Patent ID: 7011756
Filing Date: 2006-03-14
Classification: B09C,C02F,Y02E,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A process for in situ immobilization of metals in a body of water having metals therein and having a border of soil or earth materials, comprising: introducing a solid treatment substance into the body of water, the treatment substance including at least one microbe nutrient to sustain activity of at least one microbe; providing at least one microbe proximate to or in the body of water to receive the 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; inhibiting the migration rate of metal ions or metal-containing compounds within or from the soils or earth materials; and varying at least one of a particle size and a density of the solid treatment substance to thereby control a release rate of the at least one microbe nutrient from the solid treatment substance to thereby control the production of microbial sulfides.