Apparatus and method for removing contaminants from fine grained soil, clay and silt

Abstract

The disclosure of this application relates to a method and apparatus for removing a variety of contaminants from soil, sediment, fine sand and clay. The disclosure describes an apparatus in which contaminated material that is comprised of particles having a size less than about 5 mm in diameter are injected from a nozzle (231) into a zone of discharge from one or a number of nozzles (500). These nozzles (500) are positioned to discharge liquid or cleaning fluid at a pressure from about 2000 psi to about 20,000 psi. The cleaned material is then collected and separated into liquid and solid phases. The solids, when cleaned by the use of this apparatus, can then be returned to the site without danger of contamination of the surrounding area and no disposal costs are incurred for disposition of contaminated soil.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for the efficient removal of pollutants from fine-grained soils, clay silts and sediment particles. Summary of the invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus for removing pollutants from soil, clay and sediment particles which may be found in areas contaminated by eg industrial chemicals, oil etc. The device utilizes a liquid to effectively remove pollutants from the surface of soil particles. The device is capable of creating a zone of extreme turbulence through opposing high-pressure jets directed at the same point. A slurry feed unit injects soil-contaminated slurry into the discharge area of ​​the nozzle unit. Contaminants are removed from the soil particles in the slurry as they pass through the intersection of the sprinkler and nozzle discharge streams. In this way, the contaminants are separated from the surface of the soil particles, leaving particles substantially free of contaminant...

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