Encapsulated Reactant and Process

Abstract

An encapsulated reactant(s) having at least one encapsulant and at least one reactant. An outermost encapsulant is substantially nonreacting, impermeable and nondissolving with water. The reactant(s) contribute to at least one reaction with contaminants in environmental media rendering the environmental media less harmless. Processes for using the encapsulated reactant in environmental media is also hereby claimed.

1 . A process for in situ environmental remediation comprising:
 introducing a plurality of encapsulated reactants into an environmental media, each of said encapsulated reactants having at least one reactant and an outer encapsulant substantially encapsulating said at least one reactant;   contacting at least a portion of said plurality of encapsulated reactants with at least one targeted contaminant in said environmental media;   permeating, dissolving, or reacting a plurality of said outer encapsulants with said at least one targeted contaminant exposing at least a portion of said reactants to said at least one targeted contaminant; and   reacting at least a portion of said at least one targeted contaminant with at least a portion of said plurality of encapsulated reactants.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said at least one reactant has an oxidant. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2  wherein said at least one reactant has an oxidant selected from the group consisting of persulfate, permanganate, peroxygen and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of said plurality of encapsulated reactants have a catalyst. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said step of introducing a plurality of encapsulated reactants into an environmental media comprises injecting said plurality of encapsulated reactants into a zone of contamination in said environmental media having said at least one targeted contaminant. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said step of introducing a plurality of encapsulated reactants into an environmental media comprises placing said plurality of encapsulated reactants into a zone of contamination or in a path of migration of said at least one targeted contaminant in said environmental media. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6  wherein said step of introducing a plurality of encapsulated reactants into an environmental media comprises placing said plurality of encapsulated reactants into a trench in a path of migration of said at least one targeted contaminant in said environmental media. 
     
     
         8 . A process for in situ oxidation of at least one organic contaminant in environmental media comprising:
 placing a plurality of encapsulated reactants into said environmental media wherein said encapsulated reactants have an oxidant selected from the group consisting of persulfate, permanganate, peroxygen, and combinations thereof,   maintaining said reactants in a substantially nonreacted state;   contacting at least a portion of said encapsulated reactants with said at least one organic contaminant;   oxidizing at least a portion of said at least one organic contaminant with said reactants.   
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8  wherein said step of contacting at least a portion of said encapsulated reactants with said at least one organic contaminant is followed by a step of degrading, weakening, or permeating an outer encapsulant about said reactants with said organic contaminant. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 8  wherein at least portion of said oxidants are catalyzed. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 8  wherein said reactants have an oleophilic outer encapsulant. 
     
     
         12 . A process for in situ treating environmental media:
 in situ contacting said environmental media with a plurality of encapsulated oxidants, wherein each of said plurality of encapsulated oxidants has an outer encapsulant and at least one inner oxidant;   maintaining said encapsulated oxidants in a substantially nonreacted state in said in situ environment;   contacting at least a portion of said encapsulated oxidants with at least one targeted constituent;   permeating, dissolving, or reacting a plurality of said outer encapsulants with said at least one targeted constituent exposing at least a portion of said oxidants to said at least one targeted constituent; and   oxidizing at least a portion of said at least one targeted constituent.   
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12  wherein said oxidant is selected from the group consisting of persulfate, permanganate, peroxygen and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 12  wherein said encapsulated oxidant has an outer dimension less than 50 μm. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 12  wherein said oxidant is catalyzed. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 12  wherein said oxidant has persulfate. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 12  wherein said oxidant has permanganate. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 12  wherein said oxidant has peroxygen. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 12  wherein said step of in situ contacting said environmental media with said plurality of encapsulated oxidants is selected from the group consisting of: mixing said encapsulated oxidants with said environmental media; injecting said encapsulated oxidants into said environmental media; placing said encapsulated oxidants in a trench ahead of a flow of said at least one targeted constituent in said environmental media; and placing said plurality of encapsulated oxidants on said environmental media. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 12  wherein said outer encapsulant is oleophilic. 
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 12  wherein said outer encapsulant has a constituent selected from the group consisting of cellulose, wax, polylactic acid, and combinations and derivatives thereof.