Patent ID: 6767468
Filing Date: 2004-07-27
Classification: C02F

Abstract:
A process for removing uranium-based contaminants from contaminated groundwater comprising;ascertaining the direction, volume, velocity, and chemical composition of a zone of contaminated material dissolved within groundwater flowing through an aquifer; select a primary treatment media that will render the contaminated material inactive within the groundwater; determining the preferred chemical composition of the groundwater for treatment by the primary treatment media, providing a pretreatment media, wherein the pretreatment media adjusts the chemical composition of the contaminated groundwater to the preferred chemical composition; providing a first repository, and placing the pretreatment media therein; placing the first repository such that the flow of contaminated groundwater through the first repository enters the repository through the upstream side thereof, the placement being such that the flow of the contaminated groundwater in the aquifer is directed to pass through the pretreatment media, and exit from the downstream side thereof; the permeability of the pretreatment media being such that the resistance to the passage of groundwater through the first repository is substantially no greater that the resistance of the native aquifer to the passage of groundwater through the aquifer; providing a primary treatment media, wherein the primary treatment media causes the contaminated material to be rendered inactive within the groundwater and wherein the primary treatment media contains elemental iron; providing a second repository, and placing the primary treatment media therein; placing the second repository such that the flow of contaminated groundwater from the first repository enters the second repository through the upstream side thereof, the placement being such that the flaw of the contaminated groundwater in the aquifer is directed to pass through the pretreatment media, and exit from the downstream side thereof; and the permeability of the primary treatment media being such that the resistance to the passage of groundwater through the first repository is substantially no greater that the resistance of the native aquifer to the passage of groundwater through the aquifer.