Contaminant extractor and method

An improved method and apparatus for removal of .Iadd.contaminants such as .Iaddend.petroleum hydrocarbons from contaminated soil. The apparatus of the invention includes a shallow container, preferably with vertical sides, which has in its bottom wall a multiplicity of elongated recessed chambers with an open mesh entry area at the upper side, and a gas discharge orifice at one end of each chamber. A rack containing burners is adapted for positioning over the material to be treated within the container. The invented method includes charging materials to be treated into a container, heating the material while creating a partial pressure within the chamber, establishing a vacuum to pull the gasses downwardly through the soil and atmospheric air downwardly with the gasses, then either collecting or discharging the removed gasses, after which the soil is removed from the treatment chamber.

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Claims

3. A method according to claim.Iadd.1.Iaddend.wherein the heating is accomplished by radiant heating.

4. A method according to claim.Iadd.1.Iaddend.wherein the heating is accomplished by infrared heating.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the soil is placed in the container in generally loose form.

Referenced Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
4667609 May 26, 1987 Hardison et al.
4821654 April 18, 1989 Becker et al.
4895085 January 23, 1990 Chips
5072674 December 17, 1991 Noland et al.
5078868 January 7, 1992 Robertson
Other references
  • Fawcett, H.E., ed., Hazardous and Toxic Materials, Safe Handling and Disposal, Second Edition, John Wiley & Sons, NY, 1988, pp. 345-411. Michaels, P.A., "Terra Vac in Situ Vacuum Extraction System Application Analysis Report", EPA Report PB-90-119744/XAB, Jul. 1989, 65 pp., Jul. 1989.
Patent History
Patent number: RE36222
Type: Grant
Filed: Jul 6, 1994
Date of Patent: Jun 8, 1999
Assignee: McLaren Hart Environmental Engineering Corporation (Rancho Cordova, CA)
Inventor: Jeffrey K. O'Ham (Charlotte, NC)
Primary Examiner: Henry A. Bennett
Assistant Examiner: Susanne C. Tinker
Attorney: Craig M. Dann, Dorfman, Herrell and Skillman Bell
Application Number: 8/271,401