	US 11,666,956 B2
	Method for mitigating acid rock drainage potential through the smoldering combustion of organic materials
Gavin Grant, Etabicoke (CA); David Major, Guelph (CA); Grant Scholes, Guelph (CA); Silvia Mancini, Boca Raton, FL (US); and Christine Switzer, Edinburgh (GB)
Assigned to Geosyntec Consultants, Inc., Boca Raton, FL (US)
Filed by Geosyntec Consultants, Inc., Boca Raton, FL (US)
Filed on Apr. 13, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/846,536.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/835,629, filed on Apr. 18, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0331043 A1, Oct. 22, 2020
Int. Cl. A62D 3/40 (2007.01); B09C 1/06 (2006.01); A62D 3/36 (2007.01); A62D 3/37 (2007.01); A62D 3/38 (2007.01); B09C 1/08 (2006.01); F23G 5/02 (2006.01); F23G 5/34 (2006.01); A62D 101/47 (2007.01)

CPC B09C 1/06 (2013.01) [A62D 3/36 (2013.01); A62D 3/37 (2013.01); A62D 3/38 (2013.01); A62D 3/40 (2013.01); B09C 1/08 (2013.01); F23G 5/02 (2013.01); F23G 5/34 (2013.01); A62D 2101/47 (2013.01)]

20 Claims

1. A method for removing acid progenitors through smoldering combustion of an organic material, the method comprising:

providing a mixture of the organic material, and a porous acid-progenitor matrix to an impoundment;

heating a portion of the mixture; and

exposing the mixture to at least one oxidant so as to initiate self-sustaining smoldering combustion of the mixture, thereby creating a zone of smoldering combustion and leaving behind a zone of acid-progenitor-depleted material,

wherein the acid progenitors comprise sulfur containing species.