effective to volatilize substantially all of the ammonia in the aqueous ammonia solution.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said isolating step comprises volatilizing ammonia from the aqueous ammonia solution, thereby forming an organic phase consisting essentially of organic hazardous waste and an aqueous phase, and contacting the organic phase and the aqueous phase with an organic extracting solvent, thereby transferring the organic hazardous waste to the organic extracting solvent.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 22, further comprising distilling the organic extracting solvent containing organic hazardous waste, thereby separating the organic hazardous waste from the organic extracting solvent.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 24, wherein the organic extracting solvent is selected from the group consisting of diesel fuel, petroleum ether, gasoline, mineral oil, fuel oil, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising, in sequential order, a plurality of contacting and separating steps.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said solid material is selected from the group consisting of concrete, wood, asphalt, iron, steel and aluminum.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said solid material is concrete.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said solid material is wood.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-03-05 | 1993-09-04 | 1994-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-03-05 | 1997-09-04 | 1998-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-03-05 | 2001-09-04 | 2002-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |