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US5057227A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for in-situ removal of hydrocarbon contaminants from groundwater

Assignee: University of South Carolina
•
Filing: 1990-10-09
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Granted: 1991-10-15
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Expires: 2010-10-09
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Abstract

Abstract A method for in-situ removal of hydrocarbon contaminants from groundwater comprises contacting in-situ groundwater containing hydrocarbon contaminants such as gasoline and its components in aqueous solution with a permeable barrier comprising a peat material. In one embodiment, the groundwater stream containing hydrocarbon contaminants in aqueous solution is contacted in-situ with the permeable barrier, with the permeable barrier being positioned substantially perpendicular to the groundwater stream incident thereto. In another embodiment, the groundwater stream containing hydrocarbon contaminants in aqueous solution is contacted in-situ with a permeable barrier which comprises, in series, an immobilized nutrient layer and peat material layer, and the permeable barrier is positioned substantially perpendicular to the groundwater stream incident thereto. The immobilized nutrient layer enhances the natural degradation of the hydrocarbon contaminants, and any contaminants which are not degraded in the immobilized nutrient layer are removed by the peat material layer.

Inventors

  • 👤 Arthur D. Cohen

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 23:50
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F3/00; C02F3/34; B; B01; B01D; B01D17/00; B01D17/02; B01D17/0202; B01D17/08; B01D39/00; B01D39/02; B01D39/04; B09; B09C; B09C1/00; B09C1/002; C02F1/00; C02F1/28; C02F1/288; B09C2101/00; C02F2103/00; C02F2103/06

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 73 words
A method for in-situ removal of hydrocarbon contaminants from groundwater, comprising contacting in-situ groundwater containing hydrocarbon contaminants in aqueous solution with a permeable barrier comprising a naturally occurring peat material having an ash content of 25% or less, a birefringent organic content of 80% or less, a fiber content of 80% or less, a guaiacyl lignin pyrolysis product content of at least 10%, and a furan pyrolysis product content of at least 0.1%.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 73 words
A method for in-situ removal of hydrocarbon contaminants from groundwater, comprising contacting in-situ groundwater containing hydrocarbon contaminants in aqueous solution with a permeable barrier comprising a naturally occurring peat material having an ash content of 25% or less, a birefringent organic content of 80% or less, a fiber content of 80% or less, a guaiacyl lignin pyrolysis product content of at least 10%, and a furan pyrolysis product content of at least 0.1%.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
A method according to claim 1, in which the hydrocarbon contaminants are the hydrocarbon components of gasoline.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
A method according to claim 2, in which the hydrocarbon contaminants comprise benzene, toluene, xylene and mixtures thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 55 words
A method according to claim 1, in which the peat material has an ash content in the range of 5-25%, a birefringent organic content of 60% or less, a fiber content of 60% or less, a guaiacyl lignin pyrolysis product content of at least 12%, and a furan pyrolysis product content of at least 2%.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method according to claim 1, in which the permeable barrier comprises in series a combination of an immobilized nutrient layer and a peat material layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 32 words
A method according to claim 5, in which the immobilized nutrient layer comprises one or more components selected from the group consisting of limestones, clays, iron oxides, coals, soils, and fly ashes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 40 words
A method according to claim 1, in which the groundwater stream containing hydrocarbon contaminants in aqueous solution is contacted in-situ with a permeable barrier comprising a peat material, the permeable barrier positioned substantially perpendicular to the groundwater stream incident thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 66 words
A method according to claim 7, in which the groundwater stream containing hydrocarbon contaminants in aqueous solution is contacted in-situ with a permeable barrier which comprises in series an immobilized nutrient layer and a peat material layer, the permeable barrier positioned substantially perpendicular to the groundwater stream incident thereto, with the groundwater stream first contacting the immobilized nutrient layer and thereafter contacting the peat material layer.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3791990A Cited
CA1135241A Cited
EP0075384A1 Cited
US4473477A Cited
DE3305223A1 Cited
US4576717A Cited
US4778602A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-10-14 1995-04-15 1995-10-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-10-14 1999-04-15 1999-10-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-10-14 2003-04-15 2003-10-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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