Process for reducing the environmental effectiveness of environmental pollutants

Abstract

The invention provides a process for reducing the environmental effectiveness of one or more environmental pollutants in a solid, a liquid, and a combination of a solid and a liquid.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the remediation of environmental pollutants to reduce their environmental effectiveness. Background Technology

[0002] Many pollutants are known to be toxic to humans and the environment. One of these known environmental pollutants (mercury) has been classified as a priority hazardous substance by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) of the U.S. Health and Human Services Department. The U.S. National Priorities List (NPL), maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), lists numerous sites contaminated with mercury. These sites contain a variety of contaminant substances, including solids (such as soil, debris, and waste), liquids (such as groundwater, lakes, and ponds), and combinations of solids and liquids (such as sludge, slurry, and sediment). Most of these sites have not yet been decontaminated to remove mercury. Unacceptable levels of mercury or mercury compounds may also be present at sites not listed in the USNPL. Environmental pollutants other than mercury have also raised similar concerns.

[0003] Mercury contamination can originate from a variety of sources, such as mining and ore processing, chlor-alkali plants, and battery manufacturing processes. Numerous landfills are also contaminated with mercury-containing waste. Furthermore, mercury contaminants often exist in multiple forms at the same site, including metallic mercury, organomercury compounds, and inorganic mercury compounds. Different forms of mercury and / or different substances often require different treatment methods.

[0004] Mercury-contaminated materials may also contain a variety of other environmental pollutants. For example, some materials are also contaminated with organic matter and / or other heavy metals, and these other environmental pollutants pose similar challenges. Therefore, reducing the environmental effectiveness of environmental pollutants at any given site is technically challenging and costly, depending on the contaminated material, its state, the type of waste, the form of mercury, and the presence of other pollutants or environmental contaminants. Reducing the environmental effectiveness of environmental pollutants, and consequently their bioavailability and thus their bioaccumulation (especially in materials such as soil, groundwater, sediments, and slurries), is of particular interest.

[0005] Currently, commercial remediation processes applied to soil and other solids include stabilization / solidification, washing, thermal desorption, and vitrification. Processes applied to water and other liquids include sedimentation / co-precipitation, adsorption, filtration, and bioremediation. Processes applied to sediments and other combinations of solids and liquids include in-situ capping, dredging / excavation, combinations of these approaches, and Monitored Natural Recovery (MNR) and enhanced Monitored Natural Recovery (EMNR). Monitored Natural Recovery relies on natural processes to protect the environment and receptors from unacceptable contaminant exposure, while enhanced MNR applies materials or modifiers to enhance the natural recovery process (such as adding a thin capping layer or reactive modifiers, such as carbon). These remediation technologies offer benefits in controlling the environmental impacts of pollutants, including human health and ecological risks, but they also have limitations.

[0006] Another factor to consider for some remediation techniques is the tendency of environmental contaminants to migrate (or leach) from their location after being isolated or stabilized. The USEPA also regulates this and has developed the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP), a test designed to determine the migration rates of organic and inorganic analytes present in liquid, solid, and multiphase wastes.

[0007] Before a technology is selected for remediation of an actual contaminated site, complex laboratory-scale and pilot-scale studies and screening tests must be conducted to evaluate the technology and determine its suitability. Furthermore, the variability of each site makes the remediation of mercury and other environmental pollutants extremely expensive and time-consuming. Therefore, new and more commercially attractive processes are needed to reduce the environmental and bioavailability of environmental pollutants in solids, liquids, and combinations thereof. Summary of the Invention

[0008] This invention provides a process for reducing the environmental effectiveness of at least a portion of one or more environmental pollutants in a substance containing one or more environmental pollutants. The benefit of this process is the reduction of the environmental effectiveness of toxic environmental pollutants in the substance. Such toxic pollutants include mercury and methylmercury, as well as heavy metals and ecotoxicological organic substances.

[0009] The advantage provided by the process of this invention is that by reducing the environmental effectiveness of environmental pollutants in a substance, it also reduces the bioavailability and bioaccumulation of such pollutants.

[0010] The process of the present invention can be used as the sole process for reducing the environmental effectiveness and / or presence of environmental pollutants (e.g., mercury) in a substance, or can be used to supplement and / or enhance the reduction of the environmental effectiveness and / or amount of such environmental pollutants in a substance that can be achieved by existing technologies.

[0011] An embodiment of the present invention is a process for reducing the environmental effectiveness of at least a portion of one or more environmental pollutants in a substance containing one or more environmental pollutants. The process includes adding and / or applying a halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the substance. The adsorbent comprises sulfur, one or more halogens selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and / or iodine, and one or more substrate materials. The halogen in the adsorbent originates from a source selected from elemental halogens, hydrohalic acids, alkali metal halides, alkaline earth metal halides, and ammonium halides. Adding and / or applying a halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to a pollutant-containing substance reduces the environmental effectiveness of at least a portion of one or more environmental pollutants in the substance.

[0012] Another embodiment of the present invention is an adsorbent containing halogens and sulfur.

[0013] These and other embodiments and features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and the appended claims. Detailed Implementation

[0014] This invention provides a process for reducing the environmental effectiveness of environmental pollutants. As used throughout this document, "reducing environmental effectiveness" refers to stabilizing, immobilizing, fixing, encapsulating, separating, containing, destroying, detoxifying, decomposing, and decomposing at least one environmental pollutant, reducing the amount of at least one environmental pollutant, reducing the mobility of at least one environmental pollutant, and / or reducing the migration capacity of at least one environmental pollutant. Stabilization and / or immobilization can be carried out in a medium. Reducing the environmental effectiveness of environmental pollutants further reduces the bioavailability of pollutants, thereby reducing their bioaccumulation.

[0015] As used herein, the terms "environmental pollutant" and "environmental pollutants" refer to a chemical element or its compounds or mixtures that are known to be harmful to humans and / or have an impact on the environment (ecosystem). Environmental pollutants are typically regulated by one or more government agencies. Examples of environmental pollutants include mercury in all forms, such as elemental mercury, organomercury compounds, and inorganic mercury compounds; other organic substances (including, for example, but not limited to, hydrophobic organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, furans, and / or chlorinated pesticides); hazardous elements, organic and inorganic heavy metal compounds (including, for example, but not limited to, compounds containing As, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, and / or Cd); and other environmental pollutants known to those skilled in the art.

[0016] As used throughout this document, terms such as “treated,” “contacted,” and “remedial” indicate that halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbents interact with substances containing one or more environmental pollutants in a manner that reduces the environmental effectiveness of one or more environmental pollutants.

[0017] The remedial agent used in this invention is a halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbent. Halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbents are typically formed from one or more sulfur compounds, one or more halogenated compounds, and one or more substrate materials. Many substrate materials (especially activated carbon) can be used or obtained from a wide variety of particle sizes ranging from nanometers to centimeters.

[0018] The substrate materials include carbonaceous and inorganic materials; these substrate materials are non-oxidizing. Suitable carbonaceous materials include, for example, but 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, for example, but not limited to, powdered, granular, or extruded forms; and has a high specific surface area. Powdered activated carbon is a particularly preferred form of activated carbon.

[0019] Suitable inorganic materials include inorganic oxides such as alumina (amorphous and crystalline), silica, magnesium oxide, and titanium dioxide; natural zeolites such as chabazite, clinoptilolite, and octahedralite; synthetic zeolites such as synthetic chabazite, zeolites with a high Si:Al ratio (ZSM-5, β-zeolite, sodalite), zeolites with a medium Si:Al ratio (Y-zeolite, A-zeolite), silica alumina phosphate (SAPO) zeolites, ion-exchange zeolites, uncalcined zeolites, and clay minerals (such as kaolinite, kaolinite, bentonite, and montmorillonite); synthetic clays such as synthetic lithium saponite, saponite, zinc montmorillonite, stevensite, kaolinite, and lithium montmorillonite; and organoclays such as montmorillonite treated with trimethylstearylammonium salt, dimethyl dialkyl (C 14 -C 18 Ammonium salts, methyl dihydroxyethyl ammonium salts, and hydrogenated tallow ammonium salts, as well as aminopropyltriethoxysilane and octadecylamine; bentonite, lithium montmorillonite, lithium montmorillonite, and silicomagnesia treated with quaternary ammonium salts; and zeolites treated with N,N,N-trimethyl-1-hexadecylamineonium chloride; inorganic hydroxides, such as ferric hydroxide; mixed metal oxides, such as hydrotalcite and metallized double-layer clay; diatomaceous earth; cement dust; hydrotreating catalysts, including those on a substrate (such as alumina, silica, or titanium dioxide); CaCO3; and combinations of any two or more of the above. Preferred inorganic materials include inorganic oxides (especially silica), natural zeolites (especially chalcogenide), and clay minerals (especially kaolinite and bentonite); CaCO3 is also a preferred substrate material.

[0020] The halogen element in a halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent can be fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, or a mixture of any two or more halogens. Bromine is a preferred halogen. The halogen in the adsorbent originates from sources selected from elemental halogens, hydrohalic acids, alkali metal halides, alkaline earth metal halides, and ammonium halides. Suitable halogen-containing compounds include, for example, but not limited to, elemental iodine and / or iodine compounds, elemental bromine and / or bromine compounds, elemental chlorine and / or chlorine compounds, elemental fluorine and / or fluorine compounds, and other suitable halogen compounds as known to those skilled in the art. Types of halogen-containing compounds that can be used include hydrohalic acids, alkali metal halides, alkaline earth metal halides, and ammonium halides.

[0021] Hydrogen halides include hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide, and hydrogen iodide. Alkali metal halides include sodium fluoride, sodium chloride, sodium bromide, sodium iodide, potassium fluoride, potassium chloride, potassium bromide, and potassium iodide. Alkali earth metal halides include magnesium fluoride, magnesium chloride, magnesium bromide, magnesium iodide, calcium fluoride, calcium chloride, calcium bromide, and calcium iodide. Ammonium halides include ammonium fluoride, ammonium chloride, ammonium bromide, and ammonium iodide.

[0022] Preferred halogenated compounds depend on which halogen is combined with the substrate and include elemental bromine, hydrogen bromide, sodium chloride, sodium bromide, potassium iodide, and calcium bromide. Bromine-containing compounds are preferred halogenated compounds; hydrogen bromide and elemental bromine are more preferred, especially elemental bromine.

[0023] As used throughout this document, the term "sulfur source" refers to elemental sulfur and / or one or more sulfur compounds. Suitable sulfur sources include elemental sulfur (α, β, γ, and amorphous forms) and sulfur compounds. Suitable sulfur compounds include carbon disulfide, thioamides (such as thioacetamide), and polymeric organosulfur compounds (such as polythiocarbonate).

[0024] Sulfide salts (sulfur salts) are sulfur compounds that serve as suitable sulfur sources in the practice of this invention. Counterions to sulfide salts can be cations of alkali metals (e.g., lithium, sodium, potassium, cesium), alkaline earth metals (e.g., magnesium, calcium, barium), ammonium, and zinc. Suitable sulfur-containing ions include thiosulfate, pyrosulfite, pyrosulfite, sulfite, bisulfite, sulfate, hydrogen sulfate, sulfides, hydrosulfides, dithiocarbomate, mes-triazine trithiolate, etc.

[0025] The sulfur source can be anhydrous or hydrated; anhydrous sulfur sources are not essential in the practice of this invention. Preferred sulfur sources include elemental sulfur and sulfide-containing salts. Preferred sulfide-containing ions are sulfides, hydrosulfides, and polysulfides; preferred counterions are alkali metal cations. More preferred sulfur sources are elemental sulfur, sodium sulfide, and sodium hydrosulfide, especially elemental sulfur. In the practice of this invention, sulfur halides (such as sulfur dibromide and sulfur chloride) are not used as sulfur sources.

[0026] Sulfur sources can typically be used in solid, solution, or gaseous form; due to its relatively low boiling point, carbon disulfide is conveniently used in liquid or gaseous form. Solutions are typically aqueous solutions. The concentration of sulfur-containing solutions is typically about 0.2 wt% or higher, usually in the range of about 0.2 wt% to about 10 wt%, and preferably in the range of about 0.5 wt% to about 5 wt%. These concentrations refer to the amount of sulfur in the solution, not the amount of the compound. Mixtures of two or more sulfur sources can be used; typically, such mixtures are in the same form (e.g., solid or solution). Preferred sulfur sources include elemental sulfur.

[0027] To achieve the desired amount of sulfur in a halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbent, a certain amount of a sulfur source containing an appropriate amount of sulfur is combined with a halogenated compound and a substrate material. For example, to form a halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbent with 5 wt% sulfur, the weights of the sulfur source, halogenated compound, and substrate material are added together; when the amount of sulfur in the sulfur source is 5% of the total weight, a halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbent with approximately 5 wt% sulfur is formed, because all the sulfur from the sulfur source is typically incorporated into the halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbent.

[0028] The amount (or sulfur content) of sulfur in the adsorbent is typically in the range of about 0.1 wt% to about 10 wt% relative to the total weight of the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent, preferably in the range of about 0.5 wt% to about 7.5 wt%, more preferably about 2 wt% to about 5 wt%, and still more preferably about 2.5 wt% to about 4 wt%.

[0029] In halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents, the atomic ratio of sulfur to halogen is preferably in the range of about 0.25:1 to about 1:3, more preferably about 0.5:1 to about 1:2.5, and still more preferably about 1:1 to about 1:2.

[0030] Halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents can be made from a substrate material, a sulfur source, and a halogen-containing compound, as described in International Patent Publication No. WO 2012 / 071206. The components can be mixed simultaneously or sequentially. When mixing is sequential, the substrate material is typically mixed with the sulfur source, and then mixed with the halogen-containing compound.

[0031] Some halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents used in the compositions of the present invention are formed by a process comprising: contacting a halogen-containing compound with a substrate material to form a halogen-containing substrate material; and contacting the halogen-containing substrate material with a sulfur source to form a halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent. In a variation of this process, a pre-formed halogen-containing substrate material (e.g., a bromine-containing carbonaceous material) is contacted with a sulfur source to form a halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent. Other halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents used in the compositions of the present invention are formed by: contacting a halogen-containing compound with a sulfur source to form a halogen-sulfur mixture; and contacting the halogen-sulfur mixture with a substrate material to form a halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent. The substrate material, halogen, halogen-containing compound, sulfur source, and their amounts and preferences are as described above.

[0032] Contact between the sulfur source and the substrate material can be carried out at ambient temperature (e.g., from about 20°C to about 25°C), or, preferably, the contact can be carried out under heating, preferably at one or more temperatures in the range of from about 75°C to about 700°C, more preferably from about 100°C to about 600°C, and still more preferably from about 100°C to about 200°C. Heating the sulfur source in contact with the substrate material is recommended and preferred, regardless of whether the halogenated compound has been combined with the substrate material.

[0033] When the halogenated compound and the adsorbent material are contacted before contacting the sulfur-containing compound, the contact can be as described in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,953,494 and 9,101,907. In some embodiments, the preferred halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbent is a bromine- and sulfur-containing adsorbent. In some embodiments, the preferred halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbent is an adsorbent in which the substrate material is activated carbon. In other embodiments, the preferred halogenated and sulfur-containing activated carbon is chlorine- and sulfur-containing activated carbon, bromine- and sulfur-containing activated carbon, and iodine- and sulfur-containing activated carbon. In a preferred embodiment, the halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbent is chlorine- and sulfur-containing activated carbon and bromine- and sulfur-containing activated carbon. In a more preferred embodiment, the halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbent is bromine- and sulfur-containing activated carbon.

[0034] In other embodiments, preferred halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents are chlorine- and sulfur-containing activated carbon and iodine- and sulfur-containing activated carbon. In still other embodiments, preferred halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents are chalcogenite, bentonite, kaolinite, and silica.

[0035] In another embodiment, preferred halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents include bromine- and sulfur-containing silica, bromine- and sulfur-containing kaolinite, and bromine- and sulfur-containing bentonite.

[0036] The amount of halogen (or halogen content) in the adsorbent relative to the total weight of the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent is generally equivalent to the total bromine content (or calculated as bromine) in the range of about 0.1 wt% to about 20 wt%, preferably equivalent to the total bromine content in the range of about 0.5 wt% to about 15 wt%, more preferably about 2 wt% to about 12 wt%, and still more preferably about 3 wt% to about 8 wt%.

[0037] Unless otherwise stated, phrases such as “as bromine,” “reported as bromine,” “calculated as bromine,” and similar phrases for halogens, as used throughout this document, refer to the amount of halogen, where the value is calculated against bromine. For example, elemental fluorine may be used, but the amount of halogen in halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents is expressed as a value against bromine.

[0038] The amount of sulfur in the adsorbent is typically in the range of about 0.1 wt% to about 15 wt% relative to the total weight of the halogen-containing and sulfur-containing adsorbent, preferably in the range of about 0.5 wt% to about 10 wt%, more preferably in the range of about 1 wt% to about 5 wt%.

[0039] The bromine- and sulfur-containing activated carbon suitable for use in the process of this invention can have a wide variety of particle sizes and distributions ranging from nanometers to centimeters; and can be formed in the form of activated carbon, including, for example, but not limited to, powder, granules or extrusion; high specific surface area, a variety of unique pore structures; and other features familiar to those skilled in the art.

[0040] Halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbents (especially bromine- and sulfur-containing adsorbents, and more particularly bromine- and sulfur-containing activated carbon) can reduce the environmental effectiveness of pollutants in a substance by means including, but not limited to, oxidation and / or adsorption. Adsorption can reduce the environmental effectiveness of such pollutants by reducing the mobility of environmental pollutants. Other ways in which halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbents can reduce the environmental effectiveness of pollutants are by enhancing the degradation of such pollutants via surface reactions; and / or by inhibiting the formation of pollutants (such as methylmercury); and / or by other mechanisms. In the process of the present invention, whether applied to a solid, a liquid, or a combination thereof, environmental pollutants adsorbed by halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbents are stabilized, thereby substantially minimizing the amount desorbed into the environment.

[0041] Mercury and other environmental pollutants can be effectively removed by halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents (especially bromine- and sulfur-containing activated carbon). Different halogen species can form on halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents (especially bromine- and sulfur-containing adsorbents, particularly bromine- and sulfur-containing activated carbon). For example, bromine (one type of bromine) can oxidize elemental mercury to form mercuric bromide.

[0042] Some halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbents (especially bromine- and sulfur-containing activated carbon) capture mercury and allow for the physical and / or chemical adsorption of mercury in different oxidation states, including elemental mercury, oxidized mercury, and organic mercury. Mercury captured by halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbents is stable over a wide pH range, where "stable" means that the mercury is not released from the halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbent in a significant amount after capture.

[0043] The halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbents used in the process of this invention can be combined with other optional components such as: pH buffers (including, for example, but not limited to, carbonates and phosphates); carriers (including, for example, but not limited to, sand and mud); binders (including, for example, but not limited to, mud, clay and polymers); and / or other additives (including, for example, but not limited to, iron compounds and sulfur compounds).

[0044] In the practice of this invention, halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents can be used in various forms, including as dry adsorbents or in combination with suitable fluids, such as in the form of slurries. As used herein, the term "suitable fluid" refers to fluids such as water and other fluids. Those skilled in the art, in view of the teachings of this disclosure, will recognize the knowledge of selecting suitable fluids, as the selection depends on variables such as the composition of the substance and the composition of environmental pollutants present in the substance.

[0045] Some treatments of materials can be carried out in situ and ex-situ.

[0046] Thermal desorption and dry distillation are two common ex-situ thermal treatment methods for mercury remediation. This technique heats the contaminated medium to cause mercury to volatilize, and then condenses the vapor into liquid elemental mercury. Activated carbon containing bromine and sulfur can be used to adsorb mercury as an alternative to liquid mercury condensers, or to remove mercury from exhaust gases emitted from condensers.

[0047] In some applications, halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents will remain in or with the substance. In other applications, halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents can be collected after use. When halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents are collected after use, they can be disposed of, regenerated, or reused.

[0048] A substance containing one or more environmental pollutants is a solid, a liquid, a combination of solids and liquids, or a combination of one or more solids and one or more liquids. When the substance is a solid, it may contain more than one type of solid. When the substance is a liquid, it may contain more than one type of liquid.

[0049] In some processes of the present invention, the use of halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents can be an independent remediation pathway or a supplement to other remediation methods, regardless of whether they are applied to a substance 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, halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents may be used in the same remediation procedure, in addition to one or more other remediation agents.

[0050] Adding halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbents to contaminated waste adsorbs one or more pollutants. In some embodiments, the halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbents are retained in the substance to stabilize and / or solidify it. In other embodiments, the combined halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbents and substances are often placed in landfills along with binders and other compounds.

[0051] As used herein, the term "solid and / or solids" includes, but is not limited to, soil, debris, waste, and other such substances known to those skilled in the art. Soil is the preferred solid to be treated in the practice of this invention. The processes provided in this invention are for reducing the environmental effectiveness of at least a portion of one or more environmental pollutants in a solid containing one or more environmental pollutants. Substances that are solids are sometimes referred to herein as solid matter.

[0052] Adding and / or applying halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents to solids may include:

[0053] (a) Injecting a halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent into a solid, optionally through pores and / or wells and / or channels present in the material (whether existing or artificially created, e.g., by drilling holes in the material); and / or

[0054] (b) Applying a halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the surface of a solid; and / or

[0055] (c) Combining a halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent with at least a portion of the surface of a solid; and / or

[0056] (d) Placing a halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent in a vacuum well for treating the solid; and / or

[0057] (e) Adding halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents to the contained solids; and / or

[0058] (f) Combining halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbents with solids; and / or

[0059] (g) Adding halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents to the reaction barrier; and / or

[0060] (h) Formation of a reaction barrier containing halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbents.

[0061] As described in (c) above, combining a halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbent with a solid surface can be done by combining the halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbent with a portion of the solid and then applying the combination of the halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbent and the solid to the solid surface, or by combining the halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbent with the solid surface.

[0062] Some preferred methods for adding and / or applying halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents to solids are:

[0063] (a) Injecting a halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent into the solid;

[0064] (b) Applying a halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the surface of the solid; and / or

[0065] (c) Combining a halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent with at least a portion of the surface of the solid.

[0066] An implementation of treating a solid to reduce the environmental effectiveness of one or more environmental pollutants involves (i) drilling holes, wells and / or channels in the solid, (ii) covering the surface of the solid with a layer of halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent, and (iii) heating portions of the solid to cause one or more environmental pollutants (e.g., mercury) to migrate toward the surface thereon with the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent.

[0067] Another embodiment of treating solids to reduce the environmental effectiveness of one or more environmental pollutants involves (i) drilling holes, wells and / or channels in the solid, (ii) filling some of the holes or channels with an adsorbent containing halogens and sulfur, and (iii) purging heated air into the holes or channels to cause one or more environmental pollutants (e.g., mercury) to migrate into the holes filled with the adsorbent containing halogens and sulfur.

[0068] In some embodiments of the invention, a solid is heated in a vacuum well to vaporize an environmental contaminant (e.g., mercury); when a halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbent, as described in (d) above, is present in the vacuum well, the adsorbent can absorb one or more vaporized environmental contaminants. In these procedures, the halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbent is placed in the vacuum well and contacted with the vapor at one or more locations before the vapor generated in the vacuum well is released into the atmosphere. One application of this procedure is for soil vapor extraction (SVE) for mercury remediation, and halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbents (especially bromine- and sulfur-containing activated carbon) can be placed in a vacuum well to adsorb mercury.

[0069] In certain types of solid materials (soil), halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbents can be used to immobilize mercury before or during stabilization and solidification (S / S) treatments in in-situ and / or ex-situ soil. One ex-situ process involves adding a halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbent, 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, bromine- and sulfur-containing powdered activated carbon can be used in the S / S treatment process. Mercury adsorbed by bromine- and sulfur-containing powdered activated carbon is stabilized during the manufacture and curing of concrete. This is advantageous because fly ash and cement are typical binders used in S / S technologies.

[0070] In another embodiment of the invention, where halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents (especially powdered activated carbon containing bromine and sulfur) are used as remediation agents for mercury-contaminated soil, the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent is spread on top of the contaminated soil. In this method, the soil remains undisturbed, and the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents (especially powdered activated carbon containing bromine and sulfur) are present in the top layer of soil and inhibit the migration of mercury from the soil.

[0071] Halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbents (especially bromine- and sulfur-containing activated carbon) can be mixed with another agent to produce a mixture that improves the permeation of the halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbent into solids (especially soil). The amount of halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbent added can be less than 10% of the topsoil layer, and the topsoil layer can be up to 10 cm thick. In some embodiments, a pH adjuster is also applied, which can be applied alone or in mixture with the halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbent, optionally together with an agent that improves the permeation of the halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbent into solids.

[0072] The provided process of the present invention is for reducing the environmental effectiveness of at least a portion of one or more environmental pollutants in a liquid containing one or more environmental pollutants. As used herein, the term "liquid" and / or "liquids" includes, but is not limited to, groundwater, wastewater, surface water, saltwater, freshwater (e.g., lakes, ponds), and other such substances known to those skilled in the art. Substances that are liquids are sometimes referred to herein as liquid substances.

[0073] The addition and / or application of halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents and liquids may include:

[0074] (a) Injecting a halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent into the liquid; if desired, filtering the adsorbent; and / or

[0075] (b) Applying a halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the surface of a liquid; and / or

[0076] (c) Combining halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbents with liquids; and / or

[0077] (d) Passing liquid through a fixed bed containing an adsorbent containing halogens and sulfur; and / or

[0078] (e) Passing the liquid through a filter containing an adsorbent containing halogens and sulfur; and / or

[0079] (f) Pumping liquid through a fixed bed or column containing an adsorbent containing halogens and sulfur; and / or

[0080] (g) Add the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the liquid of the specified volume.

[0081] As described in (c) above, combining halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbents with liquids can be done by combining the halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbents with a bulk liquid, or by combining the halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbents with a portion of the liquid to form a slurry, and then combining the slurry with the remaining liquid.

[0082] Some substances are combinations of at least one solid and at least one liquid, and include 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 compositions of substances to be treated in the practice of this invention. These combinations are sometimes referred to as multiphase substances. The provided process of the invention is for reducing the environmental effectiveness of at least a portion of one or more environmental pollutants in a combination comprising one or more environmental pollutants. Substances as combinations are sometimes referred to herein as composite substances.

[0083] The addition and / or application of halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents and combinations may include adding and / or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the combination. In such processes, adding and / or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the combination may include:

[0084] (a) Injecting a halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbent into the assembly, optionally through pores and / or wells and / or channels present in the material (whether existing or artificially created, e.g., by drilling into the assembly); and / or

[0085] (b) Applying a halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the surface of the combination; and / or

[0086] (c) Combining a halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent with at least a portion of the surface of the combination as described above for solid and / or liquid substances; and / or

[0087] (d) Combining halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents with this combination; and / or

[0088] (e) Placing the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent in a vacuum well for processing the combination in a manner similar to that described for solid materials; and / or

[0089] (f) Adding halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents to the composition; and / or

[0090] (g) Covering the surface of the substance with a layer containing an adsorbent containing halogens and sulfur; and / or

[0091] (h) Place the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent in the cap; and / or

[0092] (i) Adding halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents to the reaction barrier; and / or

[0093] (j) Formation of a reaction barrier containing halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbents; and / or

[0094] (k) Place the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent inside the geotextile mat.

[0095] As described in (d) above, combining a halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent with the combination can be done by combining the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent with the combination, or by combining a portion of the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent with the combination to form a mixture, and then combining the mixture with the surface of the combination. In these embodiments, the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent may include, for example, but not limited to, halogen- and sulfur-containing activated carbon, preferably bromine- and sulfur-containing carbon adsorbents, and more preferably bromine- and sulfur-containing activated carbon adsorbents.

[0096] Some preferred methods for adding and / or applying halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents to this combination are:

[0097] (a) Injecting a halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent into the combination;

[0098] (b) Applying a halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the surface of the combination;

[0099] (c) Combining a halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent with at least a portion of the surface of the combination; and / or

[0100] (d) Combining the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent with the aforementioned combination.

[0101] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, many variables must be considered regarding the use of this invention, depending on the substance being treated. In all processes of this invention, whether applied to solids, liquids, or combinations thereof, those skilled in the art, in light of the teachings herein, will have the knowledge to determine the following: the amount of halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to be used; whether optional components are to be used in combination with the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent, and if so, the specific optional components and their amounts that will produce benefits; the number of times the process of this invention will produce benefits and the time intervals between such applications; whether the process of this invention is to be used in combination with known remediation methods, and if so, how to obtain beneficial results, etc.

[0102] The following examples are provided for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0103] In the embodiments, unless otherwise stated, the amount of mercury present in the sample is determined by cold vapor atomic absorption (CVAA; atomic absorption mercury spectrometer with Zeeman background correction, Ohio Lumex, model RA 915+) in an atomic absorption spectrometer equipped with a mercury vapor analyzer.

[0104] In all embodiments, the operation using ordinary (untreated) activated carbon is comparative. The powdered activated carbon used in the embodiments was prepared from coconut shells.

[0105] Example 1 - Comparison

[0106] Powdered activated carbon was dried in a drying oven under nitrogen atmosphere and stored. A portion of the powdered activated carbon (average particle size 15 μm) was treated with gas-phase Br2 at elevated temperature using the procedure described in U.S. Patent No. 6,953,494 to form bromine-containing powdered activated carbon with a bromine content of 8 wt%.

[0107] For each run, the adsorbent (0.4 g / L) was placed in the reaction flask. A solution containing 50 ppm Hg prepared from Hg(NO3)2 and with a pH of 2 was added to the reactor flask containing the adsorbent. The sample was rotated at 30 rpm for 24 hours, and each resulting mixture was passed through a syringe filter (0.45 μm pore membrane) to separate the adsorbent from the liquid. The mercury concentration of the filtered liquid from each solution was then determined. The results are summarized in Table 1.

[0108] Table 1

[0109]

[0110] * Defined as the weight (g) of adsorbent per Hg of total volume (L) of contaminated solution.

[0111] Example 2 - Comparison

[0112] Four mixtures of PAC and elemental sulfur (3.2 wt% sulfur) were each placed in a quartz boat within a quartz tube. Each mixture was heated under N2 at different temperatures for several minutes and then cooled under N2 before use. In each run, sulfur-containing PAC (S-PAC; 0.4 g / L) was placed in a reaction flask and treated with a mercury-containing solution as described in Example 1. The results are summarized in Table 2.

[0113] Table 2

[0114]

[0115]

[0116] * Defined as the weight (g) of adsorbent per Hg of total volume (L) of contaminated solution.

[0117] Example 3

[0118] A mixture of bromine-containing PAC (Br-PAC, 8 wt% Br) and elemental sulfur (3.2 wt% sulfur), prepared as in Example 1, was placed separately in a quartz boat within a quartz tube. Each mixture was heated under N2 at different temperatures for several minutes and then cooled under N2 before use. In each run, a sulfur- and bromine-containing PAC (S-Br-PAC; 0.4 g / L) was placed in a reaction flask and treated with a mercury-containing solution, as described in Example 1. The results are summarized in Table 3.

[0119] Elemental sulfur (28.6 wt%) and liquid Br2 (71.4 wt%) were mixed together to form a solution. This solution was mixed with PAC, and samples of the mixture of PAC, elemental sulfur (3.2 wt%), and liquid Br2 (8 wt%) were placed separately in quartz boats within quartz tubes. Each mixture was heated under N2 at different temperatures for several minutes and then cooled under N2 before use. In each run, sulfur- and bromine-containing PAC (S-Br-PAC; 0.4 g / L) was placed in a reaction flask and treated with a mercury-containing solution as described in Example 1. The results are summarized in Table 3.

[0120] Table 3

[0121]

[0122] * Defined as the weight (g) of adsorbent per Hg of total volume (L) of contaminated solution.

[0123] Example 4

[0124] Several adsorbents were prepared. An S-Br-PAC adsorbent was formed as described in Example 3. In each run, the adsorbent (0.4 g / L) was placed in a reaction flask and treated with a mercury-containing solution as described in Example 1. Runs A and B are comparative; run C is the one of the present invention. The results are summarized in Table 4.

[0125] Table 4

[0126]

[0127] *Commercially available brominated PAC that has been treated to be compatible with concrete; see published International Patent Application No. WO2008 / 064360.

[0128] Further embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to:

[0129] A) A process for reducing the environmental effectiveness of at least a portion of one or more environmental pollutants in a substance containing one or more environmental pollutants, the process comprising:

[0130] A halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent is added to and / or applied to the substance, wherein the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent...

[0131] It includes activated carbon containing bromine and sulfur, activated carbon containing chlorine and sulfur, activated carbon containing iodine and sulfur, chalcogenide containing bromine and sulfur, bentonite containing bromine and sulfur, kaolinite containing bromine and sulfur, or silicon dioxide containing bromine and sulfur.

[0132] This reduces the environmental effectiveness of at least a portion of one or more environmental pollutants in the substance.

[0133] B) According to the process described in A), the halogen content of the halogen-containing and sulfur-containing adsorbent is from about 0.1 wt% to about 20 wt% (calculated as bromine) relative to the total weight of the halogen-containing and sulfur-containing adsorbent.

[0134] C) According to the process described in A), the halogen content of the halogen-containing and sulfur-containing adsorbent is about 0.5 wt% to about 15 wt% in terms of bromine relative to the total weight of the halogen-containing and sulfur-containing adsorbent.

[0135] D) According to the process described in A), the halogen content of the halogen-containing and sulfur-containing adsorbent is about 2 wt% to about 12 wt% in terms of bromine relative to the total weight of the halogen-containing and sulfur-containing adsorbent.

[0136] E) According to the process described in A), the halogen content of the halogen-containing and sulfur-containing adsorbent is about 3 wt% to about 8 wt% in bromine relative to the total weight of the halogen-containing and sulfur-containing adsorbent.

[0137] F) The process according to any one of A)-E), wherein the amount of sulfur in the halogen-containing and sulfur-containing adsorbent is in the range of about 0.1 wt% to about 15 wt% relative to the total weight of the halogen-containing and sulfur-containing adsorbent.

[0138] G) The process according to any one of A)-E), wherein the amount of sulfur in the halogen-containing and sulfur-containing adsorbent is in the range of about 0.5 wt% to about 10 wt%, preferably about 1 wt% to about 5 wt%, relative to the total weight of the halogen-containing and sulfur-containing adsorbent.

[0139] H) The process according to any one of A)-G), wherein the sulfur to halogen atomic ratio is in the range of about 0.25:1 to about 1:3, preferably about 0.5:1 to about 1:2.5 and still more preferably about 1:1 to about 1:2.

[0140] I) The process according to any one of A)-H), wherein the substance is soil.

[0141] J) The process according to any one of A)-H), wherein the substance is a sediment.

[0142] K) The process according to any one of A)-H), wherein the substance is soil pore water or sediment pore water.

[0143] L) According to the process described in A), the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent is bromine- and sulfur-containing activated carbon, wherein the halogen content, calculated as bromine, is from about 0.1 wt% to about 20 wt% relative to the total weight of the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent, and wherein the substance is soil, sediment, soil pore water, or sediment pore water.

[0144] M) According to the process described in L), the halogen content, calculated as bromine, is from about 0.5 wt% to about 15 wt% relative to the total weight of the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent, preferably from about 2 wt% to about 12 wt%, more preferably from about 3 wt% to about 8 wt%.

[0145] N) According to the process described in L) or M), the amount of sulfur in the halogen-containing and sulfur-containing adsorbent is in the range of about 0.1 wt% to about 15 wt% relative to the total weight of the halogen-containing and sulfur-containing adsorbent, preferably in the range of about 0.5 wt% to about 10 wt%, more preferably in the range of about 1 wt% to about 5 wt%.

[0146] O) According to the process described in A), the adsorbent is bromine- and sulfur-containing zeolite, bromine- and sulfur-containing bentonite, bromine- and sulfur-containing kaolinite, or bromine- and sulfur-containing silica, wherein the halogen content relative to the total weight of the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent is from about 0.1 wt% to about 20 wt% in bromine, and wherein the substance is soil, sediment, soil pore water, or sediment pore water.

[0147] P) According to the process described in O), the halogen content, calculated as bromine, is from about 0.5 wt% to about 15 wt% relative to the total weight of the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent, preferably from about 2 wt% to about 12 wt%, more preferably from about 3 wt% to about 8 wt%.

[0148] Q) According to the process described in O) or P), the amount of sulfur in the halogen-containing and sulfur-containing adsorbent is in the range of about 0.1 wt% to about 15 wt% relative to the total weight of the halogen-containing and sulfur-containing adsorbent, preferably in the range of about 0.5 wt% to about 10 wt%, more preferably in the range of about 1 wt% to about 5 wt%.

[0149] R) According to the process described in A), wherein the adsorbent is chlorine- and sulfur-containing activated carbon, wherein the halogen content, calculated as bromine, is from about 0.1 wt% to about 20 wt% relative to the total weight of the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent, and wherein said substance is soil, sediment, soil pore water, or sediment pore water.

[0150] S) According to the process described in A), wherein the adsorbent is iodine- and sulfur-containing activated carbon, wherein the halogen content, calculated as bromine, is from about 0.1 wt% to about 20 wt% relative to the total weight of the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent, and wherein said substance is soil, sediment, soil pore water or sediment pore water.

[0151] T) According to the process described in K), the halogen content, calculated as bromine, is from about 0.5 wt% to about 15 wt%, preferably from about 2 wt% to about 12 wt%, relative to the total weight of the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent.

[0152] U) According to the process described in T), the amount of sulfur in the halogen-containing and sulfur-containing adsorbent is in the range of about 0.1 wt% to about 15 wt% relative to the total weight of the halogen-containing and sulfur-containing adsorbent, preferably in the range of about 0.5 wt% to about 10 wt%, more preferably in the range of about 1 wt% to about 5 wt%.

[0153] V) The process according to any one of L)-U) wherein the sulfur to halogen atomic ratio is in the range of about 0.25:1 to about 1:3, preferably about 0.5:1 to about 1:2.5 and still more preferably about 1:1 to about 1:2.

[0154] Any component mentioned anywhere in the specification or claims, whether in the singular or plural form, is confirmed to be present prior to contact with another substance (e.g., another component, solvent, etc.) mentioned in the chemical name or chemical type. What kind of chemical change, transformation, and / or reaction (if any) occurs in the resulting mixture or solution is not important, as such changes, transformations, and / or reactions are a natural result of bringing the specified components together under the conditions required by this disclosure. Therefore, the component is identified as an ingredient relevant to the desired operation or to be brought together in the formation of the desired composition. Furthermore, even if the claims below refer to a substance, component, and / or ingredient in the present tense (“comprising,” “is,” etc.), this reference refers to the form in which the substance, component, or ingredient exists prior to its first contact, blending, or mixing with one or more other substances, components, and / or ingredients according to this disclosure. Therefore, the fact that a substance, component, or ingredient may have lost its original properties through chemical reaction or transformation during the contact, blending, or mixing process (if carried out according to this disclosure and the ordinary techniques of a chemist) is irrelevant.

[0155] The present invention may include, consist of, or substantially consist of the materials and / or procedures described herein.

[0156] As used herein, the term "about" to modify the amount of an ingredient in a composition of the invention or an ingredient used in a method of the invention refers to, for example, variations in numerical quantities that may occur in: typical measurement and liquid handling procedures used in the real world for preparing concentrates or using solutions; errors due to negligence in these procedures; differences in the manufacture, source, or purity of the ingredients used to prepare the composition or carry out the method; and so on. The term "about" also covers 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 equivalent values ​​of quantities.

[0157] Unless otherwise expressly indicated herein, the article “a (or an)” used herein and as used herein is not intended to be limiting and should not be construed as limiting the specification or claims to the single element referred to by the article. Rather, unless expressly indicated otherwise herein, the article “a (or an)” (if used herein and as used herein) is intended to cover one or more such elements.

[0158] In practice, considerable modifications can be readily made to this invention. Therefore, the foregoing description is not intended to be limiting and should not be construed as limiting the invention to the specific examples presented above.

Claims

1. A halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent, wherein the adsorbent is formed by: i) Contacting a halogen-containing compound with a sulfur source at an atomic ratio of 1:0.5 to 2.5:1 to form a halogen-sulfur mixture, wherein the halogen-containing compound is elemental bromine in liquid form and the sulfur source is elemental sulfur, and ii) contacting the halogen-sulfur mixture with a substrate material. To form an adsorbent containing halogens and sulfur, wherein the contact between the halogen-sulfur mixture and the substrate material is carried out at ambient temperature.

2. The adsorbent according to claim 1, wherein the halogen is bromine and the substrate material is a carbonaceous material.

3. The adsorbent according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein the substrate material is activated carbon.

4. A process for reducing the environmental effectiveness of at least a portion of one or more environmental pollutants in a solid substance, liquid substance, or combination of one or more solid or liquid substances, the process comprising: A halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent is added to or applied to the substance, wherein the adsorbent comprises the adsorbent of claim 1. This reduces the environmental effectiveness of at least a portion of one or more environmental pollutants in the substance.

5. The process according to claim 4, wherein the adsorbent comprises a substrate material selected from one or more carbonaceous materials.

6. The process according to claim 5, wherein the carbonaceous material is activated carbon.

7. The process according to claim 4, wherein the adsorbent comprises a substrate material selected from one or more inorganic materials.

8. The process according to claim 7, wherein the inorganic material is selected from inorganic oxides, natural zeolites, CaCO3 and clay minerals.

9. The process according to claim 8, wherein the inorganic material is selected from chalcogenide, silica, kaolinite and bentonite.

10. The process according to claim 4, wherein the adsorbent is halogen- and sulfur-containing activated carbon.

11. The process according to any one of claims 4-10, wherein the halogen content of the adsorbent is from 0.1 wt% to 20 wt% (calculated as bromine) relative to the total weight of the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent.

12. The process according to any one of claims 4-10, wherein the amount of sulfur in the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent is in the range of 0.1 wt% to 15 wt% relative to the total weight of the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent.

13. The process according to any one of claims 4-10, wherein the substance comprising the environmental pollutant is a solid.

14. The process of claim 13, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the solid comprises: (a) Injecting an adsorbent containing halogen and sulfur into the solid.

15. The process of claim 13, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the solid comprises: (b) Apply an adsorbent containing halogen and sulfur to the surface of the solid.

16. The process of claim 13, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the solid comprises: (c) Combining a halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent with at least a portion of the surface of the solid.

17. The process of claim 13, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the solid comprises: (d) Place the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent in a vacuum well for treating the solid.

18. The process of claim 13, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the solid comprises: (e) Add halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbents to the contained solid.

19. The process of claim 13, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the solid comprises: (f) Combining the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent with the solid.

20. The process of claim 13, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the solid comprises: (g) Add halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents to the reaction barrier.

21. The process of claim 13, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the solid comprises: (h) Forms a reaction barrier containing halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbents.

22. The process according to any one of claims 4-10, wherein the substance comprising the environmental pollutant is a liquid.

23. The process of claim 22, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the liquid comprises: (a) Injecting an adsorbent containing halogen and sulfur into the liquid.

24. The process of claim 22, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the liquid comprises: (b) Apply an adsorbent containing halogens and sulfur to the surface of the liquid.

25. The process of claim 22, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the liquid comprises: (c) Combining the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent with the liquid.

26. The process of claim 22, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the liquid comprises: (d) Passing the liquid through a fixed bed containing an adsorbent containing halogens and sulfur.

27. The process of claim 22, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the liquid comprises: (e) Pass the liquid through a filter containing an adsorbent containing halogens and sulfur.

28. The process of claim 22, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the liquid comprises: (f) Pumping the liquid through a fixed bed or column containing an adsorbent containing halogens and sulfur.

29. The process of claim 22, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the liquid comprises: (g) Add the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the liquid of the specified volume.

30. The process according to any one of claims 4-10, wherein the substance comprising the environmental pollutant is a combination of at least one solid and at least one liquid.

31. The process of claim 30, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the combination comprises: (a) Injecting an adsorbent containing halogens and sulfur into the combination.

32. The process of claim 30, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the combination comprises: (b) Apply a halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the surface of the combination.

33. The process of claim 30, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the combination comprises: (c) Combining a halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent with at least a portion of the surface of the combination.

34. The process of claim 30, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the combination comprises: (d) Combine the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent with the aforementioned combination.

35. The process of claim 30, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the combination comprises: (e) Place the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent in a vacuum well for treating the combination.

36. The process of claim 30, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the combination comprises: (f) Add halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents to the composition.

37. The process of claim 30, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the combination comprises: (g) Cover the surface of the substance with a layer containing an adsorbent containing halogen and sulfur.

38. The process of claim 30, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the combination comprises: (h) Place the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent in the cap.

39. The process of claim 30, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the combination comprises: (i) Add halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbents to the reaction barrier.

40. The process of claim 30, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the combination comprises: (j) Formation of a reaction barrier containing halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbents.

41. The process of claim 30, wherein adding or applying the halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent to the combination comprises: (k) Place the halogenated and sulfur-containing adsorbent inside the geotextile mat.

42. The process according to claim 13, wherein the solid is soil.

43. The process of claim 31, wherein the addition or application comprises: (a) Injecting an adsorbent containing halogen and sulfur into the solid.

44. The process of claim 31, wherein the addition or application comprises: (b) Apply an adsorbent containing halogen and sulfur to the surface of the solid.

45. The process of claim 31, wherein the addition or application comprises: (c) Combining a halogen- and sulfur-containing adsorbent with at least a portion of the surface of the solid.

46. ​​The process of claim 30, wherein the combination is a deposit.

47. A process for forming an adsorbent containing halogen and sulfur, the process comprising: i) Contacting a halogen-containing compound with a sulfur source to form a halogen-sulfur mixture, wherein the halogen-containing compound is elemental bromine in liquid form, and the sulfur source is elemental sulfur, and ii) Contact the halogen-sulfur mixture with the substrate material; To obtain an adsorbent containing halogens and sulfur, wherein the contact between the halogen-sulfur mixture and the substrate material is carried out at ambient temperature.

48. The process according to claim 47, wherein the substrate material is a carbonaceous material.

49. The process according to any one of claims 47-48, wherein the substrate material is activated carbon.

Images