A process for the remediation of contaminated particulate materials by the addition of an environmentally benign, carbonaceous fuel source in low concentration to enable or enhance smoldering combustion. The process may be applied to both in situ and ex situ treatments. In an ex situ smoldering process for the remediation of contaminated particulate materials in a continuous manner, contaminated feed is introduced near the top of a treatment unit and treated product emerges near the bottom. A smoldering front is maintained in the unit, fed by the fuel in the contaminated particulate material and a supply of combustion-supporting gas, such as air.

A toxic waste incinerator is capable of enhanced combustion of hazardous waste (oil contaminated sand, human waste, garbage, etc.) utilizing immersed non-combustible and thermally conductive objects for increasing heat feedback from the flames to the unburned fuel, while air inlets are used to optimize the air entrainment rate to enhance the burning efficiency. The burning rate of a fluidic mass such as a sand-oil mixture is enhanced using immersed conductive objects (copper rods) which enable rapid heat-up of the flame exposed to the upper surface of the rod and transmits heat back into the sand. Consequent conduction of heat to the porous media through the lower portion of the immersed rod significantly increases vaporization and therefore the burning rate. Incineration may be performed on a transient, exigent basis as with hazardous waste and oil spills, or as part of a permanent fixture for receiving an ongoing waste stream.

The invention comprises a process for remediation of soil comprising PFAS. The process comprises steps a)-d). In step a) sludge and a first gaseous stream are heated in a first spouting bed incinerator, thereby generating a raw material for a ceramic article and a first gaseous stream comprising a first flue gas, the first gaseous stream comprising the first flue gas having a temperature of at least 800 C. In step b) the first gaseous stream comprising the first flue gas is heat exchanged with a second gaseous stream in an air-to-air heat exchanger, thereby generating a second gaseous stream with a temperature of at least 500 C. In step c) the soil comprising PFAS is contacted with the second gaseous stream in a dryer, thereby evaporating the PFAS from the soil and generating clean soil and a second gaseous stream comprising PFAS. In step d) the second gaseous stream comprising PFAS is further heated to a temperature of at least 1000 C. in a second spouting bed incinerator, thereby generating a second gaseous stream comprising destructed PFAS.

A soil remediation unit that changes the use and purpose of certain commercially available aggregate mixing devices and or pug mills for removing unwanted contaminants from a quantity of contaminated soil aggregate or substrate which includes a canopy and a burner tube attached to the canopy. The burner tube includes an upper securing element and a lower adjustment element. The soil remediation unit also includes a burner supported in a desired position within the burner tube by the upper securing element and the lower adjustment element.

A soil remediation unit that changes the use and purpose of certain commercially available aggregate mixing devices and or pug mills for removing unwanted contaminants from a quantity of contaminated soil aggregate or substrate which includes a canopy and a burner tube attached to the canopy. The burner tube includes an upper securing element and a lower adjustment element. The soil remediation unit also includes a burner supported in a desired position within the burner tube by the upper securing element and the lower adjustment element.

A method destroys organic liquid contaminants contained in a plurality of below-ground volumes by smoldering combustion. The method applies heat to at least a portion of a first one of the volumes of organic liquid and forces oxidant into the first volume of organic liquid so as to initiate self-sustaining smoldering combustion of the first volume of organic liquid. The method may terminate the heat applied to the first volume of organic liquid. Next, the method modulates the flow of the oxidant into the first volume of organic liquid so as to cause at least a portion of the first volume of organic liquid to migrate and come into contact with another one of the volumes of organic liquid, so as to propagate the smoldering combustion. In an alternative embodiment, the flow of the oxidant may be modulated to establish a substantially stationary combustion front.

The present disclosure provides devices and methods for cleaning up or burning spills of burnable materials in situ. In some embodiments, a system for burning a burnable material comprises a base having a first side configured for placement on a surface with a burnable material and a second side; and a plurality heat conducting members extending from the second side of the base.

The present disclosure provides devices and methods for cleaning up or burning spills of burnable materials in situ. In some embodiments, a system for burning a burnable material comprises a base having a first side configured for placement on a surface with a burnable material and a second side; and a plurality heat conducting members extending from the second side of the base.

A system for combusting particulate solids comprises a hopper, a furnace and a secondary afterburner. The furnace further comprises at least one exothermic continuous reaction vessel (ECRV) that has a volume that is significantly smaller than the volume of the furnace, which operates at a temperature that is higher than the temperature in the remainder of the furnace, the temperature being high enough to auto-ignite the particulates when they enter the ECRV. The ECRV rotates in unison with a conveyor that delivers the solid particulates from a hopper. The apparatus is energy efficient, with few working parts, and provides combusted particulate solids that can be disposed of directly without environmental concerns.

A bulk material comprising at least one substance to be removed from the bulk material is treated. The method includes introducing the bulk material into a heating chamber. The heating chamber is in a partial vacuum. The method further includes heating the bulk material in the heating chamber and in the presence of the partial vacuum to cause the at least one substance to vaporize. The method further includes extracting the bulk material, with the at least one vaporized substance separated therefrom, from the heating chamber.