Process and system for the on-site remediation of lead-contaminated soil

Abstract

A mobile system for the remediation of a mixture of lead-contaminated soil and waste lead-acid battery casings includes a plasma arc furnace unit having a plasma arc torch which operates at a sufficiently elevated temperature to (i) convert the battery casings in the mixture into a combustible gas, (ii) volatilize lead contaminants which are present in the mixture and entrain the volatilized lead contaminants as a vapor in the combustible gas, and (iii) vitrify the soil, whereby lead contaminants that were present in the mixture are substantially removed therefrom. An internal combustion engine-driven generator supplies the plasma arc furnace with electrical power. In this regard, the internal combustion engine-driven generator receives the combustible gas from the plasma arc furnace as a fuel source in order to drive the generator. A lead-filtration unit is preferably interposed between the generator and the plasma arc furnace so as to receive the combustible gas generated by the plasma arc furnace and remove the entrained lead contaminants therefrom. A supply of secondary fuel gas (e.g., liquified petroleum gas, natural gas or the like) may optionally be supplied to the internal combustion engine-driven generator as a supplemental fuel together with the combustible gas generated by the plasma arc furnace. The various nit operations may be mounted for mobility (e.g., on truck beds, rail cars or the like) to permit transportation to a landfill in need of remediation.