Apparatus for Treating Perfluoroalkyl Compounds

Abstract

An apparatus for treating a site containing perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) is described. The apparatus treats the site with fine oxygen/ozone gas bubbles delivered with a hydroperoxide coating and solution which is activated by self-created temperature or applied temperature to raise the oxidation potential above 2.9 volts. Once begun, the reaction is often self-promulgating until the PFC is exhausted, if PFC concentrations are sufficiently elevated.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A generator comprising:
 a casing able to raise pressure above 1 bar beyond atmospheric pressure or above 15 psi;   a bubble generator disposed in the casing, wherein the bubble generator receives a supply of a gas comprising ozone and a solution comprising a peroxide; and   a stirrer disposed near an egress of the casing.   
     
     
         2 . The generator of  claim 1 , wherein the stirrer comprises a paddle of magnetic material. 
     
     
         3 . The generator of  claim 2 , further comprising a magnetic stirrer disposed against the paddle to cause the paddle to rotate and act as a stirrer. 
     
     
         4 . The generator of  claim 1 , wherein the bubble generator comprises a porous diffuser having a pore size selected over the range of about 1 μm to about 50 nm. 
     
     
         5 . The generator of  claim 1 , wherein the bubble generator receives a hydroperoxide solution and ozone gas, thereby generating a mixture of bubbles comprising ozone gas having a diameter less than or equal to 10 μm in the hydroperoxide solution. 
     
     
         6 . The generator of  claim 5 , wherein the stirrer stirs the mixture until a saturated emulsion of the bubbles comprising ozone gas forms in the hydroperoxide solution. 
     
     
         7 . The generator of  claim 6 , wherein the saturated emulsion is released in periodic pulses into contaminated soil and groundwater.