In-Situ Acid Tar Soil Stabilization via Mixing and Binding

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for treating acid tar deposited on soil are inefficient and environmentally harmful, requiring transportation and complex processing, and are not suitable for in-situ remediation due to its unique composition and properties.

Innovation Solution

The method involves mixing acid tar with mineral soil material to create a homogeneous mixture, followed by in-situ stabilization and solidification using binders like cement or lime, allowing for on-site treatment without relocation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If acid tar is transported to a treatment plant for processing, then the acid tar can be treated using existing methods, but transportation costs increase and environmental exposure risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidtransportation cost and environmental exposure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the acid tar deposit to treat itself in-situ by utilizing the underlying soil as a natural processing medium. The soil is mixed with the acid tar through mechanical agitation, and the natural chemical properties of the soil facilitate neutralization and stabilization without requiring external treatment facilities or transportation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The underlying soil acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the acid tar and the environment. By mixing the soil with the acid tar, it facilitates chemical neutralization and physical stabilization, enabling treatment without transportation to external facilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If lime is poured over acid tar on site for neutralization, then the acid tar can be neutralized, but the resulting gypsum-tar-oil sludge requires expensive special dumps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveacidity neutralizationVSAvoiddisposal facility requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite material by mixing acid tar with underlying soil, transforming the hazardous acid tar into a stabilized composite that integrates with the soil matrix. This composite structure allows the harmful components to be bound within the soil, eliminating the need for specialized disposal facilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful acid tar into a beneficial stabilized material by utilizing the natural neutralizing properties of the underlying soil. The previously harmful substance becomes part of a stabilized composite that can remain in-situ without requiring expensive special dumps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Quantity of substance

If acid tar is incinerated to eliminate it, then the volume is reduced, but sulfur emissions are produced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume reductionVSAvoidsulfur emissions
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of incinerating the acid tar and producing harmful sulfur emissions, the patent utilizes the natural neutralizing properties of the underlying soil to chemically transform the acid tar into a stabilized form. This converts a potentially harmful thermal process into a beneficial chemical neutralization that eliminates emissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Ease of operation

If viscous-reducing additives are used to make acid tar pumpable, then the acid tar can be conveyed through pipes, but complex apparatus must be brought to the site

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveconveyabilityVSAvoidprocessing equipment requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the need for external viscous-reducing additives and complex processing equipment by utilizing the underlying soil itself as the processing medium. The mechanical mixing of soil with acid tar provides both the necessary physical agitation and chemical neutralization, simplifying the equipment requirements to basic mixing apparatus.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables safe and effective stabilization and solidification of acid tar, reducing environmental risk and avoiding pollutant transport, with the treated material classified as non-hazardous waste, thus minimizing ecological and health hazards.

Implementation Method 1

In a next step, the mixture is subjected to in-situ stabilization and solidification

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStabilization and solidification: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP3106239B1Method for the treatment of acid tar deposited on soil
Publication Date: 2017.09.27 CDM SMITH CONSULT GMBH
  • EP3106239B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3106239B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2d
  • EP3106239B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a process for processing acid tar deposited on soil, in particular with a layer thickness of at least 1 m, characterized in that the deposited acid tar is mixed on site with soil material containing mineral substance from the soil to form a substantially homogeneous mixture until the proportion of soil material to acid tar is at least 30:70, preferably 50:50, after which binders are introduced into this mixture for in-situ stabilization and consolidation.