Patent ID: 8042696

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a water-permeable geocomposite article capable of sorbing, reacting with, or neutralizing a liquid-contained contaminant and allowing the passage of non-contaminated water therethrough comprising: providing a pre-formed geotextile mat having an apparent opening size in the range of about 0.5 mm to about 6 mm and having opposed major surfaces; contacting one of the major surfaces of the geotextile mat with a powdered or granular organophilic clay capable of sorbing, reacting with, or neutralizing the liquid-contained contaminant, and causing the powdered or granular organophilic clay to flow into the pre-formed geotextile mat to fill at least a portion of the pre-formed geotextile mat within openings of the mat, wherein the powdered or granular reactive material does not prevent the flow of water through the geocomposite article; and adhering a liquid-permeable cover sheet to a major surface of the pre-formed geotextile mat by needle-punching or heat sealing the cover sheet to the pre-formed geotextile mat after the mat has received the powdered or granular organophilic clay.