Method for Volumetric Reduction of Organic Liquids

Abstract

Methods are provided for the volumetric reduction of organic liquids. The methods comprise admixing a porous matrix material with an organic liquid to produce a mixture, forcing oxidant through the mixture, and initiating a self-sustaining smoldering combustion of the mixture. Additional embodiments aggregate the organic liquid or porous matrix material or mixture thereof in an impoundment such as a reaction vessel, lagoon or matrix pile. Further embodiments utilize at least one heater to initiate combustion and at least one air supply port to supply oxidant to initiate and maintain combustion. Yet further embodiments comprise the batch addition of a fuel additive to the aggregate prior to smoldering to ensure that the ensuing smoldering combustion is self-sustaining or of the required temperature to reduce or remove other contaminants in the matrix or organic liquid such as heavy metals or asbestos.

1 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid, the method comprising:
 admixing an organic liquid with a porous matrix material to produce a mixture;   heating a portion of the mixture;   forcing oxidant through the mixture; and   terminating the source of heat applied to the mixture;   so as to initiate self-sustaining smoldering combustion of the mixture to cause volumetric reduction of the organic liquid.   
     
     
         2 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 1 , further comprising causing propagation of the combustion away from a point of ignition of the combustion. 
     
     
         3 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 1 , further comprising aggregating the organic liquid in a reaction vessel. 
     
     
         4 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 1 , further comprising aggregating the organic liquid in a pile that includes the porous matrix material. 
     
     
         5 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 1 , further comprising aggregating the porous matrix in an organic liquid lagoon. 
     
     
         6 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 1 , further comprising continuously feeding the mixture into a zone of smoldering combustion. 
     
     
         7 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 1 , wherein admixing the porous matrix material comprises batch-feeding of the liquid and the porous material into the vessel. 
     
     
         8 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 1 , further comprising using a mixing tool to admix the porous matrix material with the liquid to produce the mixture. 
     
     
         9 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 8 , wherein the mixing tool includes a rotating helical blade. 
     
     
         10 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 1 , wherein admixing the porous matrix material with the liquid to produce the mixture comprises:
 forming a permanent or semi-permanent confinement bed comprising the porous matrix material; and   continuously pouring the liquid into the confinement bed.   
     
     
         11 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 1 , wherein admixing the porous matrix material with the liquid to produce the mixture comprises:
 forming a confinement bed comprising the organic liquid; and   continuously pouring the porous matrix material into the confinement bed.   
     
     
         12 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 1 , further comprising aggregating the organic liquid in natural or made ground. 
     
     
         13 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 1 , wherein forcing oxidant through the mixture includes injecting air into the mixture through an injection port. 
     
     
         14 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 1 , wherein initiating smoldering combustion includes applying heat to the mixture from an internal conductive heating source in direct contact with the mixture. 
     
     
         15 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 1 , wherein initiating smoldering combustion includes applying heat to the mixture from a convective heating source coupled to the mixture. 
     
     
         16 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 15 , wherein the convective heating source is external to the mixture. 
     
     
         17 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 15 , wherein the convective heating source is located within the mixture. 
     
     
         18 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 1 , wherein initiating smoldering combustion includes applying radiative heat to the mixture. 
     
     
         19 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 13 , wherein forcing oxidant through the mixture includes injecting air into the mixture through a plurality of injection ports. 
     
     
         20 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 13 , wherein forcing oxidant through the mixture includes creating a vacuum to suck oxidant through the mixture. 
     
     
         21 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 1 , wherein initiating smoldering combustion includes applying heat to the mixture from at least one of a plurality of heating sources. 
     
     
         22 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the plurality of heating sources is a convective heating source external to the mixture. 
     
     
         23 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the plurality of heating sources is a convective heating source located within the mixture. 
     
     
         24 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the plurality of heating sources is an internal conductive heating source in direct contact with the mixture. 
     
     
         25 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the plurality of heating sources applies radiative heat to the mixture. 
     
     
         26 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 admixing the porous matrix material with the liquid using a helical mixing tool to produce the mixture;   supplying the mixture via a first conveyor system into the zone of smoldering combustion; and   removing the combusted product via a second conveyor system.   
     
     
         27 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 1 , further comprising aggregating the organic liquid above ground level. 
     
     
         28 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 1 , further comprising aggregating the organic liquid below ground level. 
     
     
         29 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 1 , further comprising aggregating the organic liquid within natural or made ground. 
     
     
         30 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous matrix material is sand, soils, silt, loam, fill, cobbles, gravel, crushed stone, glass, ceramics, zeolite, woodchips, charcoal, coal, drill cuttings or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         31 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 1 , further comprising carrying out the smoldering combustion at a temperature within a range between 200 and 2000 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         32 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid according to  claim 1 , further comprising forcing air through the mixture at a linear velocity of between 0.0001 and 100 centimetres per second. 
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising admixing a fuel additive with the porous matrix material and the liquid prior to combustion. 
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the organic liquid is a liquid. 
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the organic liquid is a sludge. 
     
     
         36 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the organic liquid comprises a heavy metal and the method further comprises the step of maintaining self-sustaining smoldering combustion until some or all the heavy metal is removed from the mixture. 
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous matrix contains a heavy metal and the method further comprises the step of maintaining self-sustaining smoldering combustion until some or all the heavy metal is removed from the mixture. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the heavy metal is mercury. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the heavy metal is mercury. 
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the organic liquid comprises asbestos and the methods further comprises the step of maintaining self-sustaining smoldering combustion until some or all the asbestos is rendered less toxic or non-toxic by exposure to the smoldering heat. 
     
     
         41 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous matrix contains asbestos and the methods further comprises the step of maintaining self-sustaining smoldering combustion until some or all the asbestos is rendered less toxic or non-toxic by exposure to the smoldering heat. 
     
     
         42 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous matrix is a soil which contains moisture and the methods further comprises the step of maintaining self-sustaining smoldering combustion until some or all the moisture is removed from the soil. 
     
     
         43 . A method for volumetric reduction of organic liquid, the method comprising:
 aggregating the organic liquid in a reaction vessel, matrix pile or lagoon to form an aggregate;   adding a supplemental fuel selected from a group comprising vegetable oil, tar, chemical oxidants, drilling muds and petroleum hydrocarbons to the aggregate;   admixing a porous matrix material selected from a group comprising sand, soils, silt, loam, fill, cobbles, gravel, crushed stone, glass, ceramics, zeolite, woodchips, charcoal, coal, drill cuttings and combinations thereof with the liquid to produce a mixture, wherein the mixture is sufficiently uniform to enable a self-sustaining smoldering combustion;   heating a portion of the mixture with at least one conductive, convective or radiative heater;   forcing oxidant through the mixture from at least one air supply port;   terminating the source of heat applied to the mixture; and   forcing air through the mixture from at least one air supply port; and   so as to initiate self-sustaining smoldering combustion of the mixture to cause volumetric reduction of the organic liquid.