Apparatus, System, and Method For Remediation of Contamination

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method for removing and treating contaminated materials on a bottom of a body of water and introducing growth packets to revitalize the treated bottom of the body of water. The structure may comprise a vessel with an open face. The vessel may be lowered down to the bottom of the body of water with the face facing down. As a result, the vessel and the bottom form an isolated space. The structure may comprise at least one agitating device(s) for stirring up the materials inside the vessel so as to form a mixture containing the sediment materials which in turn contain the contaminants. Multiple at least one pipe(s) may be coupled to the vessel for transporting the mixture out of the vessel for processing (filtering, treating with chemicals, etc.) so as to neutralize or eliminate the contaminants in the mixture. Then, the treated mixture can be returned to the inside of the vessel via the at least one pipe(s).

1 - 96 . (canceled) 
     
     
         97 . An apparatus for remediation of contaminated sediment at the bottom of a body of water, said apparatus comprising:
 a vessel having an opening facing and configured for direct physical contact with the bottom of the body of water so as to isolate contaminated locations contained within the opening from locations outside the opening; the vessel comprising:   first, second, third, and fourth side plates, a top plate, and an opening, wherein the polygon shaped vessel has been adapted for being lowered to the body of water with the opening facing a bottom of the body of water;   first, second, third, and fourth curtain plates abutting and having been coupled to the first, second, third, and the fourth side plates, respectively, wherein the first, second, third, and the fourth curtain plates have been adapted for being lowered to the bottom of the body of water; and   at least one agitator for suspending sediment contained within the opening;   a mapping system ( 40 ) for determining a longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates of the contaminated locations;   first pipes configured to transport the contained and suspended sediment from the isolated area to the location outside of the isolated area; and   a pumping system including first pipes configured to transport the contained and suspended sediment from the isolated location.   
     
     
         98 . The apparatus of  claim 97 , wherein the mapping system is a Geographical Positioning System (GPS). 
     
     
         99 . The apparatus of  claim 98 , wherein the at least one agitator is selected from the group consisting of a paddle, an auger, a spray head, a whip, a prop a fluid distribution device and a gas distribution device. 
     
     
         100 . The apparatus of  claim 97 , comprising a processing system for removing contaminants from suspended sediment. 
     
     
         101 . The apparatus of  claim 100 , wherein the processing system comprises a filter system. 
     
     
         102 . The apparatus of  claim 97 , wherein processing system is configured for thermal treatment, chemical treatment, radiation treatment or a combination thereof of the suspended sediment. 
     
     
         103 . The apparatus of  claim 100 , further comprising second pipes configured to transport processed suspended sediment from the processing system to the isolated area. 
     
     
         104 . the apparatus of  claim 97 , further comprising a vacuum system coupled to the vessel and configured to reduce the pressure of the interior of the vessel so as to releaseably seal the vessel onto the bottom of the body of water. 
     
     
         105 . The apparatus of  claim 100 , further comprising any of:
 a monitoring device coupled to the vessel and configured to monitor the materials within the interior of the vessel;   an observing device coupled to the vessel and configured to observe the materials within the interior of the vessel;   a sampling device coupled to the vessel and adapted to sample the materials within the interior of the vessel;   a lifting device coupled to the vessel and adapted for positioning the vessel; and/or   a testing system coupled to the vessel and configured to test the materials within the interior of the vessel.   
     
     
         106 . The apparatus of  claim 103 , wherein the second pipes are further configured to transport a growth packet containing materials for plant growth into the interior of the vessel. 
     
     
         107 . The apparatus of  claim 105 , further comprising:
 first and second rams;   first and second pistons adapted for sliding inside the first and second rams, respectively;   first and second single-plane connectors coupling the first and second pistons, respectively, to the first curtain plane, wherein the first and second single-plane connectors enable the first curtain plate to rotate only in a plane parallel to the first side plate of the vessel.   
     
     
         108 . The apparatus of  claim 105 , further comprising:
 third and fourth rams;   third and fourth pistons adapted for sliding inside the third and fourth rams, respectively;   third and fourth single-plane connectors coupling the third and fourth pistons, respectively, to the second curtain plane, wherein the third and fourth single-plane connectors enable the second curtain plate to rotate only in a plane parallel to the second side plate of the vessel.   
     
     
         109 . The apparatus of  claim 107 , wherein each of the first and second rams has been adapted for rotating around a point affixed to the vessel and only in a plane parallel to the first side plate, and wherein each of the third and fourth rams has been adapted for rotating around a point affixed to the vessel and only in a plane parallel to the second side plate. 
     
     
         110 . The apparatus of  claim 97 , wherein the first and second curtain plates are at opposite sides of the rectangular vessel and the third and fourth curtain plates are at opposite sides of the rectangular vessel, and wherein the first and second curtain plates are longer in length than the first and second side plates of the vessel, and the third and fourth curtain plates are the same in length as the third and fourth side plates of the vessel. 
     
     
         111 . A method for forming an enclosed space in a bottom of a body of water, the method comprising:
 providing the apparatus of  claim 97 , including first, second, third, and fourth side plates, a top plate, and an opening, wherein an open face of the vessel faces the longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates of a contaminated location at a bottom of the body of water;   providing first, second, third, and fourth curtain plates abutting and having been coupled to the first, second, third and the fourth side plates, respectively;   lowering the first, second, third, and the fourth curtain plates to the bottom of the body of water;   agitating the sediment on the bottom of the body of water;   pumping the contained and suspended sediment through first pipes configured to transport the contained and suspended sediment from the isolated area to the location outside of the isolated area; and   
       relocating the open faced vessel to the longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates of another contaminated location without raising the polygonal vessel because a slope direction of the bottom of the body of water is from the third curtain plate to the fourth curtain plate. 
     
     
         112 . A method for removing chemical contaminants at the bottom of a body of water, comprising:
 providing the apparatus as defined in  claim 97 ;   positioning the vessel above the contaminated sediment with its opening facing and in direct physical contact with the bottom of the body of water;   agitating the water in the resulting isolated area to suspend sediment contained therein;   transporting the contained and suspended sediment to the processing system, removing contaminants from the suspended sediment by means of the processing system and transporting suspended sediment from the processing system to the isolated area for refilling the isolated area.   
     
     
         113 . The method of  claim 112 , wherein the contaminant is selected from:
 (a) mercury, lead or other heavy metal;   (b) chromium, magnesium, manganese or copper;   (c) polychlorinated biphenyl or a chlorinated dioxin;   (d) benzene, toluene, trichloroethylene or another aromatic or halogenated solvent.   
     
     
         114 . The method of  claim 112 , further comprising providing a vacuum system coupled to the vessel and reducing, with the vacuum system, the pressure of the interior of the vessel so as to releaseably seal the vessel onto the bottom of the body of water. 
     
     
         115 . The method of  claim 112 , further comprising providing a sample site coupled to the first pipe, and transporting to the sample site samples of the materials in the first pipe for testing. 
     
     
         116 . The method of  claim 112 , wherein the body of water is naturally occurring and is a lake, reservoir, river or stream. 
     
     
         117 . A method for removing chemical contaminants at the bottom of a body of water, comprising:
 providing the apparatus as defined in  claim 97 ;   positioning the vessel above the contaminated sediment with its opening facing and in direct physical contact with the bottom of the body of water;   agitating the water in the resulting isolated area to suspend sediment contained therein;   transporting the contained and suspended sediment to the processing system, removing contaminants from the suspended sediment by means of the processing system and transporting suspended sediment from the processing system to the isolated area for refilling the isolated area.   
     
     
         117 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein the contaminant is selected from:
 (a) mercury, lead or other heavy metal;   (b) chromium, magnesium, manganese or copper;   (c) polychlorinated biphenyl or a chlorinated dioxin;   (d) benzene, toluene, trichloroethylene or another aromatic or halogenated solvent.   
     
     
         118 . The method of  claim 106 , further comprising providing a vacuum system coupled to the vessel and reducing, with the vacuum system, the pressure of the interior of the vessel so as to releaseably seal the vessel onto the bottom of the body of water. 
     
     
         119 . The method of  claim 117 , further comprising providing a sample site coupled to the first pipe, and transporting to the sample site samples of the materials in the first pipe for testing. 
     
     
         120 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein the body of water is naturally occurring and is a lake, reservoir, river or stream.