Trustees of the Colorado School of Mines

Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation

Robert L Siegrist

Lawrence Corlies Murdoch

Pamela J Dugan

Michelle L Crimi

Compositions and methods are provided for oxidizing subsurface contaminants. Compositions include compatible combinations of surfactants, cosolvents and chemical oxidants. Compositions have been identified that provide compatible combinations of surfactants and chemical oxidants that maximize oxidant productivity on solubilized contaminants. The compositions and methods are especially effective on the treatment of dense non-aqueous phase liquids or DNAPLs.

Method and compositions for treatment of subsurface contaminants

The invention is a method and a composition of a mixture for degradation and immobilization of contaminants in soil and groundwater. The oxidative particle mixture and method includes providing a material having a minimal volume of free water, mixing at least one inorganic oxidative chemical in a granular form with a carrier fluid containing a fine grained inorganic hydrophilic compound and injecting the resulting mixture into the subsurface. The granular form of the inorganic oxidative chemical dissolves within the areas of injection, and the oxidative ions move by diffusion and/or advection, therefore extending the treatment zone over a wider area than the injection area. The organic contaminants in the soil and groundwater are degraded by the oxidative ions, which form solid byproducts that can sorb significant amounts of inorganic contaminants, metals, and radionuclides for in situ treatment and immobilization of contaminants. The method and composition of the oxidative particle mixture for long-term treatment and immobilization of contaminants in soil and groundwater provides for a reduction in toxicity of contaminants in a subsurface area of contamination without the need for continued injection of treatment material, or for movement of the contaminants, or without the need for continuous pumping of groundwater through the treatment zone, or removal of groundwater from the subsurface area of contamination.

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

Robert L Siegrist