Oxidation of contaminants

Abstract

Various embodiments of contaminant removal systems, compositions, and methods are described herein. In one embodiment, a method for oxidizing a contaminant includes contacting the contaminant with a peroxygen compound and initializing, maintaining, or propagating degradation of the peroxygen compound with an oxygenated organic compound, thereby releasing oxidizing radicals. The method also includes oxidizing the contaminant with the released oxidizing radicals.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for oxidizing a contaminant, comprising the steps of:
 adding both a peroxygen compound and an oxygenated organic compound to a medium which includes the contaminant and one or more of sediment, soil, sludge, rock, groundwater, wastewater, and process water; and   oxidizing the contaminant in the medium using oxidizing radicals released by a reaction of the peroxygen compound with the oxygenated organic compound.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  where the step of adding is performed simultaneously. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  where the step of adding is performed sequentially. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  where the peroxygen compound is a persulfate salt. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  where the oxygenated organic compound is selected from the group consisting of sugars, carbohydrates, acetone, sodium pyruvate, pyruvate acid, citrate, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, t-butyl alcohol, formaldehyde, 2-butanone, 2-pentanone, 2-heptanone, oxalic acid, acetoacetic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, 1-pentanol, 2-pentanol, 3-pentanol, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, butyraldehyde, levulinic acid, isobutanol, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the oxygenated organic compound is citrate. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the step of adjusting a pH of the medium. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the contaminant is selected from the group consisting of volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, non-halogenated and halogenated solvents, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, total petroleum hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, chlorinated benzenes, gasoline additives, and pesticides. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the oxidizing radicals include one or more of sulfate radicals and hydroxyl radicals. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the adding step includes the step of injecting the peroxygen compound and the sugar into the medium, and further comprising the step of adjusting an injection rate based on a hydrogeological condition of the medium.