Patent US5037240A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5037240A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
In-situ soil treatment process
Assignee: OCEAN TOAD ENTERPRISES Inc A CORP OF OHIO
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Filing: 1990-07-19
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Granted: 1991-08-06
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Expires: 2010-07-19
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to the method of `in situ` collection and treatment of floating, sinking and dissolved contaminants in a soil environment which involves installation of wick-like drains in at least a portion of the waste site on the down-gradient side of in-ground water flow. The method more particularly involves the installation of pre-fabricated drainage strips in the form of wick drains which are installed vertically or inclinedly into the normal water table of the contaminated waste site. The depth of the wick drains which include porous and/or slotted channels are installed as deeply into the waste site as the normal in-ground water flow of the pollutants which affects its travel into the lower adjacent aquifer. In accordance with this invention, some of the wick drains which include porous or slotted pipes are employed for the injection of treating chemicals or reagents into the contaminated soil for its treatment in place prior to its normal flow into the aquifer. Some of the drains may be employed for injection of bacteria or microbes, nutrients and/or air into the waste site to obtain underground treatment of the pollutants in place over relatively short or longer periods of time depending upon the extent, chemical nature and concentration of pollutants. The wick drains are preferably comprised of highly-flexible lengthy plastic extrusion, most desirably comprised of polypropylene or similar plastic materials, having maximum water flow capacity along grooves formed longitudinally on both sides of the core. The drain has a woven filter-like jacket on its exterior which is comprised of a strong durable non-woven plastic geo-textile. The jacket serves as a filter to allow passage of ground water into the drain core, while preventing plugging of the filter form the adjacent oil or pluggage of the drain, the jacket serves as an outer skin to maintain cross-sectional shape and hydraulic capacity of the core channels.
Inventors
- 👤 Lynn D. Sherman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:10
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F3/00; C02F3/02; C02F3/04; C02F3/046; B; B09; B09C; B09C1/00; E; E02; E02D; E02D3/00; E02D3/02; E02D3/10; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/02; E21B43/08; E21B43/086; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
The method of `in situ` collection and treatment of floating, sinking and dissolved contaminants in an underground soil environment comprising the steps of introducing a plurality of tubular members into a contaminated underground soil environment to a depth at least as great as the presence of contaminants affecting ground water pollution, forming a series of in-ground reservoirs at the lower extremities of said tubular members to collect and retain said contaminants therein, and injecting treatment reactants into said in-ground reservoirs through said tubular members to effect chemical reactions with said contaminants for their conversion into non-toxic condition within the underground soil environment.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
The method of `in situ` collection and treatment of floating, sinking and dissolved contaminants in an underground soil environment comprising the steps of introducing a plurality of tubular members into a contaminated underground soil environment to a depth at least as great as the presence of contaminants affecting ground water pollution, forming a series of in-ground reservoirs at the lower extremities of said tubular members to collect and retain said contaminants therein, and injecting treatment reactants into said in-ground reservoirs through said tubular members to effect chemical reactions with said contaminants for their conversion into non-toxic condition within the underground soil environment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, including the step of introducing soil-washing chemicals into the said in-ground reservoirs to effect soil washing and leaching action on said soil environment to extract contaminants from adjacent soil for their treatment and/or removal for treatment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, including the step of introducing bacteria, nutrients and air into said reservoirs through said tubular members to effect biological growth of said contaminants for their degradation and conversion into non-toxic condition by bio-remediation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, including the step of introducing chemical reactants into said in-ground reservoirs to react with said contaminated in-ground water in said reservoirs for `in-situ` treatment of said waste water as an underground treatment facility.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, including the introducing said tubular members in angular relation into an area beneath a leaky tank which has permitted the contamination of the soil environment therebeneath, and treating the said contaminants in said reservoirs to render the same non-toxic and environmentally safe.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, including the step of injecting soil washing chemicals into the contaminated soil environment in the form of surfactants and metal chelators to effect release and collection of said contaminants.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method in accordance with claim 6, including the step of repeatedly injecting soil washing chemicals into the contaminated soil environment for sequential soil washing and extraction of said contaminants.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method in accordance with claim 2, including the step of utilizing porous pipes as the tubular members for introducing soil-washing chemicals into the contaminated soil environment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, including the step of introducing a substantial number of porous tubular members into the contaminated soil environment with relatively close spacing to permit the injection of fluids throughout the soil column.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, including the step of injecting oxygen into the soil environment through porous tubular members to promote aerobic bacterial growth and allow the proliferation of bacterial species to obtain bio-treatment of the soil environment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, including the step of placing a plurality of porous tubular members in inclined relation extending beneath one or more leaky tanks from the surrounding surface periphery to permit extraction and treatment of contaminants.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, including the step of utilizing lengthy wick-like elements as the said tubular members to permit both injection of chemical reactants and extraction of contaminants into and from said contaminated soil environment.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
117 words
The method of `in situ` collection and treatment of floating, sinking and dissolved contaminants in an underground soil environment, said method comprising the steps of mounting a plurality of tubular members in the contaminated underground soil environment, said tubular members comprising porous pipe mounted essentially vertically or inclinedly extending into the depth of said contaminants affecting ground water pollution, forming a series of in-ground reservoirs at the lower extremities of a limited number of said tubular members to collect and retain said contaminants thereat, and injecting treatment reactants into said in-ground reservoirs through said tubular members to effect chemical and biological reactions with said contaminants for their conversion into non-toxic environmentally-safe condition within the underground soil environment.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
117 words
The method of `in situ` collection and treatment of floating, sinking and dissolved contaminants in an underground soil environment, said method comprising the steps of mounting a plurality of tubular members in the contaminated underground soil environment, said tubular members comprising porous pipe mounted essentially vertically or inclinedly extending into the depth of said contaminants affecting ground water pollution, forming a series of in-ground reservoirs at the lower extremities of a limited number of said tubular members to collect and retain said contaminants thereat, and injecting treatment reactants into said in-ground reservoirs through said tubular members to effect chemical and biological reactions with said contaminants for their conversion into non-toxic environmentally-safe condition within the underground soil environment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as defined by claim 13, including the step of downflow injecting soil washing chemicals comprising surfactants and metal chelators.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as defined by claim 13, including the step of injecting microbes, nutrients for said microbes and air through said tubular members into the contaminated soil environment to effect `in situ` soil bio-remediation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as defined by claim 13, including the step of creating intermittent anaerobic conditions in said contaminated soil environment followed by aerobic treatment to render said contaminants non-toxic and environmentally-safe.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as defined by claim 13, including the step of injecting remedial gaseous reagents through said tubular members into said contaminated soil environment under increased pressure to enhance the solubility and gaseous transfer of contaminants into aqueous solutions and biological systems for bio-remediation treatment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method as defined by claim 17, including the step of injecting remedial gaseous reagents in the form of fine bubbles to form pressurized solutions which serve to separate non-soluble materials as emulsions or separated layers for treatment and conversion to non-toxic by-products.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as defined by claim 18, including the step of floating the said non-soluble materials as emulsions or separated layers upwardly from said in-ground reservoirs through said tubular member for remedial treatment.
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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) | 1994-08-05 | 1995-02-04 | 1995-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-05 | 1999-02-04 | 1999-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-08-05 | 2003-02-04 | 2003-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |