Tersus Assigned Patents & Trademarks

This patent describes a method for enhancing in situ reductive bioremediation through the injection of heated vegetable oil emulsions combined with alkaline-catalyzed reactions to promote contaminant degradation in soil and groundwater.

The technology involves heating a mixture of vegetable oil, emulsifier, and water aboveground before injection into the contaminated formation. The heated mixture raises subsurface temperatures and maintains elevated temperatures within the treatment zone without continuous external heating.

An alkaline catalyst containing an alcohol is introduced to promote in situ alcoholysis reactions that generate fatty acid alkyl esters, glycerol, and carboxylic acid salts. These reaction products provide readily available and longer-lasting electron donors to support anaerobic microbial activity and enhanced reductive dechlorination of chlorinated solvents.

The approach combines thermal enhancement, electron donor delivery, and in situ chemical reactions to improve substrate distribution, promote biological degradation, and potentially reduce remediation timeframes.

This Canadian patent describes a method for enhancing in situ reductive bioremediation through alcoholysis reactions that convert vegetable oils into a combination of soluble and slow-release electron donors within contaminated soil and groundwater.

The technology combines water-miscible vegetable oils, alcohols, and catalysts to promote the formation of fatty acid alkyl esters, glycerol, and carboxylic acid salts. These reaction products provide both readily available and longer-lasting electron donors to support anaerobic microbial processes, including enhanced reductive dechlorination of chlorinated solvents.

The approach is designed to improve electron donor distribution within the aquifer, sustain reducing conditions, and provide buffering capacity to help maintain groundwater pH favorable for microbial activity.

The technology provides an alternative to conventional emulsified vegetable oil (EVO) applications by combining electron donor delivery with in situ chemical reactions that support contaminant biodegradation.

This patent describes a method for preparing surfactant-free oil-in-water emulsions for enhanced in situ bioremediation of contaminated soil and groundwater.

The technology uses a controlled degassing process to remove dissolved gases from water and vegetable oil before mixing. This allows the formation of an oil-in-water emulsion without conventional surfactants or emulsifying agents.

The resulting emulsion is designed to improve the subsurface distribution of vegetable oil electron donors, promoting anaerobic conditions and stimulating microbial processes responsible for contaminant degradation, including enhanced reductive dechlorination of chlorinated solvents.

The approach offers an alternative to conventional emulsified vegetable oil (EVO) formulations by eliminating the need for added surfactants while providing a means of delivering electron donor substrates into contaminated aquifers.

This patent describes a method for enhancing in situ thermal remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater through the use of reactive metal powder mixtures that generate additional heat through exothermic chemical reactions.

The technology combines microscale zero-valent metal particles, such as iron, with optional powdered activated carbon and chemical catalysts. When activated by an external heat source, the metal powder undergoes an exothermic oxidation reaction, generating additional heat within the treatment zone.

The approach is designed to supplement conventional thermal remediation technologies, including thermal conduction heating (TCH), electrical resistance heating (ERH), and steam-enhanced extraction (SEE). The additional heat promotes volatilization of organic contaminants, which can then be recovered through vapor extraction systems.

Potential applications include the treatment of chlorinated solvents, petroleum hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and other persistent organic contaminants.

This patent describes a method for preparing and applying stable suspensions of zero-valent metal particles in a non-aqueous carrier for in situ remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater.

The technology combines microscale zero-valent iron (ZVI) with vegetable oil, a thickening agent, and a surfactant to create a suspension that limits particle agglomeration, sedimentation, and premature corrosion during storage, transportation, and application.

The non-aqueous carrier also provides both readily available and slow-release electron donors to support anaerobic biodegradation. This combination promotes in situ chemical reduction (ISCR) through complementary abiotic and biological pathways for the treatment of chlorinated solvents and other contaminants.

The approach is designed to improve the handling, delivery, and subsurface distribution of reactive iron particles while maintaining their reactivity until emplacement in the treatment zone.

This patent describes a method for enhancing in situ reductive bioremediation through alcoholysis reactions that convert vegetable oils into a combination of soluble and slow-release electron donors within contaminated soil and groundwater.

The technology combines vegetable oils, alcohols, and alkaline catalysts to promote the formation of fatty acid alkyl esters, glycerol, and carboxylic acid salts. These reaction products provide readily available and longer-lasting electron donors to support anaerobic microbial processes, including enhanced reductive dechlorination of chlorinated solvents.

The approach is designed to improve electron donor distribution within the aquifer, sustain reducing conditions, and provide buffering capacity to help maintain groundwater pH favorable for microbial activity.

The technology provides an alternative to conventional emulsified vegetable oil (EVO) applications by combining electron donor delivery with in situ chemical reactions that support contaminant biodegradation.

This patent describes a composition and method for preparing stable suspensions of zero-valent metal particles in a non-aqueous carrier for in situ remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater.

The technology combines microscale zero-valent iron (ZVI), vegetable oil, propylene glycol, and a surfactant to form a suspension that minimizes particle agglomeration, sedimentation, and premature corrosion during storage, transportation, and application.

The formulation incorporates both readily available electron donors from propylene glycol and longer-lasting electron donors from vegetable oil. This combination supports in situ chemical reduction (ISCR) through complementary abiotic reactions involving ZVI and biological processes that promote contaminant degradation.

The approach is designed to improve the handling and subsurface delivery of reactive iron particles while preserving their reactivity until they reach the treatment zone. Potential applications include the remediation of chlorinated solvents and other persistent groundwater contaminants.

This patent describes a method and chemical composition for accelerating in situ biochemical remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater.

The technology combines microscale zero-valent iron (ZVI), vegetable oil, propylene glycol, and a surfactant to create a stable, non-aqueous suspension. The formulation is designed to reduce particle agglomeration, sedimentation, and premature corrosion during storage, transportation, and subsurface application.

The composition provides complementary electron donors: propylene glycol offers a readily available source of electrons, while vegetable oil provides a longer-lasting source that can support sustained biological activity. Together with the reactive iron particles, these components promote in situ chemical reduction (ISCR) and biochemical degradation of contaminants.

The approach is intended to improve the handling and delivery of reactive iron particles while preserving their reactivity until they reach the treatment zone. Potential applications include the remediation of chlorinated solvents and other persistent contaminants in soil and groundwater.

This patent describes a composition and method for preparing self-emulsifying vegetable oil formulations used in the enhanced in situ bioremediation of contaminated soil and groundwater.

The technology combines vegetable oil with a specialized blend of nonionic surfactants and co-surfactants to produce a concentrated formulation that spontaneously forms a fine oil-in-water emulsion when mixed with water under gentle agitation.

The resulting emulsion is designed to improve the distribution of vegetable oil electron donors within contaminated aquifers, providing a sustained carbon source to support anaerobic microbial activity and enhanced reductive dechlorination of chlorinated solvents.

The approach simplifies field preparation of emulsified vegetable oil (EVO) amendments by eliminating the need for specialized high-shear mixing equipment. The formulation is intended to improve electron donor delivery and distribution while supporting long-term biological treatment of groundwater contaminants.

This patent describes an integrated method for remediating contaminated soil and groundwater through the sequential application of biodegradable co-solvents, surfactant solutions, and chemical oxidants.

The technology begins with the introduction of a biodegradable co-solvent, followed by a surfactant solution selected to improve contaminant solubilization and mobilization. A chemical oxidant is subsequently introduced to degrade residual contaminants remaining after the flushing process.

The method incorporates site-specific evaluations of surfactant performance, including contaminant solubilization, surfactant sorption and precipitation, non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) behavior, and contaminant extraction under simulated aquifer flow conditions. Chemical oxidant selection considers reaction kinetics, oxidant persistence, pH requirements, and groundwater geochemistry.

The approach is particularly applicable to complex, viscous, or poorly soluble organic contaminants, including petroleum hydrocarbons and coal tar residues, where conventional surfactant flushing alone may be insufficient to achieve remediation objectives.

This patent describes a method for enhancing in situ remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater through the combined application of a specialized surfactant formulation and biodegradable co-solvents.

The technology uses a surfactant mixture containing sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate and linear alkyl diphenyloxide disulfonate to improve the solubilization and removal of hydrophobic organic contaminants from subsurface formations.

A biodegradable co-solvent is introduced into the treatment zone to supplement the surfactant flushing process. The combined treatment is designed to improve the removal of non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs), including contaminants with low aqueous solubility or elevated viscosity.

The method also provides for an optional chemical oxidation treatment to degrade residual contaminants following surfactant and co-solvent application. Potential oxidants include hydrogen peroxide and potassium permanganate.

The technology supports an integrated remediation approach combining contaminant mobilization, enhanced extraction, and chemical treatment to reduce residual contaminant concentrations.

This patent describes a method for remediating contaminated soil and groundwater through the application of a specialized aqueous surfactant formulation designed to enhance the removal of non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs).

The technology uses a mixture of sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate and linear alkyl diphenyloxide disulfonate in water to improve the solubilization and mobilization of hydrophobic organic contaminants within subsurface formations.

The claimed method specifies surfactant concentrations ranging from approximately 0.05% to 15% by weight, including narrower concentration ranges suited to different treatment conditions. The formulation is intended for the removal of both dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs), such as chlorinated solvents, and light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs), including petroleum hydrocarbons.

The approach provides a means of enhancing contaminant recovery through surfactant flushing, reducing residual contaminant mass and supporting subsequent remediation activities where needed.

This patent describes a method for enhancing in situ remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater through the use of a selected surfactant mixture that improves the solubilization and removal of organic contaminants.

The technology combines sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate and linear alkyl diphenyloxide disulfonate to create a surfactant solution capable of increasing the apparent aqueous solubility of hydrophobic contaminants and facilitating their removal from contaminated subsurface formations.

The method is applicable to both dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs), including chlorinated solvents, and light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs), such as petroleum hydrocarbons. The patent describes surfactant concentrations ranging from approximately 0.05% to 15% by weight.

By enhancing contaminant solubilization and recovery, the approach is intended to reduce the mass of persistent organic contaminants in soil and groundwater and improve the effectiveness of surfactant-enhanced aquifer remediation (SEAR).

This patent describes an integrated method for remediating contaminated soil and groundwater through the combined application of surfactant-enhanced aquifer remediation (SEAR) and in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO).

The technology uses selected surfactant formulations to improve the solubilization and removal of hydrophobic organic contaminants, including dense and light non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs and LNAPLs). Chemical oxidants are then used to degrade residual contaminants that may remain following surfactant flushing.

The patent includes specific surfactant combinations, including sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate with linear alkyl diphenyloxide disulfonate, as well as alkylamine sodium sulfonate with sodium dihexyl sulfosuccinate. Potential chemical oxidants include hydrogen peroxide and potassium permanganate.

The method incorporates site-specific evaluation of surfactant performance, contaminant recovery, oxidant reaction kinetics, and groundwater geochemistry to support the selection of appropriate treatment formulations.

The approach combines contaminant mass removal with chemical destruction of residual contamination to address limitations associated with surfactant flushing alone.