Inventors:
G. Duncan Hitchens - Bryan TX
Drahomira Brejchova - Sugar Land TX
Alan J. Cisar - Cypress TX
Dalibor Hodko - College Station TX
Oliver J. Murphy - Bryan TX
Assignee:
Lynntech, Inc. - College Station TX
International Classification:
C12S 1300
Abstract:
This invention is a novel method for bioremediation of soil and ground water based on supplying hydrogen (H. sub. 2) to naturally occurring anaerobic bacteria in the soil or ground water. These organisms use the hydrogen as an electron donor to perform adventitious chemical reactions including the dehalogenation of chlorinated organic compounds. The hydrogen can be supplied from a number of sources, including; stored hydrogen, hydrogen generated above ground on site, either electrochemically or by reforming a fuel source, or by electrolysis in the soil, either using an electric current supplied from above ground or an electric current generated by the corrosion of metal particles in the ground. For the last of these cases, a novel multi-metallic particle especially useful for the generation of hydrogen, and a method for making these particles, are disclosed.