Superoxidant Poiser For Groundwater And Soil Treatment With In-Situ Oxidation-Reduction And Acidity-Basicity Adjustment

Abstract

Equipment and process by which an operator can set (or program) a time sequence of coatings of oxygen with increasing oxidation potential for in-situ treatment (chemical reaction) of organic compounds ranging from superoxidation (catalyzed ozone) to reduction conditions involving hydrogen sulfide gas is described. The equipment makes use of oxygen in a combination of gaseous and liquid forms to produce microbubbles of, e.g., different composition of oxygen forms possessing peroxides, superoxides, and hydroperoxides with increasing oxidative potential. The oxidative potential of the reactive mixture can be set to more cost-effectively degrade byproducts of contaminant decomposition without reformulation and reinjection. A secondary advantage comes with in-situ adjustment of pH or acidity/basicity.

1 . A method of treating a soil or water formation comprising: receiving a signal from a sensor and determining an oxidation potential of the soil/water formation based on the signal from the sensor; selecting an oxidant or reductant based on a determined oxidation potential of the soil/water formation; and introducing the oxidant or reductant into the soil/water formation. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising introducing the oxidant or reductant under conditions to allow for adjustment of the determined oxidation potential of the soil/water formation. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein introducing includes introducing air and ozone into the soil through an elongate member with microporous sidewalls. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein introducing includes introducing air and ozone as a gas and the hydroperoxide and/or hydrogen peroxide as a liquid into the elongate member with microporous sidewalls. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising including promoters or nutrients such as catalyst agents including iron containing compounds such as iron silicates or palladium containing compounds such as paladized carbon and platinum in the elongate member with microporous sidewalls. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising emitting bubbles in a size range of about 1 to 200 microns from elongate member with microporous sidewalls. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising adjusting the oxidation potential of the soil to decompose a contaminant while minimizing production of unwanted chemical byproducts. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: introducing the selected oxidant or reductant into the soil/water formation, through a well; and monitoring the oxidation potential of the soil/water formation. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising introducing the oxidant as an air/ozone gas stream delivered with a hydroperoxide, 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising selecting the hydroperoxide from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, formic peracid, hydroxymethyl hydroperoxide, 1-hydroxylethyl hydroperoxide, and chloroformic peracid or their derivatives. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the hydroperoxide delivered to the site is determined as being a substantial byproduct of a reaction of a volatile organic compound present in the aquifer or soil formation with the air/ozone gas. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising delivering the hydroperoxide as a surface layer over microfine bubbles of air/ozone gas. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising adjusting the oxidation potential of the soil to decompose compounds while minimizing transferring trivalent chromium to hexavalent chromium while decomposing polyaromatic hydrocarbons present in the site. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein introducing includes air and ozone as a gas and sodium permanganate as a liquid into the elongate member with microporous sidewalls. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: introducing a reductant gas as microbubbles to decompose compounds while minimizing production of unwanted chemical byproducts. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising introducing the reductant as nitrogen or helium diluted hydrogen, or hydrogen sulfide for short periods of time followed by redox adjustment back, close to preexisting conditions. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising injecting hydrogen sulfide (H.sub.2S) as the reductant gas to the site, as microbubbles to decompose compounds while minimizing production of unwanted chemical byproducts. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising introducing the oxidant under conditions to allow for adjustment of the determined oxidation potential of the soil/water formation. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: delivering a reductant to a first elongate member with microporous sidewalls from a first mechanism and a delivering a liquid from a second mechanism to a second elongate member with microporous sidewalls. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising forming a liquid coating over the reductant. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising delivering the reductant from the first elongate member with microporous sidewalls from a distance below the second elongate member with microporous sidewalls 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: delivering an oxidant to a first elongate member with microporous sidewalls from a first mechanism and a delivering a liquid from a second mechanism to a second elongate member with microporous sidewalls. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising forming a liquid coating over the oxidant. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising delivering the oxidant from the first elongate member with microporous sidewalls from a distance below the second elongate member with microporous sidewalls