Abstract: A method of processing coal to remove contaminants by mixing coal in a solution of potassium permanganate in a selected concentration range, rinsing the coal, mixing the coal in a solution of ammonia hydroxide in a selected concentration range to cause the solution to be brought into contact with the surfaces and pores of the coal, discharging the processed coal from the second reaction vessel, monitoring the process to detect when the concentration of aqueous ammonia in the second reaction vessel has fallen below the selected range, and feeding aqueous ammonia solution with an ammonia concentration in or above the selected range to the second reaction vessel to return the solution to within the selected range.

Abstract: A method of treating selenium contaminated water to reduce the concentration of selenium in the water to levels below 5 ?g/L uses a first stage treatment by an iron co-precipitation process to remove a bulk concentration of selenium from the water, followed by a second stage treatment wherein the water from the first stage is treated by either a hydride generation process or an ion-exchange media, or a combination thereof, to achieve a selenium concentration level below 5 ?g/L.

Abstract: A method of processing coal to remove sulfur and other contaminants by mixing coal in a solution of aqueous ammonia having a selected concentration range (preferred range of 3%-5%) of ammonia to water in a reaction vessel. The mixing causes the solution to be brought into contact with the surfaces and pores of the coal. The process is monitored to detect when the concentration of aqueous ammonia in the reaction vessel has fallen below the selected range, and aqueous ammonia with an ammonia concentration in or above the selected range is fed into the reaction vessel to return the solution to within the selected range. The cleaned coal may be rinsed and dried, or dried without rinsing to form an ammonia coating on the coal surfaces and pores. Several plant layouts to practice the method are described.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for treating a composition containing toxic materials or biosolids, wherein the apparatus has a hydraulically sealable top that can be opened to allow loading of the composition or closed to seal the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a reagent injection system for injecting a reagent into the apparatus, a mixing device for mixing the composition with the reagent, a heater system for heating the composition, or the mixture of the composition and the reagent, an internal vapor recovery system for recovering gases, vapors, and odors from the toxic materials or biosolids, or from the reagents, a reagent recovery system for recovering the reagent after it has been mixed with the composition, a discharge mechanism for discharging the treated composition, and a control panel comprising temperature and pressure measurements.

Abstract: A method of processing coal to remove sulfur and other contaminants by mixing coal in a solution of aqueous ammonia having a selected concentration range (preferred range of 3%-5%) of ammonia to water in a reaction vessel. The mixing causes the solution to be brought into contact with the surfaces and pores of the coal. The process is monitored to detect when the concentration of aqueous ammonia in the reaction vessel has fallen below the selected range, and aqueous ammonia with an ammonia concentration in or above the selected range is fed into the reaction vessel to return the solution to within the selected range. The cleaned coal may be rinsed and dried, or dried without rinsing to form an ammonia coating on the coal surfaces and pores. Several plant layouts to practice the method are described.

Abstract: An in situ method of reducing concentrations of contaminates in contaminated soil, where contaminated soil positioned in a first horizontal location is in situ mixed with clean soil in vertical proximity to the contaminated soil. The mixed soil is blended under conditions and for a time sufficient to substantially homogenize the contaminants in the blended soil. The mixing and blending is then repeated for a second horizontal location.

Abstract: An in situ method of reducing concentrations of contaminates in contaminated soil, where contaminated soil positioned in a first horizontal location is in situ mixed with clean soil in vertical proximity to the contaminated soil. The mixed soil is blended under conditions and for a time sufficient to substantially homogenize the contaminants in the blended soil. The mixing and blending is then repeated for a second horizontal location.

Abstract: A preferred method of soil remediation in which contaminant organic compounds are removed from soil by a sequential process in which the bulk of natural and contaminant organic compounds are stripped from the soil by hot air injection, followed by applying a strong oxidizing agent, preferably a permanganate, to reduce residual organic contaminant concentration to acceptable levels. Hot air is injected into the soil as it is being churned by the soil mixing device, preferably a chain trencher, to strip off organic compounds. The vapors may be collected through a vacuum hood disposed over the soil mixing device. When the thermal stripping has reduced the bulk hydrocarbon content of the soil (and thus reduced the oxidant demand), an effective amount of permanganate or other strong oxidizing agent is mixed into the soil to reduce the residual organic contaminants. Hot air can also be injected into the soil as or after the oxidizing agent is introduced to accelerate the oxidation rate.

Abstract: An apparatus for high volume in-situ treatment of contaminated soil is a mobile vehicle with a chain trenching tool an excavator drums attached to the idler wheel to extend the width of soil cutting and increase the volume of soil being churned and treated in-situ. The drums may be arranged both for clock-wise and counter clock-wise rotation, and oriented to provide vertical lifting and swirling of the soil. The apparatus may include a hood disposed over the cutting drums to define a remediation chamber with ports for injecting high temperature air or chemical or biological remediation fluid into the soil. In a preferred embodiment, the hood has internal partitions that create a vapor recovery chamber outboard of the drums.

Abstract: An apparatus for high volume in-situ treatment of contaminated soil is a mobile vehicle with a chain trenching tool an excavator drums attached to the idler wheel to extend the width of soil cutting and increase the volume of soil being churned and treated in-situ. The drums may be arranged both for clock-wise and counter clock-wise rotation, and oriented to provide vertical lifting and swirling of the soil. The apparatus may include a hood disposed over the cutting drums to define a remediation chamber with ports for injecting high temperature air or chemical or biological remediation fluid into the soil. In a preferred embodiment, the hood has internal partitions that create a vapor recovery chamber outboard of the drums.

Abstract: An apparatus for high volume in-situ treatment of contaminated soil is a mobile vehicle with a chain trenching tool an excavator drums attached to the idler wheel to extend the width of soil cutting and increase the volume of soil being churned and treated in-situ. The drums may be arranged both for clock-wise and counter clock-wise rotation, and oriented to provide vertical lifting and swirling of the soil. The apparatus may include a hood disposed over the cutting drums to define a remediation chamber with ports for injecting high temperature air or chemical or biological remediation fluid into the soil. In a preferred embodiment, the hood has internal partitions that create a vapor recovery chamber outboard of the drums.

Abstract: An apparatus for high volume in-situ treatment of contaminated soil is a mobile vehicle with a chain trenching tool an excavator drums attached to the idler wheel to extend the width of soil cutting and increase the volume of soil being churned and treated in-situ. The drums may be arranged both for clock-wise and counter clock-wise rotation, and oriented to provide vertical lifting and swirling of the soil. The apparatus may include a hood disposed over the cutting drums to define a remediation chamber with ports for injecting high temperature air or chemical or biological remediation fluid into the soil. In a preferred embodiment, the hood has internal partitions that create a vapor recovery chamber outboard of the drums.

Abstract: A preferred method of soil remediation in which contaminant organic compounds are removed from soil by a sequential process in which the bulk of natural and contaminant organic compounds are stripped from the soil by hot air injection, followed by applying a strong oxidizing agent, preferably a permanganate, to reduce residual organic contaminant concentration to acceptable levels. Hot air is injected into the soil as it is being churned by the soil mixing device, preferably a chain trencher, to strip off organic compounds, The vapors may be collected through a vacuum hood disposed over the soil mixing device. When the thermal stripping has reduced the bulk hydrocarbon content of the soil (and thus reduced the oxidant demand), an effective amount of permanganate or other strong oxidizing agent is mixed into the soil to reduce the residual organic contaminants. Hot air can also be injected into the soil as or after the oxidizing agent is introduced to accelerate the oxidation rate.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a soil remediation method, and more particularly to a soil remediation method relying on the chemical oxidation of organic contaminants in saturated or unsaturated soil and aided by mechanical agitation of the soil. The method may be carried out in ex-situ or in-situ schemes per the devices disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a soil remediation device, and more particularly to a multi-section soil remediation device having at least one section for applying a variety of soil treatment regimes. The multi-section device can be independent of, or be adapted to mount to, a vehicle for operation in the field.

Abstract: An apparatus for in-situ remediation of contaminated soil or sludge having a trenching tool and an injection system for applying remediation agent to the contaminated material during in situ communication. The remediation agent is injected into the contaminated material by the injection system preferably having a plurality of injection nozzles positioned along the length of the trenching tool. The treated material is backfilled or deposited directly into the trench excavated by trenching tool thereby obviating the need for off-site disposal. The constituent remediation agents in the remediation agent may be adjusted to adapt to varying site conditions and contaminants. The remediation agent may also be heated to accomplish volatile stripping of the contaminated material or to activate microbial agents in a low temperature environment.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a hydraulic power unit for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to industrial equipment, and more particularly to an auxiliary hydraulic power unit that is adapted to mount to a vehicle and supply auxiliary hydraulic power to auxiliary equipment associated with the vehicle during operation in the field.

Abstract: Contaminated material such as soil or sludge is remediated by injecting a suitable remediation fluid into the material during excavation of the contaminated material with a trenching tool. The remediation fluid is injected into the contaminated material through an injection means, preferably a plurality of injection nozzles positioned along the length of the trenching tool. The thusly treated material is backfilled or deposited directly into the trench excavated by trenching tool thereby obviating the need for off-site disposal. The constituent remediation agents in the remediation fluid may be adjusted to adapt to varying site conditions and contaminants. The remediation fluid may also be heated to accomplish volatile stripping of the contaminated material or to activate microbial agents in a low temperature environment.