Patent ID: 6350380
Filing Date: 2002-02-26
Classification: B09C,C02F,Y10S

Abstract:
A process for in situ immobilization of metals in a large body of water having metals therein and having a border of soil or earth materials, wherein the body of water has regions of varying density, comprising:determining a density mean within the body of water; introducing into the body of water a treatment substance having a density greater than that of the density mean, the treatment substance including at least one microbe nutrient to sustain activity of at least one microbe and the treatment substance having a density greater than the greatest density of water regions of varying density; providing at least one microbe proximate to or in the body of water to receive treatment substance therefrom, the at least one microbe being capable of growing in the presence of the treatment substance; producing microbial sulfides that are sulfide by-products of microbial activity in the body of water; reacting the microbial sulfides in situ with metal ions or metal-containing compounds contained in the body of water to form metal sulfides; reducing solubility of the metal ions or metal-containing compounds contained in the body of water as a result of forming the metal sulfides; and inhibiting the migration rate of metal ions or metal-containing compounds within or from the soils or earth materials.