In situ heating to detoxify organic-contaminated soils

摘要

A method and apparatus for decontaminating ground areas where toxic chemicals are buried comprises disposition of a plurality of spaced electrodes in the ground to be treated and application of a voltage across the electrodes for bringing about current flow through the ground. Power delivered to the ground volatilizes the chemicals which are collected and directed to a gas treatment system. The preferred form of the invention employs high voltage arc discharge between the electrodes for heating a ground region to relatively high temperatures at relatively low power levels.