Processes for reducing the environmental availability of environmental pollutants

Abstract

The present invention provides a process for reducing the environmental availability of one or more environmental contaminants in solids, liquids, and combinations of solids and liquids.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the remediation of environmental pollutants to reduce their environmental availability. [Background technology]

[0002] Many contaminants are known to be toxic to humans and the environment. One of these known environmental contaminants, mercury, has been classified as a priority hazardous substance by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The U.S. National Cleanup Priorities List (NPL), maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), lists numerous sites contaminated by mercury. These sites include materials containing a variety of contaminants, including solids (e.g., soil, litter, waste), liquids (e.g., groundwater, lakes, ponds), and combinations of solids and liquids (e.g., sludge, slurry, sediments). The majority of these sites have not undergone decontamination to remove mercury. Unacceptable levels of mercury or mercury compounds may be present in sites not listed on the NPL. Environmental contaminants other than mercury raise similar concerns.

[0003] Mercury contamination can come from a variety of sources, including mining and ore processes, metal refining processes, chlor-alkali plants, mercury-based thermometer and thermostat manufacturing processes, fluorescent light manufacturing processes, and battery manufacturing processes. Numerous landfills exist that are contaminated with mercury-containing waste. Furthermore, mercury contaminants exist in multiple forms, including elemental mercury, organic mercury compounds, and inorganic mercury compounds, often in the same location. Different forms and / or substances of mercury often require different treatment methods.

[0004] Mercury-contaminated materials likely also contain multiple other environmental contaminants. For example, some materials are contaminated with organic matter and / or other heavy elements, and these other environmental contaminants pose similar challenges. Therefore, depending on the contaminated material, the state of the material, the type of waste, the form of mercury, and other contaminants or environmental pollutants present, reducing the environmental availability of environmental contaminants at any particular location can be technically challenging and costly. Reducing the environmental availability of environmental contaminants, and thereby reducing their bioavailability and bioaccumulation, particularly in materials such as soil, groundwater, sediments, and slurries, is of particular interest.

[0005] Commercial remediation processes currently applied to soils and other solids include stabilization / solidification, washing, thermal desorption, and vitrification. Processes applied to water and other liquids include precipitation / coprecipitation, adsorption, filtration, and bioremediation. Processes applied to sediments and other solid-liquid combinations include in situ capping, dredging / excavation, combinations of these methods, as well as monitored natural remediation (MNR) and enhanced monitored natural remediation (EMNR). Monitored natural remediation relies on natural processes to protect the environment and receptors from unacceptable exposure to contaminants, while enhanced MNR applies materials or amendments to enhance the natural remediation process (e.g., adding a thin cap or reactive amendments such as carbon). All of these remediation technologies offer benefits in controlling the environmental impacts of environmental contaminants, including human health and ecological risks. However, they also have limitations.

[0006] Another factor to consider in some remediation technologies is the tendency of environmental contaminants to migrate (or leach) from their location after being sequestered or stabilized. The U.S. EPA regulates this as well, and has established guidelines for the migration of both organic and inorganic analytes present in liquid, solid, and multiphase wastes. The EPA defines the Toxicity Characterization Leaching Procedure (TCLP), a test designed to determine the kinetics of toxic substances.

[0007] Before a technology can be selected for remediation of an actual contaminated site, it must be evaluated through complex bench- and pilot-scale studies and screening assays to determine its suitability. Furthermore, due to variability between treatment sites, remediation of contamination by mercury and other environmental contaminants is costly and time-consuming. Therefore, new, more commercially attractive processes are needed to reduce the environmental and biological availability of environmental contaminants in solid and liquid forms, as well as combinations thereof. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The present invention provides a process for reducing the environmental availability of at least a portion of one or more environmental contaminants in a material containing the one or more environmental contaminants. An advantage of the process of the present invention is that it reduces the environmental availability of toxic environmental contaminants in the material. Such toxic contaminants include mercury and methylmercury, as well as other heavy elements and ecotoxic organic substances.

[0009] An advantage provided by the process of the present invention is that by reducing the environmental availability of environmental contaminants in a material, the bioavailability and bioaccumulation of such contaminants is also reduced. When the environmental contaminant is mercury, another advantage is that the process of the present invention does not require the presence of sulfide, and therefore does not adversely affect the reduction in environmental availability, and therefore bioavailability, due to the acidic conditions that allow sulfide to form hydrosulfide, sulfuric acid, and / or sulfate compounds; the absence of this sulfur-containing composition thus minimizes mercury methylation.

[0010] The process of the present invention can be used as the sole process for reducing the environmental availability and / or presence of environmental contaminants, such as mercury, in a material, or can be used to complement and / or enhance reductions in the environmental availability and / or amount of such environmental contaminants in a material beyond those achieved by existing technologies.

[0011] One embodiment of the present invention is a process for reducing the environmental availability of at least a portion of one or more environmental pollutants in a substance containing the one or more environmental pollutants. The process includes adding and / or applying a sorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials. The N-halogen compounds contain one or more nitrogen atoms and have one or more halogen atoms bonded to the nitrogen atoms, and at least one halogen atom bonded to the nitrogen atoms forms a hypohalite ion upon contact with water. The halogen atoms are selected from chlorine, bromine, and / or iodine, and the N-halogen compounds do not contain alkenyl or alkynyl bonds.

[0012] These and other embodiments and features of the present invention will become still further apparent from the following description and appended claims. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention provides a process for reducing the environmental availability of environmental contaminants. As used throughout this document, the term "reducing environmental availability" refers to stabilizing, immobilizing, fixing, encapsulating, sequestering, containing, destroying, detoxifying, degrading, and decaying at least one environmental contaminant to reduce its amount, reduce its mobility, and / or reduce its ability to move. Stabilization and / or immobilization can be performed in a medium. Reducing the environmental availability of an environmental contaminant, in turn, reduces the bioavailability of the contaminant and therefore bioaccumulation. Reduce.

[0014] As used herein, the term "environmental pollutant(s)" refers to chemical elements, compounds, or mixtures thereof that are known to be harmful to humans and / or affect the environment (ecosystem). Environmental pollutants are typically regulated by one or more government agencies. Examples of environmental pollutants include all forms of mercury (e.g., elemental mercury (metallic mercury), organic mercury compounds, and inorganic mercury compounds); other organic substances (e.g., including, but not limited to, hydrophobic organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polyfluoroalkyl substances, perfluoroalkyl substances, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, furans, and / or chlorinated pesticides); toxic elements, organic and inorganic heavy element compounds (e.g., including, but not limited to, compounds containing As, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, and / or Cd); and other environmental pollutants known to those skilled in the art.

[0015] As used throughout this document, terms such as "treated," "contacted," and "purified" indicate that the adsorbent interacts with a material containing one or more environmental contaminants in a manner that results in a reduction in the environmental availability of the one or more environmental contaminants.

[0016] The purification agent in the practice of the present invention is an adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials. An adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials may be referred to herein as an "adsorbent." An adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials is typically formed from one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials. Many substrate materials, particularly activated carbon, are available or are available in a wide range of particle sizes, from nanometers to centimeters.

[0017] Substrate materials include carbonaceous materials and inorganic materials. Suitable carbonaceous materials that can be used as adsorbents in the practice of the present invention include, but are not limited to, activated carbon, carbon black, charcoal, and coke. A preferred carbonaceous material is activated carbon, which can be used in many forms, including, but not limited to, powder, granules, microspheres, pellets, or extrudates, and those with a high specific surface area.

[0018] Another type of substrate material is a carbonaceous material modified by contact with a diatomic halogen (Br, Cl, BrCl, ICl, IBr, preferably Br), which is a halogenated carbonaceous material. Various carbonaceous materials can be modified to form halogenated carbonaceous materials, including activated carbon, carbon black, charcoal, and coke; preferably, the carbonaceous material is activated carbon and the halogenated carbonaceous material is halogenated activated carbon. A preferred halogenated carbonaceous material is activated carbon modified by contact with Br, which is a brominated activated carbon.

[0019] Suitable inorganic substrate materials include inorganic oxides such as alumina (amorphous, pseudo-crystalline, and crystalline), silica, magnesia, and titania; natural zeolites such as chabazite, clinoptilolite, and faujasite; synthetic zeolites such as synthetic chabazite, zeolites with high Si:Al ratios (ZSM-5, beta zeolite), zeolites with medium Si:Al ratios (Y zeolite, A zeolite), silica alumina phosphate (SAPO) zeolites, ion-exchanged zeolites, uncalcined zeolites, clay minerals such as kaolin, kaolinite, bentonite, and montmorillonite; synthetic clays such as laponite, saponite, sauconite, stevensite, kaolinite, and hectorite; trimethylstearylammonium salts, dimethyldialkyl (C 14 -C 18) ammonium salts, methyldihydroxyethylammonium salts, and hydrogenated tallow ammonium salts, and aminopropyltriethoxysilane, and organoclays such as montmorillonite treated with octadecylamine; quaternary ammonium salts Examples of suitable inorganic materials include bentonite, hectorite, and attapulgite treated with ammonium salts; and zeolites treated with N,N,N-trimethyl-1-hexadecanaminium chloride, bromide, and / or hydroxide; inorganic hydroxides such as iron hydroxide; mixed metal oxyhydroxide carbonates such as hydrotalcite and metallated bilayer clay; diatomaceous earth; cement dust; hydroprocessing catalysts comprising a fluid contact catalyst on a substrate such as alumina, silica, or titania; and inorganic carbonates such as alkali metal carbonates (e.g., sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate) and alkaline earth carbonates (e.g., calcium carbonate); and mixtures of any two or more of the foregoing. Preferred inorganic materials include inorganic oxides, particularly silica, natural zeolites, particularly chabazite, and clay minerals, particularly kaolinite and bentonite, with CaCO3 also being a preferred substrate material.

[0020] The halogen element bonded to the nitrogen atom in the N-halogen compound can be chlorine, bromine, iodine, or a mixture of any two or more of these halogens. Bromine and chlorine are preferred halogens, and bromine is more preferred. When two or more halogen atoms are present in the N-halogen compound, preferably at least one halogen atom is bromine. When two or more nitrogen atoms are present in the N-halogen compound, two or more nitrogen atoms in the N-halogen compound can have one or more halogen atoms bonded to the nitrogen atom. There can be two or more halogen atoms bonded to each nitrogen atom in the N-halogen compound. For use as the N-halogen compound in the practice of the present invention, one halogen atom bonded to the nitrogen atom forms a hypohalite ion upon contact with water. Preferably, two or more, more preferably all, of the halogen atoms bonded to the nitrogen atom in the N-halogen compound form a hypohalite ion upon contact with water.

[0021] The phrase "contacted by water" indicates that the N-halogen compound is contacted with sufficient water to cause dissociation of the halogen atom from the nitrogen atom to form the corresponding hypohalite ion. Dissolution of the N-halogen compound is not required for the formation of the hypohalite ion.

[0022] Suitable classes of compounds include amines, amides, imides, lactams, and hydantoins. Amines include monoamines, diamines, triamines, and other polyamines with hydrocarbyl groups that are saturated (linear, branched, or cyclic), aromatic, or aromatic alkyl; in the case of cyclic hydrocarbyl groups, the nitrogen atom can be a ring member. Imides include cyclic compounds such as succinimide, and lactams include pyrrolidone and isocyanuric acid. Hydantoins include 5-hydrocarbylhydantoin and 5,5-dihydrocarbylhydantoin. Hydantoins, especially 5,5-dihydrocarbylhydantoin, are preferred.

[0023] The hydrocarbyl groups in the N-halogen compounds do not contain alkenyl or alkynyl bonds. Saturated groups typically have 1 to about 8 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to about 6 carbon atoms; aromatic groups have 6 to about 14 carbon atoms, preferably 6 to about 10 carbon atoms; and aromatic alkyl groups have 7 to about 15 carbon atoms, preferably 7 to about 11 carbon atoms. Suitable saturated hydrocarbyl groups include methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, 2-propyl, n-butyl, 2-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, 3-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-octyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, 2-methylcyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and 2-methylcyclohexyl. Suitable aromatic groups include phenyl, 2-methylphenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 4-ethylphenyl, naphthyl, and anthracenyl. Suitable aromatic alkyl groups include benzoyl, ... Examples include diyl and xylyl. When the hydrocarbyl group is a ring, the ring may have one or more hydrocarbyl substituents.

[0024] N-halogen compounds that can be used in the practice of the present invention include N-bromodimethylamine, N-iododimethylamine, N-chlorodiethylamine, N-bromodiethylamine, N-iododiethylamine, N-chloro-di-n-propylamine, N-bromomethyl-2-propylamine, N-iodo-di-2-propylamine, N-iodo-di-n-butylamine, N-chloro-di-2-butylamine, N-bromo-di-tert-butylamine, N-iodo-di-n-pentylamine, N-chloro-di-3-pentylamine, N-bromo-di-n-hexylamine, N-iodo-di-n-octylamine, N-chloro-di-cyclobutylamine, N-bromo-cyclopentylamine, N-iodo-methyl-2-methylcyclopentylamine, N-chloro-cyclohexylethylamine, N-bromo-2- Examples of suitable hydantoins include methylcyclohexylamine, N-iodo-phenylamine, N-chloro-methyl-2-methylphenylamine, N-bromo-4-methylphenylamine, N-iodo-4-ethylphenylmethylamine, N-chloro-naphthylethylamine, N-bromo-anthracenylamine, N-iodo-benzylmethylamine, N-chloro-xylylamine, N-chloro-N-tert-butylbenzamide, N-bromo-N-tert-butylbenzamide, N-iodo-N-tert-butylbenzamide, N-chlorosuccinimide, N-bromosuccinimide, N-iodosuccinimide, N-chloropyrrolidone, N-bromo-pyrrolidone, N-iodopyrrolidone, dichloroisocyanuric acid, dibromoisocyanuric acid, diiodoisocyanuric acid, and the halogen-containing hydantoins described below.

[0025] The N-halogen compounds that are halogen-containing hydantoins are halogen-containing 5-hydrocarbylhydantoins and halogen-containing 5,5-dihydrocarbylhydantoins, preferably the 1,3-dibromo, 1,3-dichloro, and / or N,N'-bromochloro (or 1,3-bromochloro) derivatives of 5-hydrocarbylhydantoins and 5,5-dihydrocarbylhydantoins. Halogen-containing 5,5-dihydrocarbylhydantoins are preferred. More preferred halogen-containing hydantoins are halogen-containing 5-alkyl and halogen-containing 5,5-dialkylhydantoins, particularly those in which each alkyl group contains up to about 6 carbon atoms. Even more preferred are halogen-containing 5,5-dialkylhydantoins in which each alkyl group independently contains up to 3 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred is halogen-containing 5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

[0026] Suitable halogen-containing hydantoins include 5-methylhydantoin, 5-ethylhydantoin, 5-(1-propyl)hydantoin, 5-(2-propyl)hydantoin, 5-(2-methylpropyl)hydantoin, 5-(2-butyl)hydantoin, 5-phenylhydantoin, 5-ethyl-5-methylhydantoin, 5-ethyl-5-methylhydantoin, 5-methyl-5-(2-methylpropyl)hydantoin, 5-ethyl-5-(2-methylpropyl)hydantoin, 5-methyl-5-phenylhydantoin, 5-ethyl-5-phenylhydantoin, 5-benzyl-5-methylhydantoin, 5,5-dimethylhydantoin, and 5,5-diethylhydantoin. Preferred halogen-containing hydantoins are 1,3-dihalo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin and 1,3-dihalo-5,5-diethylhydantoin, especially 1,3-dihalo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin. More preferred halogenated hydantoins include 1,3-chloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, and 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, and even more preferred are 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin and 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, especially 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

[0027] Mixtures of any two or more N-halogen compounds can be used, and the N-halogen compounds in the mixture can contain the same or different halogens and can be the same or different types of N-halogen compounds.

[0028] Particularly preferred N-halogen compounds are halogen-containing amines and halogen-containing hydantoins, especially (bromo)diethylamine, N,N-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin and 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, more particularly 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

[0029] Adsorbents comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials can be prepared from the substrate material and one or more N-halogen compounds. Typically, it is not necessary to exclude atmospheric water during the preparation of adsorbents comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials. In some embodiments, preferred adsorbents comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials include a bromine-containing N-halogen compound as the N-halogen compound. In some embodiments, preferred adsorbents include activated carbon as the substrate material. In other embodiments, preferred adsorbents comprising activated carbon include adsorbents comprising chlorine-containing N-halogen compounds and activated carbon, bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and activated carbon, or iodine-containing N-halogen compounds and activated carbon. In preferred embodiments, adsorbents comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials include adsorbents comprising chlorine-containing N-halogen compounds and activated carbon, or bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and activated carbon. In more preferred embodiments, adsorbents comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials include adsorbents comprising bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and activated carbon. Even more preferably, the adsorbent comprises a chlorine-containing 5,5-dihydrocarbylhydantoin and activated carbon, or a bromine-containing 5,5-dihydrocarbylhydantoin and activated carbon, in particular 1,3-chloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, or 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, even more preferably 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin or 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, in particular 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

[0030] In other embodiments, preferred adsorbents comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials include chlorine-containing 5,5-dihydrocarbylhydantoin and activated carbon, or bromine-containing 5,5-dihydrocarbylhydantoin and activated carbon. More preferably, the N-halogen compound is a halogenated hydantoin, particularly 1,3-chloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, or 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, even more preferably 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin and / or 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, particularly 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

[0031] In other embodiments, preferred sorbents comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials comprise a chlorine-containing 5,5-dihydrocarbylhydantoin and one or more halogenated carbonaceous materials, more preferably the halogenated carbonaceous material is halogenated activated carbon, particularly brominated activated carbon, or a bromine-containing 5,5-dihydrocarbylhydantoin and one or more halogenated carbonaceous materials, more preferably the halogenated carbonaceous material is halogenated activated carbon, particularly brominated activated carbon. Even more preferably, the adsorbent is a chlorine-containing 5,5-dihydrocarbylhydantoin and halogenated activated carbon, or a bromine-containing 5,5-dihydrocarbylhydantoin and halogenated activated carbon, in particular 1,3-chloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, or 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, even more preferably 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin or 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, especially when the halogenated activated carbon is a brominated activated carbon, in particular 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin. Contains hydantoin.

[0032] In yet other embodiments, preferred adsorbents include one or more N-halogen compounds and chabazite, one or more N-halogen compounds and bentonite, one or more N-halogen compounds and kaolinite, and one or more N-halogen compounds and silica; more preferred adsorbents include chlorine-containing N-halogen compounds and chabazite, bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and chabazite, chlorine-containing N-halogen compounds and bentonite, bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and bentonite, chlorine-containing N-halogen compounds and kaolinite, bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and kaolinite, chlorine-containing N-halogen compounds and silica, and bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and silica; even more preferred are adsorbents including bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and silica, bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and kaolinite, and bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and bentonite.

[0033] In another embodiment, preferred adsorbents include a bromine-containing N-halogen compound and silica, a bromine-containing N-halogen compound and kaolinite, and a bromine-containing N-halogen compound and bentonite. More preferably, the adsorbent comprises a chlorine-containing 5,5-dihydrocarbylhydantoin and silica, kaolinite, or bentonite, or a bromine-containing 5,5-dihydrocarbylhydantoin and silica, kaolinite, or bentonite, particularly 1,3-chloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, or 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, even more preferably 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin or 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, especially 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, especially when the inorganic material is silica, kaolinite, or bentonite.

[0034] The amount of halogen (or halogen content) from the N-halogen compound(s) on the adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials is typically equal to a total bromine content (or calculated as bromine) in the range of about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. %, preferably in the range of about 0.5 wt. % to about 15 wt. %, more preferably about 2 wt. % to about 12 wt. %, and even more preferably about 3 wt. % to about 8 wt. %, based on the total weight of the adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials.

[0035] As used throughout this document, the phrases "as bromine," "reported as bromine," "calculated as bromine," and similar phrases relating to halogens refer to the amount of halogen calculated relative to bromine, unless otherwise specified. For example, chlorine may be used, but the amount of halogen in a sorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials will be reported as a bromine value.

[0036] Adsorbents comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and activated carbon suitable for use in the process of the present invention can have a wide range of particle sizes and distributions, from nanometers to centimeters, and can be formed from activated carbon forms including, but not limited to, powders, granules, microspheres, pellets, or extrudates; high specific surface areas; various unique pore structures; and other characteristics well known to those skilled in the art.

[0037] Adsorbents comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials, particularly adsorbents comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and a carbonaceous adsorbent, particularly adsorbents comprising one or more chlorine-containing N-halogen compounds and a carbonaceous adsorbent, or one or more bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and a carbonaceous adsorbent, more particularly adsorbents comprising one or more bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and a carbonaceous adsorbent, can reduce the environmental availability of contaminants in a material, for example, through means including, but not limited to, oxidation and / or adsorption. By reducing the mobility of environmental contaminants, adsorption can reduce the environmental availability of environmental contaminants. Other ways in which sorbents comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials can reduce the environmental availability of contaminants are by enhancing the decomposition of such contaminants through surface reactions, and / or by inhibiting the formation of contaminants such as methylmercury, and / or by other mechanisms. In the process of the present invention, environmental contaminants adsorbed by sorbents comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials, whether applied as solids, liquids, or combinations thereof, are stabilized such that desorption into the environment is substantially minimized.

[0038] Mercury and other environmental pollutants are adsorbed or removed by adsorbents comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials, particularly adsorbents comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and activated carbon, more particularly adsorbents comprising one or more chlorine-containing N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials, or adsorbents comprising one or more bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials, more particularly adsorbents comprising bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and a carbonaceous adsorbent, even more particularly adsorbents comprising bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and activated carbon. Different halogen (especially bromine) species can be formed on adsorbents comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials, particularly adsorbents comprising bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials, particularly adsorbents comprising bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and activated carbon. For example, bromine species can oxidize elemental mercury to form mercury bromide, which can be adsorbed into the pores of activated carbon. Another species, bromide ions, can chemically bond with ionic mercury and adsorb onto the surface of activated carbon. Other components may catalyze the oxidation of mercury and enhance the stabilization or adsorption of the oxidized mercury product.

[0039] Some adsorbents comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials, particularly adsorbents comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and activated carbon, particularly adsorbents comprising one or more chlorine-containing N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials, as well as adsorbents comprising one or more bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials, more particularly adsorbents comprising one or more bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and a carbonaceous adsorbent, particularly adsorbents comprising one or more bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and activated carbon, are capable of physically and chemically adsorbing mercury in different oxidation states, including elemental mercury, oxidized mercury, and organic mercury. Mercury adsorbed on adsorbents comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and activated carbon, particularly adsorbents comprising one or more bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and activated carbon, is stable over a wide range of pH values, where "stable" means that mercury does not separate from the adsorbent in significant amounts after adsorption.

[0040] The sorbents comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials used in the processes of the present invention can be combined with other optional components such as pH buffers (e.g., including, but not limited to, ammonium carbonate, metal carbonates, ammonium phosphate, and metal phosphates), supports (e.g., including, but not limited to, sand and mud), binders (e.g., including, but not limited to, mud, clay, and polymers), and / or other additives (e.g., including, but not limited to, iron compounds and sulfur compounds).

[0041] In the practice of the present invention, the adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials can be used in various forms, including as a dry solid or in combination with a suitable fluid, for example, in a slurry. As used herein, the term "suitable fluid" refers to fluids such as water and other fluids. Given the teachings of the present disclosure, those skilled in the art will have the knowledge to select a suitable fluid, which will depend on variables such as the composition of the material and the composition of environmental pollutants present in the material.

[0042] Adsorbents comprising one or more halogen-containing hydantoins are compositions of the invention and are prepared by a process comprising combining a substrate material and the halogen-containing hydantoin(s). Dry blending the components is a convenient method of combining the components. The substrate material, halogen-containing hydantoin, their amounts, and their selection are as described above.

[0043] The formation of hypohalite ions from N-halogen compounds is part of the treatment of a material and a feature of the present invention. The formation of hypohalite ions occurs when the N-halogen compounds come into contact with sufficient water to cause the formation of hypohalite ions. Water is typically present in most materials being treated, but if water is not present in the material being treated, or if there is not a sufficient amount of water present to cause the formation of hypohalite ions from the N-halogen compounds, water can be added as part of the treatment. When water is added, it can be introduced to the material in combination with the adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials, or it can be introduced separately from the adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials. If added separately, water can be added before, during, and / or after the adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials is added to and / or applied to the material.

[0044] The amount of water used during treatment is generally not critical, but preferably the amount of water will allow for the formation of hypohalite ions over time (e.g., about 5 to about 60 minutes) instead of the amount of water causing all of the hypohalite ion formation to occur immediately (e.g., about 5 minutes or less) after application and / or addition to the material being treated. A preferred amount of water is at about 100% soil moisture content.

[0045] Treatment of some materials can be carried out both in situ and ex situ. Here, "in situ" refers to treatment that occurs without removing the material from its location. Examples of in situ treatment include injecting a sorbent into the soil (usually as a slurry) or mechanically mixing a sorbent with the soil. Similarly, "ex situ" refers to treatment that occurs during or after the material is removed from its location. After treatment, the material may or may not be returned to its original location.

[0046] Thermal desorption and retorting are two common ex-situ methods of thermal treatment for mercury remediation. These techniques involve heating the contaminated medium to volatilize the mercury, followed by condensation of the vapor into liquid elemental mercury. Adsorbents containing one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials can be used to adsorb mercury as an alternative to liquid mercury condensers or to remove mercury in the off-gas emitted from the condenser.

[0047] In some applications, the adsorbent may remain in or with the material. In other applications, the adsorbent may be collected after use. If the adsorbent is collected after use, it may be discarded or regenerated and reused.

[0048] A substance containing one or more environmental contaminants may be a solid, a liquid, or a combination of a solid and a liquid, or a combination of one or more solids and one or more liquids. If the substance is a solid, it may contain two or more solids. If the substance is a liquid, it may contain two or more liquids.

[0049] In some processes of the present invention, the use of an adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials can be an independent purification approach or can complement the use of other purification methods, whether applied to materials comprising one or more solids, one or more liquids, or a combination of at least one solid and at least one liquid. In other processes according to the present invention, an adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials is used in addition to one or more other purification agents in the same purification procedure. It is possible.

[0050] One or more contaminants are adsorbed by adding a sorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials to the contaminated waste. In some embodiments, the sorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials remains in the material to stabilize and / or solidify the material. In other embodiments, the combination of the sorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials and the material, often along with binders and other compounds, is placed in a landfill.

[0051] As used herein, the terms "solids" and / or "solid" include, but are not limited to, soil, trash, waste, and other such materials known to those skilled in the art. Soil is the preferred solid to be treated in the practice of the present invention.

[0052] The process of the present invention is provided for reducing the environmental availability of at least a portion of one or more environmental contaminants in a solid that contains the one or more environmental contaminants. A material that is a solid may also be referred to herein as a solid material.

[0053] Adding and / or applying to the solid an adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials (a) injecting the sorbent into the solid, optionally through holes and / or wells and / or channels present in the material, whether already present or manually created, for example by drilling into the material, and / or (b) applying the adsorbent to the surface of the solid; and / or (c) combining an adsorbent with at least a portion of the surface of the solid; and / or (d) placing the adsorbent in a vacuum well where the solids are to be treated; and / or (e) adding an adsorbent to the contained solids; and / or (f) combining the adsorbent with a solid; and / or (g) adding an adsorbent to the reactive barrier; and / or (h) forming a reactive barrier containing the adsorbent.

[0054] As in (c) above, combining an adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials with a surface of a solid can be performed by combining an adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials with a portion of the solid and then applying the combination of the adsorbent and the portion of the solid to the surface of the solid, or by combining the adsorbent with the surface of the solid.

[0055] Some preferred methods for adding and / or applying the adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials to a solid include: (a) injecting the adsorbent into the solid; (b) applying the adsorbent to the surface of the solid; and / or (c) combining an adsorbent with at least a portion of the surface of the solid.

[0056] An embodiment of treating a solid to reduce the environmental availability of one or more environmental contaminants includes (i) drilling holes, wells, and / or channels in the solid; (ii) covering a surface of the solid with a layer of adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials; and (iii) heating portions of the solid to cause the one or more environmental contaminants, e.g., mercury, to migrate toward the surface having thereon the adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials.

[0057] Another embodiment of treating a solid to reduce the environmental availability of one or more environmental contaminants includes (i) drilling holes, wells, and / or channels in the solid; (ii) filling some of the holes or channels with a sorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials; and (iii) purging heated air into the holes or channels to migrate the one or more environmental contaminants, e.g., mercury, toward the holes filled with the sorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials.

[0058] In some embodiments of the present invention, a solid is heated to vaporize an environmental pollutant, such as mercury, in a vacuum well. If a sorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials is present in the vacuum well, as in (d) above, the sorbent can absorb the vaporized environmental pollutant(s). In these procedures, the sorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials is placed in the vacuum well and contacts vapors generated at one or more locations in the vacuum well before the vapors are released into the atmosphere. One application of this procedure is for soil vapor extraction (SVE) for mercury remediation, where a sorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials, particularly a sorbent comprising one or more bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and activated carbon, is placed in the vacuum well to adsorb mercury.

[0059] In certain types of solid materials, such as soil, sorbents containing one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials can be used to immobilize mercury in situ and / or ex situ treatments before or during soil stabilization and solidification (S / S). One ex situ process involves adding a sorbent containing one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials, one or more binders, and other components to the contaminated material and mixing them together in a reactor. The mixture is then stabilized and cemented or placed in a landfill. In some embodiments, a sorbent containing one or more bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and powdered activated carbon can be used in the S / S treatment process. Mercury adsorbed by a sorbent containing one or more bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and powdered activated carbon is stable during the preparation and hardening of concrete. This is advantageous because fly ash and cement are typical binders used in S / S technology.

[0060] In another embodiment of the present invention, a sorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials, particularly a sorbent comprising one or more bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and powdered activated carbon, is used to remediate mercury-contaminated soil, where the sorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials is spread over the contaminated soil. In this method, the soil is undisturbed, and the sorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials, particularly a sorbent comprising one or more bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and activated carbon, is present in the top layer of the soil, blocking mercury migration from the soil.

[0061] Adsorbents comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials, particularly adsorbents comprising one or more bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and activated carbon, can be mixed with another agent to create a mixture that improves the penetration of the adsorbents comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials into solids, particularly soil. The amount of adsorbents comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials added can be less than 10% of the top layer of soil, and the top layer of soil can be up to 10 cm thick. In some embodiments, a pH adjuster is also applied, either separately or mixed with the adsorbents comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials, and optionally with an agent that improves the penetration of the adsorbents into solids.

[0062] The process of the present invention is provided for reducing the environmental availability of at least a portion of one or more environmental contaminants in a liquid containing the one or more environmental contaminants. As used, the terms "liquid" and / or "liquids" include, but are not limited to, groundwater, wastewater, surface water, saltwater, freshwater (e.g., lakes, ponds), and other such materials known to those skilled in the art. Materials that are liquids may also be referred to herein as liquid materials.

[0063] Adding and / or applying to the liquid a sorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials (a) injecting a sorbent into the liquid, which may, if desired, be filtered to remove the sorbent used; and / or (b) applying an adsorbent to the surface of the liquid; and / or (c) combining the sorbent with a liquid; and / or (d) passing the liquid through a fixed bed containing an adsorbent; and / or (e) passing the liquid through a filter containing an adsorbent; and / or (f) pumping the liquid through a fixed bed or column containing the adsorbent; and / or (g) adding a sorbent to the volume of the contained liquid.

[0064] As in (c) above, combining the adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials with the liquid can be done by combining the adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials with the bulk liquid, or by combining the adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials with a portion of the liquid to form a slurry, and then combining the slurry with the remaining liquid.

[0065] Some materials are combinations of at least one solid and at least one liquid, including sludge, slurry, sediment, pore water (e.g., soil pore water or sediment pore water), and other combinations of solids and liquids. Sediments, soil pore water, and sediment pore water are preferred combinations to treat in the practice of the present invention. These combinations are sometimes referred to as multiphase materials. The process of the present invention is provided for reducing the environmental availability of at least a portion of one or more environmental contaminants in a combination that includes one or more environmental contaminants. Materials that are combinations are sometimes referred to herein as combination materials.

[0066] Adding and / or applying to the combination an adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials can include adding and / or applying to the combination an adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials. In such processes, adding and / or applying to the combination an adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials can include: (a) injecting the sorbent into the combination, optionally through holes and / or wells and / or channels present in the material, whether already present or manually created, for example by drilling into the combination, and / or (b) applying an adsorbent to the surface of the combination; and / or (c) combining an adsorbent with at least a portion of the surfaces of the combinations described above for solid and / or liquid materials; and / or (d) combining the adsorbent with the combination; and / or (e) placing the adsorbent in a vacuum well to process the combination in a manner similar to that described for the solid material; and / or (f) adding an adsorbent to the contained combination; and / or (g) covering the surface of the material with a layer containing an adsorbent; and / or (h) placing an adsorbent material in the cap; and / or (i) adding an adsorbent to the reactive barrier; and / or (j) forming a reactive barrier containing an adsorbent; and / or (k) disposing an adsorbent within the geotextile mat.

[0067] As in (d) above, combining an adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials with a combination can be performed by combining an adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials with a combination, or by combining an adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials with a portion of the combination to form a mixture, and then combining the mixture with the surface of the combination. In these embodiments, the adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials can include, for example, but is not limited to, one or more N-halogen compounds and activated carbon, preferably one or more bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and carbon, more preferably one or more bromine-containing N-halogen compounds and activated carbon.

[0068] Some preferred methods for adding and / or applying a sorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials to a combination include: (a) injecting a sorbent into the combination; (b) applying an adsorbent to the surface of the combination; (c) combining an adsorbent with at least a portion of the surface of the combination; and / or (d) Combining the adsorbent with the adsorbent.

[0069] As will be clear to those skilled in the art, depending on the material to be treated, many variables regarding the use of the present invention need to be considered.In all processes of the present invention, whether applied to solid, liquid, or a combination thereof, in view of the teachings herein, those skilled in the art will have the knowledge to determine the amount of adsorbent, including one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials, whether optional components are used in combination with the adsorbent, and if so, the specific optional components and their amounts that will be beneficial, the number of times the process of the present invention is applied, and the period between such applications that will be beneficial, whether the process of the present invention is used in combination with known purification methods, and if so, how to use them to obtain beneficial results.

[0070] The following examples are presented for illustrative purposes and are not intended to impose limitations on the scope of the present invention.

[0071] Example 1 An adsorbent containing 1,3-dibromodimethylhydantoin (BrDMH-PAC) was formed by dry blending 1,3-dibromodimethylhydantoin (BrDMH) and powdered activated carbon (PAC) in amounts to achieve a bromine loading of 8 wt% in the BrDMH-PAC adsorbent.

[0072] Soil samples containing elemental mercury, organic mercury, and other contaminants from the chlor-alkali process were treated with various sorbents by dry-mixing each sorbent with a portion of the soil. Each portion was mixed with water, and the resulting water was extracted as soil leachate. Each soil leachate was then sampled and analyzed. The amount of mercury present in the leachate from the treated soil was determined using an atomic absorption spectrometer equipped with a mercury vapor analyzer via cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAA; Zeeman background correction atomic absorption mercury spectrometer, Ohio Lumex Co., model number RA915+) according to USEPA Method 7473 (Mercury in Solids and Solutions). The results are summarized in Table 1. [Table 1]

[0073] Example 2 Natural freshwater sediments were collected from the northern coast of California and spiked with 100 mg of HgCl per kg of sediment. The sediments were incubated at ambient temperature under anaerobic conditions for 4 weeks to generate methylmercury, and then each sample was treated with an adsorbent. Porewater was extracted from each homogenized sediment sample by centrifuging it at 3,000 relative centrifugal force (RCF or g) for 15 minutes. The amount of methylmercury present in the sediment porewater was determined using an atomic absorption spectrometer equipped with a mercury vapor analyzer (CVAA; Atomic Absorption Mercury Spectrometer with Zeeman Background Correction, Ohio Lumex Co., Model No. RA915+) via cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry according to USEPA Method 1630 (Methyl Mercury in Water). The results are summarized in Table 2. [Table 2]

[0074] Example 3 Mercury-containing soil samples were collected from a former military installation and treated with various sorbents by dry-mixing each sorbent with a portion of the soil. A portion of each soil was then mixed with 100% water. The soil samples were mixed with enough water to reach a concentration of 1000 ppm. After a 3-day treatment period, a portion of each soil had water extracted as soil leachate in accordance with USEPA Method 1312. Total mercury in each soil leachate sample was determined by USEPA Method 1631, Rev. E (Mercury in Water by Oxidation) via cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAA; Zeeman background correction atomic absorption mercury spectrometer, Ohio Lumex Co., Model No. RA915+). The results are summarized in Table 3. [Table 3]

[0075] Further embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to, the following.

[0076] A) A process for reducing the environmental availability of at least a portion of one or more environmental contaminants in a material that contains one or more environmental contaminants, said process comprising: An adsorbent comprising: one or more N-halogen compounds containing one or more nitrogen atoms having one or more halogen atoms bonded thereto, wherein at least one of the halogen atoms bonded to the nitrogen atoms forms a hypohalite ion upon contact with water, the halogen atoms being selected from chlorine, bromine, and / or iodine, and the N-halogen compounds do not contain alkenyl or alkynyl bonds; one or more substrate materials; and adding and / or applying the adsorbent; thereby reducing the environmental availability of at least a portion of said one or more environmental contaminants in said material.

[0077] B) the adsorbent is one or more carbonaceous materials, optionally wherein the carbonaceous material is activated carbon; one or more halogenated carbonaceous materials, optionally wherein the halogenated carbonaceous material is brominated activated carbon; and / or The process of A), comprising a substrate material selected from one or more inorganic materials, optionally wherein the inorganic materials are selected from inorganic oxides, natural zeolites, inorganic carbonates, and clay minerals.

[0078] C) The process according to B), wherein the inorganic material is selected from chabazite, silica, kaolinite, and bentonite.

[0079] D) The process according to any one of A) to C), wherein the halogen atoms of the N-halogen compound include bromine atoms and / or chlorine atoms.

[0080] E) the adsorbent is an N-halogen compound and an activated carbon substrate material, wherein the halogen atom comprises a bromine atom; or an N-halogen compound and an activated carbon substrate material, wherein the halogen atoms include bromine and chlorine atoms; or The process of A) comprising an N-halogen compound and a brominated activated carbon substrate material, wherein the halogen atoms comprise bromine atoms.

[0081] F) The process described in any one of A) to E), wherein the adsorbent has a halogen content of about 0.1 to about 20 wt. % from the N-halogen compound, calculated as bromine based on the total weight of the adsorbent.

[0082] G) The process according to any one of A) to F), wherein the N-halogen compound is a halogen-containing hydantoin.

[0083] H) the halogen-containing hydantoin is 1,3-chloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, and / or 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, or The process according to G), wherein the compounds are 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin and 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

[0084] I) The process according to any one of G) to H), wherein the halogen-containing hydantoin is 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

[0085] J) the substance containing the environmental pollutant is a solid, and the adsorbent is added and / or applied to the solid; (a) injecting the adsorbent into the solid; (b) applying the adsorbent to the surface of the solid; (c) combining the adsorbent with at least a portion of the surface of the solid; (d) placing the adsorbent in a vacuum well where the solids are to be treated; (e) adding the adsorbent to the contained solids; (f) combining the adsorbent with the solid; (g) adding said adsorbent to a reactive barrier; and / or (h) forming a reactive barrier containing the adsorbent.

[0086] K) The process of claim 10, wherein the solid is soil.

[0087] L) the substance containing the environmental pollutant is a liquid, and the adsorbent is added and / or applied to the liquid; (a) injecting the sorbent into the liquid; (b) applying the adsorbent to the surface of the liquid; (c) combining the adsorbent with the liquid; (d) passing the liquid through a fixed bed containing the adsorbent; (e) passing the liquid through a filter containing the adsorbent; (f) pumping the liquid through a fixed bed or column containing the adsorbent; and / or (g) adding the adsorbent to the volume of the liquid to contain it.

[0088] M) the material containing the environmental pollutant is a combination of at least one solid and at least one liquid, and the adsorbent is added and / or applied to the combination; (a) injecting said adsorbent into said combination; (b) applying the adsorbent to a surface of the combination; (c) associating the adsorbent with at least a portion of the surface of the combination; (d) combining said adsorbent with said combination; (e) placing the adsorbent in a vacuum well in which the combination will be treated; (f) adding said adsorbent to said contained combination; (g) covering the surface of the material with a layer comprising the adsorbent; (h) disposing the adsorbent within a cap; (i) adding said adsorbent to a reactive barrier; (j) forming a reactive barrier containing the adsorbent; and / or (k) disposing the adsorbent in a geotextile mat.

[0089] N) adding and / or applying (a) injecting the adsorbent into the solid; (b) applying the adsorbent to the surface of the solid; and / or (c) combining the adsorbent with at least a portion of the surface of the solid.

[0090] O) the combination is a deposit, and the adding and / or applying (a) injecting said adsorbent into said combination; (b) applying the adsorbent to the surface of the combination; (c) combining said adsorbent with at least a portion of the surface of said combination; and / or (d) combining said adsorbent with said combination.

[0091] P) The process of A), wherein the substance is soil or sediment, and the adsorbent comprises an N-halogen compound, wherein the halogen atom comprises a bromine atom, and an activated carbon substrate material.

[0092] Q) An adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials, wherein the N-halogen compounds contain one or more nitrogen atoms having one or more halogen atoms bonded thereto, and at least one of the halogen atoms bonded to the nitrogen atoms forms a hypohalite ion upon contact with water, the halogen atoms being selected from chlorine, bromine, and / or iodine, and the N-halogen compounds do not contain an alkenyl or alkynyl bond.

[0093] R) the adsorbent is a substrate material that is activated carbon; a substrate material that is a halogenated carbonaceous material, optionally comprising: a substrate material that is a halogenated carbonaceous material, wherein the material is a halogenated activated carbon; and / or The adsorbent of Q), comprising a substrate material selected from one or more inorganic materials, optionally wherein the inorganic materials are selected from inorganic oxides, natural zeolites, inorganic carbonates, and clay minerals.

[0094] S) The adsorbent according to Q) or R), wherein the adsorbent comprises an N-halogen compound, wherein the halogen atoms are bromine and / or chlorine.

[0095] T) The adsorbent according to any one of Q) to S), wherein the N-halogen compound is a halogen-containing hydantoin.

[0096] U) the halogen-containing hydantoin is 1,3-chloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, and / or 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, or The adsorbent according to T) is 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin and 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

[0097] V) The adsorbent according to any one of T) to U), wherein the halogen-containing hydantoin is 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

[0098] W) The adsorbent according to any one of R) to V), wherein the adsorbent has a halogen content from the N-halogen compound of about 0.1 to about 20 wt. %, calculated as bromine based on the total weight of the adsorbent.

[0099] X) A process for forming an adsorbent, the process comprising combining one or more N-halogen compounds with one or more substrate materials, wherein the N-halogen compounds contain one or more nitrogen atoms having one or more halogen atoms bonded thereto, and at least one of the halogen atoms bonded to the nitrogen atoms forms a hypohalite ion upon contact with water, the halogen atoms being selected from chlorine, bromine, and / or iodine, and the N-halogen compounds do not contain alkenyl or alkynyl bonds, to form the adsorbent.

[0100] Y) the adsorbent is a substrate material that is activated carbon; a substrate material that is a halogenated carbonaceous material, optionally wherein the halogenated carbonaceous material is a halogenated activated carbon; and / or X), comprising a substrate material selected from one or more inorganic materials, optionally wherein the inorganic materials are selected from inorganic oxides, natural zeolites, inorganic carbonates, and clay minerals.

[0101] Z) The process according to X) or Y), wherein the N-halogen compound contains halogen atoms which are bromine and / or chlorine.

[0102] AA) The process described in any one of X) to Z), wherein the N-halogen compound is a halogen-containing hydantoin.

[0103] AB) the halogen-containing hydantoin is 1,3-chloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, and / or 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, or The process according to AA), wherein the hydroxyl group is 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin and / or 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

[0104] AC) The process according to any one of AA) to AB), wherein the halogen-containing hydantoin is 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

[0105] AD) The process of any one of X) to AD), wherein the adsorbent has a halogen content of about 0.1 to about 20 wt. % from the N-halogen compound, calculated as bromine based on the total weight of the adsorbent.

[0106] AE) An adsorbent comprising one or more halogen-containing hydantoins and one or more substrate materials, wherein the halogen-containing hydantoins comprise one or more halogen atoms bonded to one or more nitrogen atoms, the halogen atoms being selected from chlorine, bromine, and / or iodine.

[0107] AF) The adsorbent of AE), wherein the substrate material is selected from one or more carbonaceous materials, one or more halogenated carbonaceous materials, and / or one or more inorganic materials.

[0108] AG) The adsorbent of AF), wherein the carbonaceous material is activated carbon, the halogenated carbonaceous material is halogenated activated carbon, and the inorganic material is selected from inorganic oxides, natural zeolites, inorganic carbonates, and clay minerals.

[0109] AH) The adsorbent according to any one of AE) to AG), wherein the halogen-containing hydantoin is 1,3-chloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, and / or 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

[0110] AI) The adsorbent according to AH), wherein the halogen-containing hydantoin is 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

[0111] Any component referred to by chemical name or formula in this specification or any of the claims herein, whether referred to in the singular or plural, is identified as being present prior to contact with another substance referred to by its chemical name or chemical type (e.g., another component, solvent, etc.). It does not matter what chemical change, transformation, and / or reaction, if any, occurs in the resulting mixture or solution, because such change, transformation, and / or reaction is a natural result of bringing the specified components together under the conditions required in accordance with this disclosure. The component is therefore identified as a component that is brought together in connection with performing a desired operation or forming a desired composition. Additionally, the claims herein, even when referring to a substance, component, and / or ingredient in the present tense (e.g., "comprising," "being," etc.), refer to the substance, component, or ingredient as it existed immediately prior to its initial contact, blending, or mixing with one or more other substances, components, and / or ingredients in accordance with this disclosure. Thus, there is no substantial concern about the fact that substances, components, or ingredients may have lost their original identity due to chemical reaction or transformation during the course of the contacting, blending, or mixing operation, when performed in accordance with this disclosure and the ordinary skill of a chemist.

[0112] The present invention may comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the materials and / or procedures recited herein.

[0113] As used herein, the term "about" modifying the amount of a component in a composition or used in a method of the present invention refers to variations in the numerical amount that may occur due, for example, to typical measuring and liquid handling procedures used to prepare concentrates or use solutions in the real world, inadvertent errors in these procedures, differences in the manufacture, source, or purity of components used to prepare the composition or practice the method, etc. The term "about" also encompasses amounts that differ due to different equilibrium conditions of the composition resulting from a particular initial mixture. Whether or not modified by the term "about," the claims include equivalents of the amount.

[0114] Unless expressly indicated otherwise, the article "a" or "an," as used herein, is not intended to, and should not be construed as, limiting the description or claims to the single element referred to by the article. Rather, the article "a" or "an," as used herein, is intended to cover one or more such elements, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0115] This invention is susceptible to considerable variation in its practice. Therefore, the foregoing description is not intended to limit, and should not be construed as limiting, the invention to the particular exemplifications presented hereinabove.

Claims

1. 1. A process for reducing the environmental availability of at least a portion of one or more environmental contaminants in a material that contains one or more environmental contaminants, said process comprising: An adsorbent comprising: one or more N-halogen compounds containing one or more nitrogen atoms having one or more halogen atoms bonded thereto, wherein at least one of the halogen atoms bonded to the nitrogen atoms forms a hypohalite ion upon contact with water, the halogen atoms being selected from chlorine, bromine, and / or iodine, and the N-halogen compounds do not contain alkenyl or alkynyl bonds; one or more substrate materials; thereby reducing the environmental availability of at least a portion of said one or more environmental contaminants in said material.

2. The adsorbent is one or more carbonaceous materials, optionally wherein the carbonaceous material is activated carbon; one or more halogenated carbonaceous materials, optionally wherein the halogenated carbonaceous material is brominated activated carbon; and / or one or more inorganic materials, optionally wherein said inorganic materials are selected from inorganic oxides, natural zeolites, inorganic carbonates, and clay minerals; The process of claim 1 , comprising a substrate material selected from:

3. 3. The process of claim 2, wherein the inorganic material is selected from chabazite, silica, kaolinite, and bentonite.

4. The process of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the halogen atoms of the N-halogen compound comprise bromine atoms and / or chlorine atoms.

5. The adsorbent is an N-halogen compound and an activated carbon substrate material, wherein the halogen atom comprises a bromine atom; or an N-halogen compound and an activated carbon substrate material, wherein the halogen atoms include bromine and chlorine atoms; or an N-halogen compound and a brominated activated carbon substrate material, wherein the halogen atom comprises a bromine atom; 2. The process of claim 1, comprising:

6. 6. The process of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the adsorbent has a halogen content of from about 0.1 to about 20 wt. % from the N-halogen compound, calculated as bromine based on the total weight of the adsorbent.

7. The process of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the N-halogen compound is a halogen-containing hydantoin.

8. The halogen-containing hydantoin is 1,3-chloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, and / or 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, or 8. The process of claim 7, wherein the hydroxybenzoates are 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin and 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

9. The process of any of claims 7 to 8, wherein the halogen-containing hydantoin is 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

10. the material containing the environmental pollutant is a solid, and adding and / or applying the adsorbent to the solid (a) injecting the adsorbent into the solid; (b) applying the adsorbent to the surface of the solid; (c) combining the adsorbent with at least a portion of the surface of the solid; (d) placing the adsorbent in a vacuum well in which the solids are to be treated; (e) adding the adsorbent to the contained solids; (f) combining the adsorbent with the solid; (g) adding said adsorbent to a reactive barrier; and / or 10. The process of any of claims 1 to 9, comprising: (h) forming a reactive barrier containing said adsorbent.

11. The process of claim 10, wherein the solid is soil.

12. the substance containing the environmental pollutant is a liquid, and adding and / or applying the adsorbent to the liquid (a) injecting the adsorbent into the liquid; (b) applying the adsorbent to the surface of the liquid; (c) combining the adsorbent with the liquid; (d) passing the liquid through a fixed bed containing the adsorbent; (e) passing the liquid through a filter containing the adsorbent; (f) pumping the liquid through a fixed bed or column containing the adsorbent; and / or 10. The process of any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising: (g) adding the adsorbent to the volume of the liquid to be contained.

13. the material containing the environmental pollutant is a combination of at least one solid and at least one liquid, and adding and / or applying the adsorbent to the combination; (a) injecting said adsorbent into said combination; (b) applying the adsorbent to a surface of the combination; (c) associating the adsorbent with at least a portion of the surface of the combination; (d) combining said adsorbent with said combination; (e) placing the adsorbent in a vacuum well in which the combination will be treated; (f) adding said adsorbent to said contained combination; (g) coating the surface of the material with a layer comprising the adsorbent; (h) disposing the adsorbent within a cap; (i) adding the adsorbent to a reactive barrier; (j) forming a reactive barrier containing said adsorbent; and / or (k) disposing the adsorbent within a geotextile mat; The process according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising:

14. said adding and / or said applying (a) injecting the adsorbent into the solid; (b) applying the adsorbent to the surface of the solid; and / or (c) combining the adsorbent with at least a portion of the surface of the solid; 14. The process of claim 13, comprising:

15. the combination is a deposit, and the adding and / or applying (a) injecting said adsorbent into said combination; (b) applying the adsorbent to the surface of the combination; (c) combining said adsorbent with at least a portion of the surface of said combination; and / or (d) combining said adsorbent with said combination; 14. The process of claim 13, comprising:

16. 10. The process of claim 1, wherein the substance is soil or sediment and the adsorbent comprises an N-halogen compound, wherein the halogen atom comprises a bromine atom, and an activated carbon substrate material.

17. 1. An adsorbent comprising one or more N-halogen compounds and one or more substrate materials, wherein the N-halogen compounds contain one or more nitrogen atoms having one or more halogen atoms bonded thereto, wherein at least one of the halogen atoms bonded to the nitrogen atoms forms a hypohalite ion upon contact with water, the halogen atoms being selected from chlorine, bromine, and / or iodine, and the N-halogen compounds do not contain alkenyl or alkynyl bonds.

18. The adsorbent is a substrate material that is activated carbon; a substrate material that is a halogenated carbonaceous material, optionally wherein the halogenated carbonaceous material is a halogenated activated carbon; and / or 20. The adsorbent of claim 17, comprising a substrate material selected from one or more inorganic materials, optionally wherein the inorganic materials are selected from inorganic oxides, natural zeolites, inorganic carbonates, and clay minerals.

19. 19. The adsorbent of claim 17 or 18, wherein the adsorbent comprises an N-halogen compound, wherein the halogen atoms are bromine and / or chlorine.

20. The adsorbent according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the N-halogen compound is a halogen-containing hydantoin.

21. The halogen-containing hydantoin is 1,3-chloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, and / or 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, or The adsorbent of claim 20, which is 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin and 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

22. The adsorbent according to any one of claims 20 to 21, wherein the halogen-containing hydantoin is 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

23. 23. The adsorbent of any of claims 18 to 22, wherein the adsorbent has a halogen content of from about 0.1 to about 20 wt. % from the N-halogen compound, calculated as bromine based on the total weight of the adsorbent.

24. A process for forming an adsorbent, the process comprising combining one or more N-halogen compounds with one or more substrate materials, the N-halogen compounds containing one or more nitrogen atoms having one or more halogen atoms bonded thereto, wherein at least one of said halogen atoms bonded to said N-halogen compound forms a hypohalite ion upon contact with water, said halogen atom being selected from chlorine, bromine, and / or iodine, and said N-halogen compound does not contain an alkenyl or alkynyl bond to form said adsorbent.

25. The adsorbent is a substrate material that is activated carbon; a substrate material that is a halogenated carbonaceous material, optionally wherein the halogenated carbonaceous material is a halogenated activated carbon; and / or a substrate material selected from one or more inorganic materials, optionally wherein said inorganic materials are selected from inorganic oxides, natural zeolites, inorganic carbonates, and clay minerals; 25. The process of claim 24, comprising:

26. 26. The process of claim 24 or 25, wherein the N-halogen compound contains halogen atoms which are bromine and / or chlorine.

27. The process of any one of claims 24 to 26, wherein the N-halogen compound is a halogen-containing hydantoin.

28. The halogen-containing hydantoin is 1,3-chloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, and / or 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, or 28. The process of claim 27, wherein the hydroxyl group is 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin and / or 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

29. 29. The process of any of claims 27 to 28, wherein the halogen-containing hydantoin is 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

30. 30. The process of any of claims 24-29, wherein the adsorbent has a halogen content of from about 0.1 to about 20 wt. % from the N-halogen compound, calculated as bromine based on the total weight of the adsorbent.

31. 1. An adsorbent comprising one or more halogen-containing hydantoins and one or more substrate materials, wherein the halogen-containing hydantoins comprise one or more halogen atoms bonded to one or more nitrogen atoms, the halogen atoms being selected from chlorine, bromine, and / or iodine.

32. 32. The adsorbent of claim 31, wherein the substrate material is selected from one or more carbonaceous materials, one or more halogenated carbonaceous materials, and / or one or more inorganic materials.

33. 33. The adsorbent of claim 32, wherein the carbonaceous material is activated carbon, the halogenated carbonaceous material is halogenated activated carbon, and the inorganic material is selected from inorganic oxides, natural zeolites, inorganic carbonates, and clay minerals.

34. The adsorbent according to any one of claims 31 to 33, wherein the halogen-containing hydantoin is 1,3-chloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, and / or 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

35. 35. The adsorbent of claim 34, wherein the halogen-containing hydantoin is 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

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