초록 ▼

The present invention relates to novel ex situ processes for simple and economical destruction of air, water, and soil contaminants using naturally occurring microorganisms that are widely available in the environment. The processes utilize novel closed-loop recycle schemes which dramatically improv

The present invention relates to novel ex situ processes for simple and economical destruction of air, water, and soil contaminants using naturally occurring microorganisms that are widely available in the environment. The processes utilize novel closed-loop recycle schemes which dramatically improve the efficiency, economics, and practicability of destruction of a wide variety of contaminants, especially VOCs and chloroethylenes, and particularly trichloroethylene (TCE). The processes may be applied on a batch or continuous basis to contaminated soil and groundwater, to contaminated effluents from a wide variety industrial operations, or to wherever such amenable contaminants are present. Certain contaminants, particularly chloroethylenes, are known to be difficult to biodegrade aerobically to non-toxic products without the employment of a primary substrate to induce cometabolic degradation. Ordinarily, practical and economical cometabolic degradation of these compounds via a primary substrate is not possible because direct metabolic degradation of the primary substrate itself competes with degradation of the target pollutants, thus rendering degradation of the target pollutants economically prohibitive. The processes of the present invention utilize novel closed-loop recycle schemes and separate primary substrate streams and contaminant streams into separate and discrete process cycles to achieve simple, practical, and economical degradation of target pollutants. Conventional wisdom indicates that these closed-loop recycle schemes should deplete the oxygen supply, causing loss of the aerobic microorganisms and process failure. However, the novel closed-loop recycle schemes of the present invention unexpectedly result in dramatically improved efficiencies and economics for degradation of a wide variety of pollutants, particularly chloroethylenes.

대표청구항 ▼

The present invention relates to novel ex situ processes for simple and economical destruction of air, water, and soil contaminants using naturally occurring microorganisms that are widely available in the environment. The processes utilize novel closed-loop recycle schemes which dramatically improv

The present invention relates to novel ex situ processes for simple and economical destruction of air, water, and soil contaminants using naturally occurring microorganisms that are widely available in the environment. The processes utilize novel closed-loop recycle schemes which dramatically improve the efficiency, economics, and practicability of destruction of a wide variety of contaminants, especially VOCs and chloroethylenes, and particularly trichloroethylene (TCE). The processes may be applied on a batch or continuous basis to contaminated soil and groundwater, to contaminated effluents from a wide variety industrial operations, or to wherever such amenable contaminants are present. Certain contaminants, particularly chloroethylenes, are known to be difficult to biodegrade aerobically to non-toxic products without the employment of a primary substrate to induce cometabolic degradation. Ordinarily, practical and economical cometabolic degradation of these compounds via a primary substrate is not possible because direct metabolic degradation of the primary substrate itself competes with degradation of the target pollutants, thus rendering degradation of the target pollutants economically prohibitive. The processes of the present invention utilize novel closed-loop recycle schemes and separate primary substrate streams and contaminant streams into separate and discrete process cycles to achieve simple, practical, and economical degradation of target pollutants. Conventional wisdom indicates that these closed-loop recycle schemes should deplete the oxygen supply, causing loss of the aerobic microorganisms and process failure. However, the novel closed-loop recycle schemes of the present invention unexpectedly result in dramatically improved efficiencies and economics for degradation of a wide variety of pollutants, particularly chloroethylenes. cting as anode, whereby an electric current flows between the workpiece and the at least one jet stream. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrolytic solution discharged from the reservoir is collected and recycled into the reservoir. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the electrolytic solution is filtered after collecting. 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the electrolytic solution is cooled after collecting. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the voltage difference is varied to maintain a substantially constant electric current flowing between the workpiece and the at least one jet stream. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the current flowing between the workpiece and the at least one jet stream is maintained within a range of about 1 amp and about 10 amps. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the jet streams are configured to have a diameter within a range of between about 0.2 millimeters and about 2 millimeters. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the workpiece is rotated about an axis. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the workpiece is rotated at a rate to produce a speed at the outer surface of the workpiece within a range of between about 25 millimeters and about 125 millimeters per minute. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the workpiece is moved linearly along an axis. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the workpiece is moved at a speed within a range of about 25 millimeters and about 125 millimeters per minute. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the at least one jet streams are directed at an inside surface of the workpiece. 13. A method for electropolishing a workpiece surface, comprising: providing a reservoir containing electrolytic solution; discharging the electrolytic solution from the reservoir in the form of at least one jet stream; adapting the jet streams to have a flow velocity in the range of between about 1 meter per second and about 6 meters per second; directing the at least one jet stream to impact the surface of the workpiece; and applying a voltage difference between the workpiece and the at least one jet stream, the workpiece acting as anode, whereby an electric current flows between the workpiece and the at least one jet stream. 14. A method for electropolishing a workpiece surface, comprising: providing a reservoir containing electrolytic solution; discharging the electrolytic solution from the reservoir in the form of at least one jet stream; adapting the jet streams to have a length in a range of between about 5 millimeters and about 20 millimeters; directing the at least one jet stream to impact the surface of the workpiece; and applying a voltage difference between the workpiece and the at least one jet stream, the workpiece acting as anode, whereby an electric current flows between the workpiece and the at least one jet stream. 15. An apparatus for electropolishing a workpiece, comprising: a turntable adapted to support the workpiece in atmosphere; a reservoir having at least one aperture and adapted to contain a volume of electrolytic solution, the reservoir being further adapted to discharge the solution under pressure from the at least one aperture in the form of at least one jet stream directed to impact the workpiece, the at least one jet stream having a diameter within a range of between about 0.2 millimeters and about 2 millimeters; and a source of electric charge connected to the turntable to form a conductive circuit producing current flowing between the workpiece acting as anode and the at least one jet stream when the at least one jet stream is discharged to impact the workpiece. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the source of electric charge is a voltaic cell. 17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a receptacle connected to the reservoir by a tube, the receptacle being adapted to collect electrolytic solution discharged from the reservoir and to recycle the electrolytic solution to the reservoir through the tube. 18. The