초록 ▼

A system for removing volatile contaminants from a subsurface plume of contamination comprising two sets of wells, a well for injecting a fluid into a saturated zone on one side of the plume and an extracting well for collecting the fluid together with volatilized contaminants from the plume on the

A system for removing volatile contaminants from a subsurface plume of contamination comprising two sets of wells, a well for injecting a fluid into a saturated zone on one side of the plume and an extracting well for collecting the fluid together with volatilized contaminants from the plume on the other side of the plume. The fluid enables the volatile contaminants to be volatilized and carried therewith through the ground to the extracting well. Injecting and extracting wells are preferably horizontal wells positioned below the plume in the saturated zone and above the plume in the vadose zone, respectively. The fluid may be air or other gas or a gas and liquid mixture depending on the type of contaminant to be removed and may be preheated to facilitate volatilization. Treatment of the volatilized contamination may be by filtration, incineration, atmospheric dispersion or the like.

대표청구항 ▼

A system for in-situ decontamination of groundwater carrying contaminants in a generally horizontal plume partially or wholly located below a water table in a saturated zone under a portion of the surface of the earth, said contaminants having an affinity for a gaseous phase, said system comprising

A system for in-situ decontamination of groundwater carrying contaminants in a generally horizontal plume partially or wholly located below a water table in a saturated zone under a portion of the surface of the earth, said contaminants having an affinity for a gaseous phase, said system comprising a fluid means capable of volatilizing said contaminants to said gaseous phase; a means for injecting said fluid means below said water table on one side of said plume; and a means for extracting said fluid, said extracting means spaced apart from said injecting means and positioned on an opposing side of said plume to draw said fluid across said plume thereby enabling said contaminants to be volatilized to said gaseous phase and to be extracted with said fluid. A process for in-situ decontamination of groundwater carrying volatile contaminants having an affinity for a gaseous phase, said contaminants being in the form of a subsurface plume, said process comprising the steps of pumping a fluid capable of volatilizing said contaminants into a saturated zone proximate to said plume; drawing said fluid across said plume so that said contaminants volatilize and can be carried with said fluid; pumping said fluid and said contaminants from said plume into a vadose zone; collecting said fluid and said contaminants; separating said fluid from said contaminants; and treating said contaminants.