Aerosol injection into vadose zone

Abstract

An apparatus and process for delivering aerosol-based amendments into a subsurface region is provided. The apparatus used to form the aerosol has an ability to restrict the aerosol particle size to a preferred particle size range such that undesired particle sizes are not introduced. By maintaining a proper ratio of aerosol particle size to subsurface pore size, the efficiency of an aerosol introduction can be enhanced.

1 . A process of introducing an aerosol into a vadose zone comprising the steps of:
 providing an aerosolizer;   using said aerosolizer to select a desired aerosol particle size, said aerosol containing at least one of an edible oil, a bacteria, or a reactive chemical; and,   introducing said component containing aerosol into a vadose zone, said aerosol being distributed in a radial pattern relative to an injection zone site.   
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein said step of selecting an ideal aerosol particle size further includes selecting the aerosol particle size based on the size of an average sub-surface pore within a targeted injection zone. 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein said step of selecting a desired aerosol particle size further includes blocking the delivery of particle sizes greater than the desired particle size during the aerosol formation step. 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein said component containing aerosols released into a vadose zone has a particle size distribution that can range from about 0.1 to about 10 microns. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for generating an aerosol for introducing materials into a vadose zone comprising:
 a gas inlet in communication with a gas conduit;   a liquid inlet being in communication with said gas conduit, said gas conduit adapted to receive a liquid from said liquid inlet thereby generating an aerosol stream;   an impaction plate placed within said aerosol stream, said impaction plate directing aerosol particles above a certain target size in a first direction whereas aerosol particles within a target size are directed toward an outlet, said outlet in communication with a conduit for release of the aerosol into a vadose zone.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein the size of said liquid inlet is adjustable. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein the pressure of the gas introduced into said gas inlet is variable. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein a position of said impaction plate relative to an aerosol stream is positionable. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one of an edible oil, a bacteria, or a reactive chemical is selected for an ability to remediate a contaminant in situ in a vadose zone. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein said aerosol containing at least one of an edible oil, a bacteria, or a reactive chemical establishes a barrier layer within the vadose zone to reduce migration of contaminants within said vadose zone.