Patent ID: 9616473
Date: 2017-04-11
CPC Classifications: B09C,C09K,E02D

Claim:
1. A method of decontaminating ground media comprising clayey materials, halogenated organic contaminants and a metal compound, the method comprising: drilling an injection hole into the ground media comprising the metal compound, to a depth at or below where contaminants are also present; drilling one or more extraction holes into the ground media in close proximity to the injection hole; injecting a reagent into the injection hole at a flow rate and an initial pressure, the reagent comprising an alkaline aqueous solution having a pH of at least 7, the alkaline aqueous solution comprising a cation, a peroxide, and a chelating agent; treating the ground media for a time sufficient to have the chelating agent chelate the metal of the metal compound present in the ground media; reacting the chelated metal with the peroxide to catalytically convert the peroxide to oxidizing agents and hydroxide ions; contacting the reagent with the ground media in an amount sufficient to decrease its permeability; contacting the contaminants in the ground media with the hydroxide ions to convert the contaminants through nucleophilic substitution to environmentally safe, non-toxic compounds, comprising a gas; increasing the pressure of the reagent into the ground media, to diffuse the reagent further into the ground media, and to generate additional reaction; further reducing the permeability of the ground media, to release contaminants trapped therein; and transferring contaminants from the ground media to above a surface of the ground media through pressure transfer.