Processes to reduce the environmental availability of environmental pollutants

Abstract

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

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the purification of environmental pollutants in order to reduce the environmental availability of environmental pollutants.

Background Art

[0002] Many pollutants are known to be toxic to humans and the environment. Mercury, one of these known environmental pollutants, is classified as a priority hazardous substance by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) of the US Department of Health and Human Services. A number of sites contaminated with mercury are listed in the US National Priorities List (NPL) maintained by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Such sites contain various pollutants, including solids (e.g., soil, debris, waste), liquids (e.g., groundwater, lakes, ponds), and combinations of solids and liquids (e.g., sediment, slurry, deposit). In most of these sites, decontamination to remove mercury has not been carried out. Unacceptable levels of mercury or mercury compounds may also be present in sites not listed in the US NPL. Other environmental pollutants raise similar concerns.

[0003] Mercury contamination can occur from various sources, such as mining and ore processes, metal refining processes, chlor-alkali plants, manufacturing processes for mercury-based thermometers and thermostats, fluorescent lamp manufacturing processes, and battery manufacturing processes. There are also many landfill sites contaminated with mercury-containing waste. Furthermore, mercury pollutants exist in multiple forms, such as elemental mercury, organic mercury compounds, and inorganic mercury compounds, and often in the same place in many cases. In many cases, the treatment methods also vary depending on the form and / or substance of mercury.

[0004] Materials contaminated with mercury are likely to also contain multiple other environmental pollutants. For example, some materials are contaminated with organic matter and / or other heavy elements, and these other environmental pollutants also present 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 pollutants at any particular location may be technically difficult and costly. Reducing the environmental availability of environmental pollutants, and subsequently reducing their bioavailability, and especially reducing the bioaccumulation of pollutants in materials such as soil, groundwater, sediments, and slurries, is of particular interest.

[0005] Commercial remediation processes currently applied to soil 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 combinations of other solids and liquids include in situ capping, dredging / excavation, combinations of these methods, and 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 pollutants, while enhanced MNR applies materials or modifications to enhance the natural remediation process (e.g., adding thin-layer caps or reactive modifications such as carbon). While all of these remediation technologies offer benefits in controlling the environmental impact of environmental pollutants, including human health and ecological risks, these technologies also have limitations.

[0006] Another factor to consider in some cleanup technologies is whether the environmental pollutants are contained or stabilized. Subsequently, there is a tendency for the substance to move (or leach) from its original location. The U.S. EPA also regulates this, establishing the Toxic Characteristic Leaching Method (TCLP), a test designed to determine the mobility of both organic and inorganic analytes present in liquid, solid, and multiphase waste.

[0007] Before selecting a technology to remediate actual contaminated sites, it is necessary to evaluate the technology through complex bench-scale and pilot-scale studies and screening tests to determine its suitability. Furthermore, due to the variability from site to site, remediating contamination by mercury and other environmental pollutants is considerably costly and time-consuming. Therefore, there is a need for new and more commercially attractive processes to reduce the environmental and bioavailability of environmental pollutants in solid, liquid, and combinations thereof. [Overview of the project]

[0008] The present invention provides a process for reducing the environmental availability of at least some of the environmental pollutants in a substance containing one or more environmental pollutants. The advantage of the process of the present invention is that it reduces the environmental availability of toxic environmental pollutants in the substance. Such toxic pollutants include mercury and methylmercury, as well as heavy elements and ecotoxic organic substances. Heavy elements are often called heavy metals, and heavy elements whose environmental availability is reduced by the implementation of the present invention include mercury, chromium, arsenic, and selenium.

[0009] The advantage provided by the process of the present invention is that by reducing the environmental availability of environmental pollutants in a material, the bioavailability and bioaccumulation of such pollutants are also reduced. When the environmental pollutant is mercury, the process of the present invention does not require the presence of sulfides, thus offering another advantage: the reduction in environmental availability, and therefore the reduction in bioavailability, is not adversely affected by acidic conditions that would allow sulfides to form hydrosulfides, sulfuric acid, or sulfate compounds. The absence of this sulfur-containing composition also 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 pollutants (such as mercury) in a material, or it can be used to complement and / or enhance a reduction in the amount of environmental availability and / or such environmental pollutants in a material that exceeds what can be achieved by existing technologies.

[0011] One embodiment of the present invention is a process for reducing the environmental availability of at least some of the environmental pollutants in a substance containing one or more environmental pollutants. This process includes adding and / or coating a substance with a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent capable of oxidizing elemental mercury. In the halogen-containing adsorbent, the halogen comprises one or more halogens selected from chlorine, bromine, and / or iodine, and one or more substrate materials. By adding and / or coating a pollutant-containing substance with the halogen-containing adsorbent and the oxidizing agent, the environmental availability of at least some of the environmental pollutants in the substance is reduced.

[0012] These and other embodiments and features of the present invention will become even more apparent from the following description and the appended claims. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] The present invention provides a process for reducing the environmental availability of environmental pollutants. As used throughout this document, the term “reduce environmental availability” means stabilizing, immobilizing, fixing, encapsulating, isolating, containing, destroying, detoxifying, decomposing, and decomposing at least one environmental pollutant, thereby reducing its quantity, reducing its mobility, and / or reducing its ability to move. It refers to the ability to stabilize and / or immobilize substances in a medium. Reducing the environmental availability of environmental pollutants also reduces their bioavailability and, therefore, their bioaccumulation.

[0014] As used herein, the term “environmental pollutant” means a chemical element, compound, or mixture thereof 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., hydrophobic organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polyfluoroalkyl substances, perfluoroalkyl substances, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, furans, and / or chlorinated pesticides, but not limited to these); hazardous elements, organic and inorganic heavy element compounds (e.g., compounds containing As, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, and / or Cd); and other environmental pollutants known to those skilled in the art.

[0015] Throughout this document, terms such as “treated,” “contacted,” and “remediated” indicate that a halogen-containing adsorbent interacts with a substance containing one or more environmental pollutants, resulting in a reduction of the environmental availability of one or more environmental pollutants.

[0016] The purifying agents in the embodiment of the present invention are halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents. Halogen-containing adsorbents are sometimes referred to herein as "halogenated adsorbents." Halogen-containing adsorbents are typically formed from one or more halogen-containing compounds and one or more substrate materials. Many substrate materials, particularly activated carbon, are available or can be made available in a wide range of particle sizes from nanometers to centimeters.

[0017] The substrate material includes carbonaceous materials and inorganic materials. Suitable carbonaceous materials that can be used as adsorbents in the implementation 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 are not limited to, powder, granules, microspherical, pelletized, or extruded forms, and high specific surface area forms.

[0018] Suitable inorganic materials include inorganic oxides (e.g., alumina (amorphous and crystalline), silica, magnesia and titania); natural zeolites (chabazite, clinoptilolite and faujasite, etc.); synthetic zeolites (synthetic chabazite, high Si:Al ratio zeolites (ZSM-5, beta zeolite, etc.), medium Si:Al ratio zeolites (Y zeolite, mordenite, etc.), low Si:Al ratio zeolites (A zeolite, X zeolite, etc.)); silica alumina phosphate (SAPO) zeolites, ion exchange Converted zeolites, uncalcined zeolites with or without organic structure inducers, aluminosilicates with regular pore structures (MCM-41, MCM-48, SBA-15, HMS, MSU-X, etc.), clay minerals (kaolin, kaolinite, bentonite, and montmorillonite, etc.); synthetic clays (laponite, saponite, souconite, stevensite, kaolinite, and hectorite, etc.); organic clays (montmorillonite treated with trimethylstearylammonium salts, etc.), dimethyldialkyl (C 14 -C 18 ) Ammonium salts, methyldihydroxyethylammonium salts and hydrogenated tallow ammonium salts, as well as aminopropyltriethoxysilane and octadecylamine, etc.); bentonite, hectorite and attapulgite treated with quaternary ammonium salts; zeolites treated with N,N,N-trimethyl-1-hexadecanaminium chloride; inorganic hydroxides (iron hydroxide, etc.); mixed metal oxides (hydrotalcite and metallized double-layer clay, etc.); diatomaceous earth; cement dust; hydrogenation process catalysts including catalysts on substrates containing alumina, silica and / or titania; inorganic carbonates (alkali metal carbonates (e.g., sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate)) This includes alkaline earth carbonates (e.g., calcium carbonate), as well as any two or more of the aforementioned mixtures. Preferred inorganic materials include inorganic oxides (especially silica), natural zeolites (especially chabazite), clay minerals (especially kaolinite and bentonite), and CaCO3 is also a preferred substrate material.

[0019] The halogen elements in halogen-containing adsorbents may be chlorine, bromine, iodine, or any two or more mixtures of these halogens. Bromine and iodine are preferred halogens, with bromine being a more preferred halogen. Suitable halogen-containing materials for forming halogen-containing adsorbents include, but are not limited to, elements of iodine and / or iodine compounds, elements of bromine and / or bromine compounds, elements of chlorine and / or chlorine compounds, and other suitable halogen compounds known to those skilled in the art. Usable halogen-containing materials include elements of halogens, hydrohalic acids, alkali metal halides, alkaline earth metal halides, and ammonium halides. Mixtures of any two or more halogen-containing materials may also be used. The mixture may contain the same halogen or different halogens.

[0020] Hydrohalic acids include hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide, and hydrogen iodide. Bromides and iodides are preferred halides, with bromides being even more preferred. Alkali metal halides include lithium halide, sodium halide, potassium halide, rubidium halide, and cesium halide, with sodium halide and potassium halide being preferred. Preferred alkali metal halides include sodium chloride, sodium bromide, sodium iodide, potassium chloride, potassium bromide, and potassium iodide, with sodium bromide, potassium bromide, and potassium iodide being even more preferred. Alkaline earth halides include magnesium halide, calcium halide, strontium halide, and barium halide, with magnesium halide and calcium halide being preferred. Preferred alkaline earth halides include magnesium chloride, magnesium bromide, magnesium iodide, calcium chloride, calcium bromide, and calcium iodide, with magnesium bromide and calcium bromide being even more preferred. Ammonium halides include ammonium chloride, ammonium bromide, and ammonium iodide, with ammonium bromide being the preferred ammonium halide. More preferred halogen-containing substances include bromine, hydrogen bromide, sodium bromide, potassium bromide, calcium bromide, and especially sodium bromide.

[0021] Halogen-containing adsorbents can be prepared for substrate materials and one or more halogen-containing substances, particularly bromine-containing adsorbents, as described in U.S. Patents 6,953,494 and 9,101,907, and International Patent Publication WO 2012 / 071206. In some embodiments, the preferred halogen-containing adsorbent is a bromine-containing adsorbent. In some embodiments, the preferred halogen-containing adsorbent is halogen-containing activated carbon. In other embodiments, the preferred halogen-containing activated carbons are chlorine-containing activated carbon, bromine-containing activated carbon, and iodine-containing activated carbon. In preferred embodiments, the halogen-containing adsorbent is iodine-containing activated carbon and bromine-containing activated carbon. In more preferred embodiments, the halogen-containing adsorbent is bromine-containing activated carbon. Bromine-containing activated carbon is commercially available from Albemarle Corporation.

[0022] In other embodiments, preferred halogen-containing adsorbents are chlorine-containing activated carbon and iodine-containing activated carbon. In yet another embodiment, preferred halogen-containing adsorbents are halogen-containing chabazite, halogen-containing bentonite, halogen-containing kaolinite, and halogen-containing silica, and more preferred halogen-containing adsorbents are iodine-containing chabazite, bromine-containing chabazite, iodine-containing bentonite, bromine-containing bentonite, iodine-containing kaolinite, bromine-containing kaolinite, iodine-containing silica, and bromine-containing silica, and even more preferred The most desirable materials are bromine-containing silica, bromine-containing kaolinite, and bromine-containing bentonite.

[0023] In another embodiment, preferred halogen-containing adsorbents include bromine-containing silica, bromine-containing kaolinite, and bromine-containing bentonite.

[0024] The amount of halogen (or halogen content) on the substrate material typically corresponds to a total bromine content (or amount calculated as bromine) in the range of about 0.1 wt% to about 50 wt%, preferably about 0.25 wt% to about 40 wt%, more preferably about 0.5 wt% to about 35 wt%, even more preferably about 1 wt% to about 20 wt%, and even more preferably about 2 wt% to about 12 wt%, based on the total weight of the halogen-containing adsorbent.

[0025] Throughout this document, the phrases "as bromine", "reported as bromine", "calculated as bromine", and similar phrases regarding halogen refer to the amount of halogen calculated for bromine, unless otherwise specified. For example, although chlorine may be used, the amount of halogen in the halogen-containing adsorbent is described as a value for bromine.

[0026] The halogen-containing 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, for example, but not limited to, in the form of powdered, granular, microspherical, pelletized, or extruded activated carbon, with a high specific surface area and various unique pore structures, and other characteristics well known to those skilled in the art.

[0027] Halogen-containing adsorbents, particularly halogen-containing carbonaceous adsorbents, particularly iodine-containing and bromine-containing adsorbents, and more specifically bromine-containing carbonaceous adsorbents, can reduce the environmental availability of contaminants in substances through means including, but not limited to, oxidation and / or adsorption. Such adsorption reduces the mobility of environmental contaminants, thereby reducing the environmental availability of environmental contaminants. Other ways in which halogen-containing adsorbents can reduce the environmental availability of contaminants include enhancing the decomposition of such contaminants by surface reactions, and / or suppressing the formation of contaminants such as methylmercury, and / or other mechanisms. In the process of the present invention, environmental contaminants adsorbed by halogen-containing adsorbents are stabilized, substantially minimizing desorption into the environment, whether applied to solids, liquids, or combinations thereof.

[0028] Oxidizing agents suitable for use in the implementation of the present invention are compounds capable of oxidizing elemental mercury. These oxidizing agents can generally oxidize other heavy elements such as chromium, arsenic, selenium, etc. In the implementation of the present invention, these oxidizing agents are inorganic oxidizing agents and organic oxidizing agents. Inorganic oxidizing agents are typically salts. Preferred organic oxidizing agents are organic peroxides and halogenated hydantoins.

[0029] Inorganic salts that are suitable oxidizing agents in the implementation of the present invention include persulfates, permanganates, hypochlorites, hypobromites, chlorites, chlorates, bromates, and perchlorates, preferably permanganates, hypochlorites, and chlorates. Preferably, these salts are alkali metal salts, alkaline earth metal salts, and / or ammonium salts, and more preferably, these salts are alkali metal salts.

[0030] Suitable inorganic salts to be used as oxidizing agents in the implementation of the present invention include ammonium persulfate, sodium persulfate, potassium persulfate, sodium permanganate, potassium permanganate, ammonium hypochlorite, sodium hypochlorite, potassium hypochlorite, magnesium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, ammonium hypobromite, sodium hypobromite, and This product contains potassium bromitite, calcium hypobromitite, ammonium chlorite, sodium chlorite, potassium chlorite, calcium chlorite, ammonium chlorate, sodium chlorate, potassium chlorate, ammonium bromate, sodium bromate, potassium bromate, ammonium perchlorate, sodium perchlorate, and potassium perchlorate.

[0031] Preferred inorganic oxidizing agents include alkali metal permanganates, alkali metal hypochlorites, and alkaline earth metal chlorates. More preferred inorganic oxidizing agents are sodium permanganate, potassium permanganate, sodium hypochlorite, potassium hypochlorite, magnesium chlorate, and calcium chlorate. Even more preferred inorganic oxidizing agents are potassium permanganate, sodium hypochlorite, and calcium chlorate.

[0032] The organic oxidizing agent, which is an organic peroxide, has a hydrocarbyl group containing 4 to about 12, preferably 4 to about 10, carbon atoms in each group. The hydrocarbyl groups may be the same or different, and may be alkyl (linear, branched, or cyclic), aryl, or ar-alkyl. Preferred hydrocarbyl groups are branched alkyl and aralkyl groups. Preferred hydrocarbyl groups include tert-butyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,1-dimethylbenzyl, and 1,1-dimethyl-4-methylphenyl, with tert-butyl and 1,1-dimethylpropyl being preferred. Preferred organic peroxides include di-tert-butyl peroxide, bis(1,1-dimethylpropyl) peroxide, tert-butyl-1,1-dimethylbenzyl peroxide, tert-butyl-1,1-dimethyl-4-methylphenyl peroxide, and bis(1,1-dimethylbenzyl) peroxide. A preferred organic peroxide is di-tert-butyl peroxide.

[0033] The organic oxidizing agents that are halogenated hydantoins are halogenated 5-hydrocarbyl hydantoin and halogenated 5,5-dihydrocarbyl hydantoin, which are 1,3-dibromo, 1,3-dichloro, and / or N,N'-bromochloro (or 1,3-bromochloro) derivatives of 5-hydrocarbyl hydantoin and 5,5-dihydrocarbyl hydantoin. Halogenated 5,5-dihydrocarbyl hydantoin is preferred. More preferred halogenated hydantoins are halogenated 5-alkyl and halogenated 5,5-dialkyl hydantoins, in particular those in which each alkyl group contains up to about 6 carbon atoms. Even more preferred are halogenated 5,5-dialkyl hydantoins in which each alkyl group independently contains up to 3 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred is halogenated 5,5-dimethyl hydantoin.

[0034] Suitable 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. Preferably, 5,5-dimethylhydantoin and 5,5-diethylhydantoin are preferred, and 5,5-dimethylhydantoin is particularly preferred.

[0035] Preferred halogenated hydantoins are 1,3-chloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, and 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, more preferably 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin and 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, and particularly preferably 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

[0036] Any mixture of two or more oxidizing agents can be used, including mixtures containing two or more inorganic oxidizing agents, mixtures containing two or more organic oxidizing agents, and mixtures of one or more inorganic oxidizing agents and one or more organic oxidizing agents. Preferably, the oxidizing agent is one or more inorganic oxidizing agents.

[0037] Oxidizing agents and halogen-containing adsorbents are typically used in a weight ratio of oxidizing agent to halogen-containing adsorbent of about 1:1 to about 1:25, preferably about 1:2 to about 1:20, more preferably about 1:3 to about 1:15, and even more preferably about 1:3 to about 1:10. The preferred amount of oxidizing agent may vary depending on the amount of elemental mercury present in the substance being treated.

[0038] Mercury and other environmental pollutants are adsorbed or removed by halogen-containing adsorbents, particularly halogen-containing activated carbon, more specifically iodine-containing and bromine-containing adsorbents, more specifically bromine-containing carbonaceous adsorbents, and even more specifically bromine-containing activated carbon. Various halogen species (particularly bromine) can be formed on halogen-containing adsorbents, particularly bromine-containing adsorbents, specifically bromine-containing activated carbon. For example, bromine, as a bromine species, can oxidize elemental mercury to form mercury bromide, which can then be adsorbed into the pores of activated carbon. Another species, bromide ions, can chemically bind with ionic mercury and be adsorbed onto the surface of activated carbon. Other components may catalyze the oxidation of mercury, potentially stabilizing or enhancing the adsorption of mercury oxide products.

[0039] The oxidizing agent used in accordance with the present invention can oxidize elemental mercury, allowing the oxidized mercury to combine with halogen atoms on the adsorbent and / or be absorbed into the pores of the substrate material of the halogen-containing adsorbent.

[0040] Some halogen-containing adsorbents, particularly halogen-containing activated carbon, especially iodine-containing and bromine-containing adsorbents, and more specifically bromine-containing carbonaceous adsorbents, especially bromine-containing activated carbon, can physically and chemically adsorb mercury in various oxidation states, such as elemental mercury, mercury oxide, and organic mercury. Mercury adsorbed on halogen-containing activated carbon, especially bromine-containing activated carbon, is stable over a wide range of pH values. Here, "stable" means that a significant amount of mercury does not separate from the adsorbent after adsorption.

[0041] The halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents used in the process of the present invention can be combined with other optional components such as pH buffers (e.g., ammonium carbonate, metal carbonates, ammonium phosphates, and metal phosphates), carriers (e.g., sand and mud, but not limited to these), binders (e.g., mud, clay, and polymers, but not limited to these), and / or other additives (e.g., iron compounds and sulfur compounds, but not limited to these).

[0042] In carrying out the present invention, halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents can be used in various forms, either as dry solids or in combination with a suitable fluid, for example, in the form of a slurry. As used herein, the term “suitable fluid” means fluids such as water and other fluids. Those skilled in the art will have the knowledge to select a suitable fluid, given the teachings of this disclosure, and the selection will depend on variables such as the composition of the substance and the composition of environmental pollutants present in the substance.

[0043] A blend comprising a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent capable of oxidizing elemental mercury is a composition of the present invention, formed by a process comprising combining a substrate material, a halogen-containing compound(s), and an oxidizing agent(s) in any order. When mixing is performed sequentially, the substrate material is preferably combined with a halogen-containing compound(s) to form a halogen-containing adsorbent, which is then combined with an oxidizing agent(s). Dry blending of each component is a convenient method for combining the components. In some embodiments, the halogen-containing compound, such as a salt of a potassium metal halide, can be combined with the adsorbent by an initial wetting technique, and the halogen-containing adsorbent can be dried before contact with the oxidizing agent(s). The substrate material, halogen, halogen-containing compound, oxidizing agent, their quantities, and their selection are as described above.

[0044] Some substances can be treated using both in-situ and ex-situ methods. “In-situ” refers to treatment carried out without moving the substance from its location. Examples of in-situ treatment include injecting halogen-containing adsorbents into soil (usually as a slurry) or mechanically mixing halogen-containing adsorbents with soil. Similarly, “ex-situ” refers to treatment carried out during or after the removal of a substance from its location. After treatment, the substance may or may not be returned to its original location.

[0045] Thermal desorption and retort treatment are two common excitation methods for heat treatment of mercury. This technique involves heating the contaminated medium to vaporize the mercury, and then condensing the vapor into liquid elemental mercury. Halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizers may be used to adsorb mercury as an alternative to a liquid mercury condenser, or to remove mercury from the off-gas discharged from the condenser.

[0046] In some applications, halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizers may remain in or with the material. In other applications, adsorbents and any residual oxidizers may be collected after use. If halogen-containing adsorbents are collected after use, they can be discarded or recycled and reused.

[0047] 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. If the substance is solid, it may contain multiple solids. If the substance is liquid, it may contain more than one liquid.

[0048] In some processes of the present invention, the use of halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents can be an independent purification approach or complement the use of other purification 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 of the present invention, halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents can be used in addition to one or more other purifying agents in the same purification procedure.

[0049] When a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent are added to contaminated waste, one or more contaminants are adsorbed. In some embodiments, the halogen-containing adsorbent and oxidizing agent remain in the material to stabilize and / or solidify it. In other embodiments, the combined halogen-containing adsorbent, oxidizing agent, and material are often placed in a landfill along with a binder and other compounds.

[0050] As used herein, the terms “solid” and / or “solid” include, but are not limited to, soil, rubble, waste, and other such materials known to those skilled in the art. Soil is preferred as the solid to be treated in the practice of the present invention.

[0051] The process of the present invention is provided for reducing the environmental availability of at least some of one or more environmental pollutants in a solid containing one or more environmental pollutants. A solid substance may also be referred to herein as a solid material.

[0052] Adding and / or coating halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents to solids is, (a) Injecting halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizers into a solid, optionally, through holes and / or wells and / or channels (which already exist or are created by manually drilling holes in the material) and / or (b) Applying halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents to the surface of a solid, and / or (c) Combining halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents with at least a portion of the surface of a solid, and / or (d) Placing halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents in a vacuum well and processing the solid in the vacuum well, and / or (e) Adding halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents to solids, and / or (f) Combining halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents with solids, and / or (g) Adding halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents to the reactive barrier, and / or (h) The form may include a reactive barrier containing a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent.

[0053] As described in (c) above, the combination of a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent with a solid surface can be achieved by combining the halogen-containing adsorbent and oxidizing agent with a part of the solid, and then applying the combination of the adsorbent, oxidizing agent, and solid to the solid surface, or by combining the halogen-containing adsorbent and oxidizing agent with a solid surface.

[0054] Several preferred methods for adding and / or coating halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents to a solid are: (a) Injecting halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents into a solid, (b) Applying halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents to the surface of a solid, and / or (c) Combining a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent with at least a portion of the surface of a solid.

[0055] Embodiments of solid treatment for reducing the environmental availability of one or more environmental pollutants include (i) creating holes, wells and / or channels in the solid; (ii) covering the surface of the solid with a layer of halogen-containing adsorbent and oxidizing agent; and (iii) heating a portion of the solid to move one or more environmental pollutants (e.g., mercury) toward the surface having the halogen-containing adsorbent and oxidizing agent.

[0056] Another embodiment of a solid treatment for reducing the environmental availability of one or more environmental pollutants includes (i) making holes, wells and / or channels in a solid; (ii) filling some of the holes or channels with a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent; and (iii) purging heated air into the holes or channels to move one or more environmental pollutants, such as mercury, toward the holes filled with the halogen-containing adsorbent and oxidizing agent.

[0057] In some embodiments of the present invention, a solid is heated to vaporize environmental pollutants (e.g., mercury) in a vacuum well. When halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizers are present in the vacuum well as in (d) above, the halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizers can work together to absorb the vaporized environmental pollutants(s). In these procedures, the halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizers are placed in the vacuum well and come into contact with the vapor generated in the vacuum well at one or more locations before the vapor is discharged into the atmosphere. One example of the application of this procedure is soil vapor extraction (SVE) for mercury purification, in which halogen-containing adsorbents (particularly bromine-containing activated carbon), in addition to oxidizers, can be placed in the vacuum well to adsorb mercury.

[0058] For certain types of solid materials, soil, halogen-containing adsorbents, and oxidizing agents are used before stabilization and solidification (S / S) in soil in situ and / or ex situ treatment. Alternatively, mercury can be immobilized during this process. In one excitation process, a halogen-containing adsorbent, an oxidizing agent, one or more binders, and other components are added to the contaminant and mixed together in a reactor. The mixture is then stabilized and solidified with cement or placed in a landfill. In some embodiments, bromine-containing powdered activated carbon can be used together with the oxidizing agent in the S / S treatment process. Mercury adsorbed on the bromine-containing powdered activated carbon remains stable during the production and curing of the concrete. This is advantageous because fly ash and cement are typical binders used in S / S technology.

[0059] In another embodiment of the present invention, a halogen-containing adsorbent (particularly bromine-containing powdered activated carbon) and an oxidizing agent are used as a remediation agent for mercury-contaminated soil, and the halogen-containing adsorbent and oxidizing agent are scattered on top of the contaminated soil. In this method, the soil is not disturbed, and the halogen-containing adsorbent, particularly bromine-containing activated carbon, together with the oxidizing agent, is present in the uppermost layer of the soil, blocking the movement of mercury from the soil.

[0060] A mixture can be created to improve the penetration of a halogen-containing adsorbent (especially bromine-containing activated carbon) into a solid (especially soil) by mixing it with an oxidizing agent and another agent. The amount of halogen-containing adsorbent added may be less than 10% of the top layer of soil, the amount of oxidizing agent may be up to 10% of the top layer of soil, and the thickness of the top layer of soil may be up to 10 cm. In some embodiments, a pH adjuster is also optionally applied together with the agent that improves the penetration of the halogen-containing adsorbent and oxidizing agent into the solid, either separately or in a mixture with them.

[0061] The process of the present invention is provided for reducing the environmental availability of at least some of one or more environmental pollutants in a liquid containing one or more environmental pollutants. As used herein, the terms “liquid” and / or “group of liquids” include, but are not limited to, groundwater, wastewater, surface water, brine, freshwater (e.g., lakes, ponds), and other such substances known to those skilled in the art. Substances that are liquids may also be referred to herein as liquid substances.

[0062] Adding and / or coating halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents to a liquid is, (a) Injecting halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents into a liquid, wherein used adsorbents and any residual oxidizing agents can be filtered, and / or (b) Applying halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents to the surface of the liquid, and / or (c) Combining halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents with liquids, and / or (d) Passing the liquid through a fixed bed containing a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent, and / or (e) Passing the liquid through a filter containing a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent, and / or (f) Pumping a liquid through a fixed bed or column containing a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent, and / or (g) Adding halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents to the liquid content may be included.

[0063] As described in (c) above, the combination of halogen-containing adsorbent and oxidizing agent with a liquid can be carried out by combining the halogen-containing adsorbent and oxidizing agent with a bulk liquid, or by combining the halogen-containing adsorbent and oxidizing agent with a portion of the liquid to form a slurry, and then combining that slurry with the remaining liquid.

[0064] Some substances are combinations of at least one solid and at least one liquid, including sludge, slurry, sediment, pore water (such as soil pore water or sediment pore water), and their This includes other solid and liquid combinations. Sediments, soil pore water, and sediment pore water are preferred combinations for treatment in the implementation of the present invention. These combinations are sometimes referred to as multiphase materials. The processes of the present invention are provided to reduce the environmental availability of at least some of the environmental pollutants in a combination comprising one or more environmental pollutants. The materials that are a combination are sometimes referred to as combination materials herein.

[0065] Adding and / or coating a combination of halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents may include adding and / or coating the halogen-containing adsorbent and oxidizing agent to the combination. In such a process, adding and / or coating the combination of halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents may be (a) Injecting a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent into a combination, optionally, through holes and / or wells and / or channels already present in the material (either already present or created by manually drilling holes in the combination, etc.), and / or (b) applying a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent to the surface of the combination, and / or (c) combining the halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent with at least a portion of the surface of the combination described above for solid and / or liquid substances, and / or (d) Combining halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents, and / or (e) Placing halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents in a vacuum well and processing the combination in the vacuum well in a manner similar to that described for solid materials, and / or (f) Adding halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents to a combination, and / or (g) covering the surface of a substance with a layer containing a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent, and / or (h) Placing halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents in the cap, and / or (i) Adding halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents to the reactive barrier, and / or (j) Forming a reactive barrier containing a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent, and / or (k) This may include placing halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents within the geotextile mat.

[0066] The halogen-containing adsorbent and oxidizing agent can be combined with the combination described in (d) above by combining the halogen-containing adsorbent and oxidizing agent with the combination, or by combining the halogen-containing adsorbent and oxidizing agent with a part of the combination to form a mixture, and then combining the mixture with the surface of the combination. In these embodiments, the halogen-containing adsorbent may include, for example, but is not limited to, a halogen-containing activated carbon adsorbent, preferably a bromine-containing carbon adsorbent, and more preferably a bromine-containing activated carbon adsorbent.

[0067] Several preferred methods for adding and / or coating a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent in combination are: (a) Injecting a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent into a combination, (b) Applying a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent to the surface of the combination. (c) Combining halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents with at least a portion of the surface of the combination, and / or (d) Combining halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents.

[0068] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, a number of variables relating to the use of the present invention must be considered depending on the substance being treated. In all processes of the present invention, regardless of whether they apply to solids, liquids, or a combination thereof, given the teachings herein, those skilled in the art will be able to consider the amount of halogen-containing adsorbent to be used, whether any optional components are used in combination with the adsorbent, if so, specific optional components that are beneficial and in what amounts, the number of coats of the process of the present invention, and the beneficial interval between such coats, and the process of the present invention as known purification methods They possess the knowledge to determine whether to use it in combination with the law, and if so, how to combine it to obtain beneficial results.

[0069] The following embodiments are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0070] Example 1 NaBr in water was initially impregnated into powdered activated carbon (PAC, 10.24g NaBr per 100g PAC) to form an adsorbent containing NaBr (NaBr-PAC). The mixture was then dried overnight in an oven at 105°C, and 8 wt% bromine was packed into the NaBr-PAC adsorbent. A blend of NaBr-PAC and various oxidizing agents was formed by dry mixing the NaBr-PAC adsorbent and various oxidizing agents in a weight ratio of 5:1.

[0071] Chlorinated alkaline soil containing elemental mercury, organic mercury, and other contaminants was treated with various adsorbents by dry mixing each adsorbent with a portion of the soil. Each portion was mixed with water, and the resulting water was extracted as soil leachate. The soil leachate was then sampled and analyzed. The amount of mercury present in the leachate from the treated soil was measured using an atomic absorption spectrometer (CVAA; atomic absorption mercury spectrometer with Zeeman background correction, Ohio Lumex Co., model number RA 915+) equipped with a mercury vapor analyzer using cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. The results are summarized in Table 1. [Table 1]

[0072] The results summarized in Table 1 show that the blend of NaBr-PAC and the oxidizing agent exhibits performance equivalent to that of Br-PAC in terms of reducing leached mercury after treatment.

[0073] Further embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to, the following:

[0074] A) A method for reducing the environmental availability of at least one or more environmental pollutants in a substance containing one or more environmental pollutants, the method comprising adding and / or coating the substance with a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent capable of oxidizing elemental mercury, wherein the halogen-containing adsorbent is one or more selected from chlorine, bromine and / or iodine. A method comprising a halogen and one or more substrate materials, wherein the environmental availability of at least some of one or more environmental pollutants in the substance is reduced.

[0075] B) The method according to A), wherein the halogen-containing adsorbent comprises a substrate material selected from one or more carbonaceous materials, and / or the halogen-containing adsorbent comprises a substrate material selected from one or more inorganic materials.

[0076] C) The carbonaceous material is activated carbon, and / or the inorganic material is selected from inorganic oxides, natural zeolites, inorganic carbonates, and clay minerals, as described in B).

[0077] D) The method according to B) or C), wherein the inorganic material is selected from chabazite, silica, kaolinite, and bentonite.

[0078] E) The halogen-containing adsorbent is a bromine-containing adsorbent, as described in any one of items A) to D).

[0079] F) The halogen-containing adsorbent is a halogen-containing activated carbon adsorbent, as described in A).

[0080] G) The halogen-containing adsorbent is a bromine-containing activated carbon adsorbent, as described in A).

[0081] H) The halogen-containing adsorbent has a halogen content of approximately 0.1% to approximately 50% by weight, calculated as bromine based on the total weight of the halogen-containing adsorbent, according to any one of items A) to G).

[0082] I) The method according to any one of A) to G), wherein the oxidizing agent is an inorganic oxidizing agent and / or the oxidizing agent is an organic oxidizing agent.

[0083] J) The method according to I), wherein the inorganic oxidizing agent is a permanganate, hypochlorite and / or chlorate, and / or the inorganic oxidizing agent is an alkali metal salt, alkaline earth metal salt and / or ammonium salt, and / or the organic oxidizing agent is an organic peroxide or halogenated hydantoin.

[0084] K) The method according to I), wherein the inorganic oxidizing agent is an alkali metal permanganate, an alkali metal hypochlorite and / or an alkaline earth metal chlorate, and / or if the oxidizing agent is an organic peroxide, the organic peroxide has a branched alkyl group and / or an aralkyl group, and if the oxidizing agent is a halogenated hydantoin, the halogenated hydantoin is a halogenated 5,5-dihydrocarbyl hydantoin.

[0085] L) The method according to I), wherein the inorganic oxidizing agent is potassium permanganate, sodium hypochlorite and / or calcium chlorate, and / or the organic oxidizing agent is selected from tert-butyl peroxide, 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin and 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

[0086] M) The method according to any one of A) to L), wherein one or more environmental pollutants are mercury, chromium, arsenic and / or selenium.

[0087] N) The substance containing the environmental pollutant is a solid, and adding and / or coating a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent to the solid is, (a) Injecting halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents into a solid, (b) Applying a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent to the surface of a solid, (c) Combining a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent with at least a portion of the surface of a solid, (d) Placing halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents in a vacuum well and processing the solid in the vacuum well, (e) Adding halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents to solids, (f) Combining a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent with a solid, (g) Adding halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents to the reactive barrier, and / or (h) The method according to any one of A) to M), comprising forming a reactive barrier containing a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent, wherein the solid is optionally soil.

[0088] O) The substance containing the environmental pollutant is a liquid, and adding and / or coating a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent to the liquid is, (a) Injecting a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent into a liquid, (b) Applying a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent to the surface of the liquid. (c) Combining a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent with a liquid, (d) Passing the liquid through a fixed bed containing a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent, (e) Passing the liquid through a filter containing a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent, (f) Pumping a liquid through a fixed bed or column containing a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent, and / or (g) The method according to any one of A) to M), comprising adding a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent to the amount of liquid containing.

[0089] P) The substance containing the environmental pollutant is a combination of at least one solid and at least one liquid, and the addition and / or coating of halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents to the combination is: (a) Injecting a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent into a combination, (b) Applying a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent to the surface of the combination. (c) Combining a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent with at least a portion of the surface of the combination, (d) Combining halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents, (e) Placing a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent in a vacuum well and processing the combination in the vacuum well. (f) Adding halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents to a combination, (g) Covering the surface of a substance with a layer containing a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent, (h) Arrange the halogen-containing adsorbent and oxidizing agent in the cap. (i) Adding halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents to the reactive barrier, (j) Forming a reactive barrier containing a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent, and / or (k) The method according to any one of A) to M), comprising placing a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent within a geotextile mat.

[0090] Q) Adding and / or applying, (a) Injecting a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent into a combination, (b) Applying a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent to the surface of the combination. (c) Combining halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents with at least a portion of the surface of the combination, and / or (d) Combining halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents, The method described in P), wherein the combination is of sediment by arbitrary selection.

[0091] R) The method according to Q), wherein the halogen-containing adsorbent comprises a substrate material which is activated carbon.

[0092] S) The substance is soil or sediment, the halogen-containing adsorbent is a bromine-containing activated carbon adsorbent, and the oxidizing agent is sodium hypochlorite, potassium bromate, or calcium chlorate, as described in A).

[0093] The method according to Q), wherein the oxidizing agent is an inorganic oxidizing agent, and the inorganic oxidizing agent is an alkali metal permanganate, an alkali metal hypochlorite and / or an alkaline earth metal chlorate, and / or the oxidizing agent is an organic oxidizing agent, and if the organic oxidizing agent is an organic peroxide, the organic peroxide has a branched alkyl group and / or an aralkyl group, and if the oxidizing agent is a halogenated hydantoin, the halogenated hydantoin is a halogenated 5,5-dihydrocarbyl hydantoin.

[0094] U) The method according to T), wherein the inorganic oxidizing agent is potassium permanganate, sodium hypochlorite and / or calcium chlorate, and / or the organic oxidizing agent is selected from tert-butyl peroxide, 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin and 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

[0095] V) A blend of a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent capable of oxidizing elemental mercury, wherein the halogen-containing adsorbent comprises one or more halogens selected from chlorine, bromine and / or iodine.

[0096] W) The blend according to V), wherein the halogen in the halogen-containing adsorbent is bromine and / or iodine, the halogen-containing adsorbent comprises a substrate material selected from one or more carbonaceous materials, and if the oxidizing agent is an inorganic oxidizing agent, the oxidizing agent is a permanganate, hypochlorite and / or chlorate, and / or the oxidizing agent is an alkali metal salt, an alkaline earth metal salt and / or ammonium salt, and if the oxidizing agent is an organic oxidizing agent, the oxidizing agent is an organic peroxide or halogenated hydantoin.

[0097] X) A method for forming a blend of a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent capable of oxidizing elemental mercury, a)i) forming a halogen-containing adsorbent by combining a halogen-containing compound and a substrate material, and ii) combining the halogen-containing adsorbent with an oxidizing agent, or b) A method comprising combining a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent.

[0098] Y) The method according to X), where the halogen of the halogen-containing adsorbent is bromine, the substrate material is a carbonaceous material, the oxidizing agent is an inorganic oxidizing agent, the inorganic oxidizing agent is a permanganate, hypochlorite and / or chlorate, and / or the inorganic oxidizing agent is an alkali metal salt, alkaline earth metal salt and / or ammonium salt, and the oxidizing agent is an organic oxidizing agent, the organic oxidizing agent is an organic peroxide or halogenated hydantoin.

[0099] Z) The method according to Y), wherein the inorganic oxidizing agent is an alkali metal permanganate, an alkali metal hypochlorite and / or an alkaline earth metal chlorate, and / or if the oxidizing agent is an organic oxidizing agent, if the organic oxidizing agent is an organic peroxide, the organic peroxide has a branched alkyl group and / or an aralkyl group, and if the organic oxidizing agent is a halogenated hydantoin, the halogenated hydantoin is a halogenated 5,5-dihydrocarbyl hydantoin.

[0100] AA) The inorganic oxidizing agents are potassium permanganate, sodium hypochlorite and / or calcium chlorate, and / or the organic oxidizing agents are tert-butyl peroxide, 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin and 1,3-dibromo-5,5 - The method described in Z), selected from dimethylhydantoin.

[0101] AB) The substrate material is activated carbon, and the method according to any one of Y) to AA).

[0102] Any component referred to by a chemical name or chemical formula in this specification or in the claims, whether referred to in the singular or plural, is identified as existing before contact with another substance referred to by a chemical name or chemical type (e.g., another component, solvent, etc.). It is irrelevant what kind of chemical changes, transformations and / or reactions may occur in the resulting mixture or solution, for such changes, transformations and / or reactions are natural consequences of bringing together certain components under the conditions required in accordance with this disclosure. Thus, this component is identified as the component that is brought together in connection with the performance of the desired operation or the formation of the desired composition. Furthermore, even when the claims of this specification refer to a substance, component, or component in the present tense (e.g., "includes," "is"), this substance, component, or component is referred to as if it existed at the time immediately before it was first brought into contact with, blended, or mixed with one or more other substances, components, and / or components in accordance with this disclosure. Therefore, there is no substantial concern that any substance, component, or ingredient may have lost its original identity through a chemical reaction or transformation during the course of an operation of contact, blending, or mixing, provided that such operation is carried out in accordance with the present disclosure and the ordinary skill of a chemist.

[0103] The present invention may include, consist of, or essentially consist of the materials and / or procedures listed herein.

[0104] As used herein, the term “about” modifying the amount of a component in the composition of the present invention or used in the method of the present invention refers to the variation in numerical amounts that may occur, for example, due to typical measurement and liquid handling procedures used in the real world to produce concentrates or working solutions, careless errors in these procedures, differences in the manufacture, source, or purity of the components used in the production of the composition or the implementation of the method. The term “about” also encompasses different amounts resulting from different equilibrium conditions of compositions obtained from a particular initial mixture. Whether modified by the term “about” or not, the claims include equivalent amounts.

[0105] Unless expressly indicated otherwise, the articles “a” or “an,” as used herein, are not intended, nor should they be construed as limiting the description or claims to a single element to which the article refers. Rather, as used herein, the articles “a” or “an,” unless otherwise specified in the text, are intended to encompass one or more such elements.

[0106] The present invention is susceptible to considerable variability in its implementation. Therefore, the foregoing description is not intended to limit the invention to the specific examples presented above, nor should it be construed as such.

Claims

1. A method for reducing the environmental usability of at least some of the environmental pollutants in a substance containing one or more environmental pollutants, wherein the method is: The method comprises adding and / or coating a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent capable of oxidizing elemental mercury to the substance, wherein the halogen-containing adsorbent comprises one or more halogens selected from chlorine, bromine and / or iodine, and one or more substrate materials. The method wherein the environmental usability of at least some of one or more environmental pollutants in the substance is reduced.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the halogen-containing adsorbent comprises a substrate material selected from one or more carbonaceous materials, and / or the halogen-containing adsorbent comprises a substrate material selected from one or more inorganic materials.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the carbonaceous material is activated carbon and / or the inorganic material is selected from inorganic oxides, natural zeolites, inorganic carbonates and clay minerals.

4. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 3, wherein the inorganic material is selected from chabazite, silica, kaolinite, and bentonite.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the halogen-containing adsorbent is a bromine-containing adsorbent.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the halogen-containing adsorbent is a halogen-containing activated carbon adsorbent.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the halogen-containing adsorbent is a bromine-containing activated carbon adsorbent.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the halogen-containing adsorbent has a halogen content of about 0.1% by weight to about 50% by weight, calculated as bromine based on the total weight of the halogen-containing adsorbent.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the oxidizing agent is an inorganic oxidizing agent and / or the oxidizing agent is an organic oxidizing agent.

10. The inorganic oxidizing agent is a permanganate, a hypochlorite and / or a chlorate, and / or the inorganic oxidizing agent is an alkali metal salt, an alkaline earth metal salt and / or an ammonium salt, and / or The method according to claim 9, wherein the organic oxidizing agent is an organic peroxide or a halogenated hydantoin.

11. The inorganic oxidizing agent is an alkali metal permanganate, an alkali metal hypochlorite and / or an alkaline earth metal chlorate, and / or The method according to claim 9, wherein if the oxidizing agent is an organic peroxide, the organic peroxide has a branched alkyl group and / or an aralkyl group, and if the oxidizing agent is a halogenated hydantoin, the halogenated hydantoin is a halogenated 5,5-dihydrocarbyl hydantoin.

12. The inorganic oxidizing agent is potassium permanganate, sodium hypochlorite and / or calcium chlorate, and / or The method according to claim 9, wherein the organic oxidizing agent is selected from tert-butylperoxide, 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, and 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the one or more environmental pollutants are mercury, chromium, arsenic and / or selenium.

14. The substance containing the aforementioned environmental pollutant is a solid, and adding and / or coating the halogen-containing adsorbent and oxidizing agent to the solid is, (a) Injecting a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent into the solid, (b) Applying a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent to the surface of the solid, (c) Combining a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent with at least a portion of the surface of the solid, (d) Arranging a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent in a vacuum well, and processing the solid in the vacuum well, (e) Adding halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents to solids, (f) Combining a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent with the solid, (g) Adding halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents to the reactive barrier, and / or (h) Forming a reactive barrier containing a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent, The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the solid is optionally soil.

15. The substance containing the aforementioned environmental pollutant is a liquid, and adding and / or coating the halogen-containing adsorbent and oxidizing agent to the liquid is, (a) Injecting a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent into the liquid, (b) Applying a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent to the surface of the liquid, (c) Combining a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent with the liquid, (d) Passing the liquid through a fixed bed containing a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent, (e) Passing the liquid through a filter containing a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent, (f) Pumping the liquid through a fixed bed or column containing a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent, and / or (g) The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising adding a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent to the amount of liquid containing the adsorbent.

16. The substance containing the aforementioned environmental pollutant is a combination of at least one solid and at least one liquid, and the addition and / or application of the halogen-containing adsorbent and oxidizing agent to the combination is (a) Injecting a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent into the above combination, (b) Applying a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent to the surface of the above combination, (c) Combining a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent with at least a portion of the surface of the above combination, (d) Combining the halogen-containing adsorbent and the oxidizing agent with the above combination, (e) Placing the halogen-containing adsorbent and oxidizing agent in a vacuum well and processing the combination in the vacuum well, (f) Adding the halogen-containing adsorbent and oxidizing agent to the combination, (g) Covering the surface of the substance with a layer containing a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent, (h) Arrange the halogen-containing adsorbent and oxidizing agent in the cap. (i) Adding halogen-containing adsorbents and oxidizing agents to the reactive barrier, (j) Forming a reactive barrier containing a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent, and / or (k) The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising placing a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent in a geotextile mat.

17. The aforementioned addition and / or application is (a) Injecting a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent into the above combination, (b) Applying a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent to the surface of the above combination, (c) Combining a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent with at least a portion of the surface of the combination, and / or (d) Combining a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent with the above combination, The method according to claim 16, wherein the combination is optionally a sediment.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the halogen-containing adsorbent comprises a substrate material which is activated carbon.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the substance is soil or sediment, the halogen-containing adsorbent is a bromine-containing activated carbon adsorbent, and the oxidizing agent is sodium hypochlorite, potassium bromate, or calcium chlorate.

20. The oxidizing agent is an inorganic oxidizing agent, and the inorganic oxidizing agent is an alkali metal permanganate, an alkali metal hypochlorite and / or an alkaline earth metal chlorate, and / or The method according to claim 17, wherein the oxidizing agent is an organic oxidizing agent, and if the organic oxidizing agent is an organic peroxide, the organic peroxide has a branched alkyl group and / or an aralkyl group, and if the oxidizing agent is a halogenated hydantoin, the halogenated hydantoin is a halogenated 5,5-dihydrocarbyl hydantoin.

21. The inorganic oxidizing agent is potassium permanganate, sodium hypochlorite and / or calcium chlorate, and / or The method according to claim 20, wherein the organic oxidizing agent is selected from tert-butyl peroxide, 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, and 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

22. A blend of a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent capable of oxidizing elemental mercury, wherein the halogen-containing adsorbent comprises one or more halogens selected from chlorine, bromine, and / or iodine.

23. The blend according to claim 22, wherein the halogen in the halogen-containing adsorbent is bromine and / or iodine, the halogen-containing adsorbent comprises a substrate material selected from one or more carbonaceous materials, and if the oxidizing agent is an inorganic oxidizing agent, the oxidizing agent is a permanganate, a hypochlorite and / or a chlorate, and / or the oxidizing agent is an alkali metal salt, an alkaline earth metal salt and / or an ammonium salt, and if the oxidizing agent is an organic oxidizing agent, the oxidizing agent is an organic peroxide or a halogenated hydantoin.

24. A method for forming a blend of a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent capable of oxidizing elemental mercury, A) i) Combining a halogen-containing compound and a substrate material to form a halogen-containing adsorbent, and ii) Combining the halogen-containing adsorbent with an oxidizing agent, or B) The method comprising combining a halogen-containing adsorbent and an oxidizing agent.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein if the halogen in the halogen-containing adsorbent is bromine, the substrate material is a carbonaceous material; if the oxidizing agent is an inorganic oxidizing agent, the inorganic oxidizing agent is a permanganate, a hypochlorite and / or a chlorate, and / or the inorganic oxidizing agent is an alkali metal salt, an alkaline earth metal salt and / or an ammonium salt; and if the oxidizing agent is an organic oxidizing agent, the organic oxidizing agent is an organic peroxide or a halogenated hydantoin.

26. The inorganic oxidizing agent is an alkali metal permanganate, an alkali metal hypochlorite and / or an alkaline earth metal chlorate, and / or The method according to claim 25, wherein the oxidizing agent is an organic oxidizing agent, the organic oxidizing agent is an organic peroxide, the organic peroxide has a branched alkyl group and / or an aralkyl group, and the organic oxidizing agent is a halogenated hydantoin, the halogenated hydantoin is a halogenated 5,5-dihydrocarbyl hydantoin.

27. The inorganic oxidizing agent is potassium permanganate, sodium hypochlorite and / or calcium chlorate, and / or The method according to claim 26, wherein the organic oxidizing agent is selected from tert-butylperoxide, 1,3-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, and 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

28. The method according to any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein the substrate material is activated carbon.