Remediation using trace element humate surfactant

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9427785-B2
Application number	US-201414314667-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2014
Priority date	Jun 25, 2014
Publication date	Aug 30, 2016
Grant date	Aug 30, 2016

Abstract

A method of remediation at a remediation site having one or more undesirable conditions in which one or more soil characteristics, preferably soil pH and/or elemental concentrations, are measured at a remediation site. A trace element humate surfactant composition is prepared comprising a humate solution, element solution and at least one surfactant. The prepared trace element humate surfactant composition is then dispensed onto the remediation site whereby the trace element humate surfactant composition will reduce the amount of undesirable compounds by promoting growth of native species activity. By promoting native species activity, remediation occurs quickly and environmental impact is minimal.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for remediation comprising:
a. measuring one or more organic characteristics of a remediation site, said organic characteristics consisting of at least one characteristic from the group of: humic acid concentration, humate salts concentration, fulvic acid concentration, and element concentrations, whereby said remediation site comprises one or more undesirable conditions;
b. preparing a trace element humate surfactant composition comprising at least one organic characteristic approximately equal in percent concentration to at least one said measured organic characteristic; said trace element humate surfactant composition comprising:
i. a humate solution comprising humic acid, fulvic acid, and humate salts;
ii. an element solution comprising at least one element from the group of elements consisting of: nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chlorine, sodium, sulfur, manganese, copper, molybdenum, zinc and iron; and
iii. at least one surfactant; and

c. dispensing said prepared trace element humate surfactant composition onto said remediation site, whereby said trace element humate surfactant composition will reduce the amount of said undesirable conditions at said remediation site which may cause damage by promoting the growth of at least one native species at said remediation site.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said undesirable conditions includes hydrocarbon saturation.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying a remediation site comprising one or more undesirable conditions.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:
a. identifying said at least one native species at said identified remediation site which naturally mitigate damage caused by said undesirable conditions; and
b. identifying said organic characteristics that promote growth of at least one said identified native species at said identified remediation site which naturally mitigate damage caused by said undesirable conditions at said identified remediation site; and whereby:
c. said measuring said one or more organic characteristics comprises measuring one or more organic characteristics of said identified remediation site, whereby said identified remediation site comprises one or more said undesirable conditions.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said prepared trace element humate surfactant composition is dispensed onto said remediation site until said remediation site is exposed to a layer of said prepared trace element humate surfactant composition.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said element concentrations include at least one element from the group of nitrogen, phosphorous, and iron.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein said undesirable conditions comprise at least one condition from the group of hydrocarbon, hydraulic fracking solutions, heavy metal, solvent, and salt contamination.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein said identifying one or more native species at said identified remediation site which naturally mitigate damage caused by said undesirable conditions further comprises:
a. sampling said native species at said identified remediation site;
b. determining at least one optimal native species for remediation of undesirable conditions, wherein said optimal native species comprises at least one factor from the group of native species growth rate, native species rate of consumption, long term viability of said native species, by-product produced by said native species, and said native species' impact on the environment.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
said step of preparing trace element humate surfactant composition wherein said humate solution comprises
i. said humic acid with a concentration range between and including 0 to 50 percent by volume of said humate solution; and
ii. said humate salts with a concentration range between and including 0 to 30 percent by volume of said humate solution.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said concentration of said humate solution is between and including 0.5 to 10 percent by volume of said trace element humate surfactant composition.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said concentration of said humate solution is between and including 1 to 2 percent by volume of said trace element humate surfactant composition.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said humate salts comprise sodium and potassium.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
a. said step of measuring one or more said organic characteristics comprises measuring element concentrations of said remediation site;
b. said step of preparing a trace element humate surfactant composition comprising said element solution comprising one or more elements from the group of nitrogen, phosphorus, and iron wherein:
i. said nitrogen is present in a range between 0 to 20 percent, including 20 percent, by volume of said trace element humate surfactant composition so that the concentration of said nitrogen is approximately equal to said measured concentration of nitrogen of said remediation site; and
ii. said phosphorus is present in a range between 0 to 20 percent, including 20 percent, by volume of said trace element humate surfactant composition so that the concentration of said phosphorus is approximately equal to said measured concentration of phosphorus of said remediation site.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said step of preparing an element solution further comprises adding iron, wherein said iron is present in a range of zero to five percent by volume of said trace element humate surfactant composition so that the concentration of said iron is approximately equal to said measured concentration of iron of said remediation site.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein said surfactant of said trace element humate surfactant composition comprises at least one saponin, wherein: a. said saponin comprises a polycyclic aglycone; and b. said polycyclic aglycone comprises at least one member of the following group: sapogenin and saraponin.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said trace element humate surfactant composition is able to float on the contaminants and water as to remain in contact with the surface of the remediation site.

17. The method of claim 9 , wherein:
said step of preparing trace element humate surf composition further wherein said trace element humate surfactant composition comprises said humate solution and an element solution wherein:
i. said humate solution comprises humic acid and humate salts wherein:
1. said humic acid with a concentration range between and including 0 to 50 percent by volume of said humate solution; and
2. said humate salts with a concentration range between and including 0 to 30 percent by volume of said humate solution;

ii. said element solution comprises nitrogen and phosphorous wherein:
1. said nitrogen is present in a range between 0 to 20 percent, including 20 percent, by volume of said trace element humate surfactant composition so that the concentration of said nitrogen is approximately equal to said measured concentration of nitrogen of said remediation site; and
2. said phosphorus is present in a range between 0 to 20 percent, including 20 percent, by volume of said trace element humate surfactant composition so that the concentration of said phosphorus is approximately equal to said measured concentration of phosphorus of said remediation site.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said surfactant of said trace element humate surfactant composition comprises at least one saponin wherein:
a. said saponin comprises a polycyclic aglycone; and
b. said polycy

Assignees

• Riddle Catherine Lynn
• Taylor Steven Cheney
• Bruhn Debra Fox
• Us Dept Energy

Inventors

• Riddle Catherine Lynn
• Taylor Steven Cheney
• Bruhn Debra Fox

Classifications

• B09C1/08 Primary

  chemically · CPC title

• G01N33/24

  Earth materials (G01N33/42 takes precedence) · CPC title