"The basic ingredient of MBS reagent is calcium sulfide (CaS). CaS is normally unstable in moist atmosphere or water and decomposes releasing hydrogen sulfide (H2S) - stinky and poisonous.
Solucorp Patent #s 05877393 issued March 2, 1999 and 05808093 issued April 27, 1999 describe a method for stabilizing CaS (will not decompose and release H2S) and using the stabilized system (reagent) to immobilize heavy metals in soils.
Lets define "immobilize". Where reagents are available, metals will react to form the most stable compound possible. When CaS reacts with the heavy metal compound it comes into contact with, it forms its sulfide - which is how these metals are usually found in nature. The lead compound becomes PbS (galena), the zinc compound becomes ZnS (sphalerite), mercury becomes HgS (Cinnabar) etc with some variations due to the overall composition of the MBS reagent as disclosed in the patents. These natural compounds are insoluble and go nowhere (immobilized)for millennia. We are speaking here of geologic time frame.
As the ores in their natural state, they are insoluble in water and therefor cannot leach into and pollute the aquifers - the water we drink. They are soluble in strong acids, and are recoverable by smelting - neither of which would be present or will occur in the sites treated. Once they have been "immobilized" they aint moving or reacting.
So when Kemper Insurance guarantees a site treated with MBS against any future liability - its a no-brainer.
The EPA in the U.S., their equivalent in Canada, the U.K., China and now rapidly in the rest of the globe has recognized or is recognizing MBS technology as THE technology of choice for immobilizing heavy metals in soils.
Of what value is it? That is another discussion."
from small dissertaions on the MBS process from aauhaa
hawkeye apololigizes from breaking-it-up and perhaps distracting from aauhaa's highly informative posts
thanks again aauhaa, Chairman, SEC |
