Use of basalt to adsorb toxic material
A method is described for using basalt to selectively adsorb organic toxic materials, such as dioxins, furans, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, arsenic, mercury, chromium, copper, nickel, zinc, cadmium, lead, and the like, from substances such as sediment, which contains water and the toxic materials. Optionally, the basalt may be in the form of a liner, a cap, or a filter that surrounds, contains, or contacts sediment contaminated with the organic toxic material(s).
1. A method for adsorbing toxic materials, the method comprising:
exposing a fluid to a filter for a first minimum duration, wherein the fluid comprises water and a toxic material comprising at least one of a dioxin, a furan, a polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), and an ethylhexylphthalate, and wherein the filter comprises a needlepunch mat consisting of basalt fibers and having a thickness selected from about 6.5 mm, about 13 mm and about 20 mm; and
enabling at least a portion of the toxic material to be adsorbed by the basalt fibers.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
exposing the needlepunch mat to a 10% NaOH solution before exposing the fluid to the filter.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein exposing the basalt fibers to the 10% NaOH solution further comprises:
exposing the needlepunch mat to the 10% NaOH solution under agitation.
4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
rinsing the needlepunch mat in deionized water to remove the solution after exposing the basalt fibers to the solution.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
after rinsing the needlepunch mat, drying the needlepunch mat.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein drying the needlepunch mat further comprises:
drying the needlepunch mat in a forced air oven.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the toxic material comprises a sediment.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the toxic material further comprises at least one of arsenic, mercury, chromium, copper, nickel, zine, cadmium, and lead.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein exposing the needlepoint mat to the fluid further comprises at least one of:
spraying the needlepoint mat with the fluid;
exposing the needlepoint mat to the fluid in a counter flow direction; and
exposing the needlepoint mat to the fluid in a flow direction.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein enabling at least a portion of the toxic material to be adsorbed by the basalt fibers further comprises:
enabling a weight-to-weight ratio of the needlepoint mat to the toxic material adsorbed 200:1 to 1:3.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first minimum duration is from about three days to about seven days.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein enabling at least a portion of the toxic material to be adsorbed by the needlepunch mat further comprises:
enabling at least 25% weight of the toxic material in the fluid to be adsorbed.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the needlepunch mat selectively adsorbs the toxic material in the presence of a water-soluble material.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ethylhexylphthalate is bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate.
15. A method for adsorbing toxic materials, the method comprising;
exposing a fluid mixture comprising an aqueous sediment to a filter comprising a needlepunch mat consisting of basalt fibers, wherein the fluid mixture comprises a toxic material including at least one of a dioxin, a furan, a polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), and an ethylhexylphthalate, and wherein the fluid mixture is chemically exposed to the basalt fibers; and
enabling at least a portion of the toxic material to be adsorbed by the basalt fibers, including exposing the fluid mixture to the basalt fibers for a first minimum duration,
wherein the needlepunch mat has a thickness selected from about 6.5 mm, about 13 mm and about 20 mm.
16. The method of claim 15 , comprising:
exposing the basalt fibers to a 10% NaOH solution before exposing the fluid mixture to the basalt fibers.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein exposing the basalt fibers to the solution further comprises:
exposing the basalt fibers to the solution under agitation.
18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
after exposing the needlepunch mat to the solution, rinsing the needlepunch mat in deionized water to remove the solution from the needlepunch mat.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
after rinsing the needlepunch mat, drying the needlepunch mat.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein drying the needlepunch mat further comprises:
drying the needlepunch mat in a forced air oven.
21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the toxic material further comprises at least one of arsenic, mercury, chromium, copper, nickel, zinc, cadmium, and lead.
22. The method of claim 15 , wherein exposing the needlepunch mat to the fluid further comprises at least one of:
spraying the needlepunch mat with the fluid mixture;
exposing the needlepunch mat to the fluid mixture in a counter flow direction; and
exposing the needlepunch mat to the fluid mixture in a flow direction.
23. The method of claim 15 , wherein enabling at least a portion of the toxic material to be adsorbed by the needlepunch mat further comprises:
enabling a weight-to-weight ratio of the basalt fibers to the toxic material adsorbed from 200:1 to 1:3.
24. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first minimum duration is from about 24 hours to about 7 days.
25. The method of claim 15 , wherein enabling at least a portion of the toxic material to be adsorbed by the needlepunch mat further comprises:
enabling at least 25% weight of the toxic material in the fluid mixture to be adsorbed.
26. The method of claim 15 , wherein the fluid mixture further comprises a water soluble material.
27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the needlepunch mat selectively adsorbs the toxic material in the presence of the water-soluble material.
28. The method of claim 15 , wherein the ethylhexylphthalate is bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate.