Patent ID: 6139775
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: A62D,B09C,C02F

Abstract:
A method of remediating a naturally existing soil having therein water sufficient to support plant life and aquatic flora, said soil further including naturally occurring soil bacteria, wherein said soil is contaminated by hydrocarbon fuel that is sufficiently water-insoluble to form a separate oil phase resistant to water dispersion, said method comprising preparing a soil treating concentrate composition having from about 4 to about 40 parts of an ethoxylated C.sub.16 -C.sub.18 tertiary amine having 2-10 ethoxy groups per mol, from about 1 to about 15 parts of at least one aliphatic carboxylic acid having from about 6 to about 12 carbon atoms; from about 1 to about 6 parts a C.sub.7 -C.sub.12 aliphatic alcohol or mixture of such alcohols, from about 0 to about 10 parts of a C.sub.4 and lower alcohol, and the balance being water to create a total of about 100 parts by volume, dispersing said concentrate composition in from about 10 to about 200 parts of water per part of concentrate, contacting said soil and said bacteria and said contaminant hydrocarbon fuel with said treating concentrate, permitting said composition to disperse said hydrocarbon contaminants within said soil and, permitting said naturally occurring bacteria to attack the constituents of said hydrocarbon spill, thereby degrading said hydrocarbon into a reduced level of toxicity relative to said flora and said aquatic life characterizing said soil and water.