bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Case study: Using soil washing/leaching for the removal of heavy metal at the twin cities army ammunition plant
Authors: Fristad William E.
Published: February 2007

COGNIS TERRAMET® soil leaching and Bescorp soil washing systems have been successfully combined to remediate an ammunition test burn area at the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP), New Brighton, Minnesota. This cleanup is the first in the country to successfully combine these two technologies, and it offers a permanent solution to heavy metal remediation. Over 20,000 tons of soil were treated in the project. The cleaned soil remained on‐site, and the heavy metal contaminants were removed, recovered, and recycled. Eight heavy metals were removed from the contaminated soil achieving the very stringent cleanup criteria of <175 ppm for residual lead and achieving background concentrations for seven other project metals (antimony, cadmium, chromium, copper, mercury, nickel, and silver). Initial contaminant levels were measured as high as 86,000 ppm lead and 100,000 ppm copper, with average concentrations over 1,600 ppm each. In addition, both live and spent ordnance were removed in the soil treatment plant to meet the cleanup criteria. By combining soil washing and leaching, COGNIS and Bescorp were able to assemble a process which effectively treats all the soil fractions so that all soil material can be returned on‐site, no wastewater is generated, and the heavy metals are recovered and recycled. No hazardous waste requiring landfill disposal was generated during the entire remedial operation.
Millville site multimedia remediation program
Authors: Barbour Richard , Smith Jeffrey M. , Wenz Kenneth
Published: February 2007

The Millville Remediation Program recently received the 1995 Honor Award for national excellence in environmental engineering from the prestigious American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE). This article discusses various aspects employed to investigate and remediate multimedia contamination at the site and the unique applications of technologies which were responsible for receiving the AAEE honor award. Unique aspects of the project included utilization of variable speed drives to set individual pumping rates for each groundwater recovery well, development of sophisticated remote monitoring and operation capabilities which minimized O&M labor costs, and development of a groundwater treatment system which has consistently achieved nondetect effluent discharges. The remote monitoring and operation capabilities enables O&M staff to monitor and change setpoints for the groundwater recovery, treatment, and recharge systems.
Case study: Conducting an accelerated cleanup at a superfund site in a mixed residential and industrial area
Authors: Padovani Steven J. , Mastrolonardo Ray , Freibert Mary Joyce
Published: February 2007

This article presents a case study of an accelerated cleanup conducted by EPA at the Adams Plating Company (APC) Superfund site near Lansing, Michigan. The APC site remediation was a Superfund EPA‐lead project under the remedial program in Region 5. An accelerated cleanup was possible at the APC site by consistently identifying, evaluating, and implementing opportunities to streamline the remedial investigation (RI) and remedial design (RD) process. Streamlining opportunities were discovered and implemented in both the technical and administrative aspects of the project.

Streamlining components used to accelerate the remedial process included: (1) extensive use of field screening techniques during the Phase II RI; (2) a focused feasibility study (FS) that evaluated only practical alternatives; (3) maintaining project momentum by initiating the RD concurrent with the issuance of the Record of Decision (ROD); (4) a highly accelerated RD with limited predesign work; (5) elimination of the transition period between RD and remedial action (RA) project phases; (6) frequent and effective communication, coordination, and cooperation between all parties involved (EPA, Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), technical contractor, PRC Environmental Management, Inc. (PRC), and the public); (7) maintaining a consistent project team throughout project duration; and (8) the setting of aggressive project goals.
Case study: An innovative approach to chemical landfill remediation
Authors: Jacot Brian J. , Burton Charles
Published: February 2007

This article presents a case history of hazardous waste landfill remediation activities at General Electric's Silicone's (GES's) manufacturing facility in Waterford, New York. The approach presented describes the development of the remedial program and its subsequent modification in achieving regulatory compliance goals, providing environmental benefit, and satisfying business considerations and budgetary constraints.
Using community relations to reduce costs during remediation projects
Authors: Germann Ray , Simmonds Clifford
Published: February 2007

Almost everyone who has been involved in a site remediation project has seen schedules slip and costs escalate due to political pressure from the public or the press. While focusing on remediation technologies and containment techniques to control costs, many organizations have neglected a major cost driver—public opinion. This article examines community relations from the perspective of an organization trying to control costs during a site remediation project. It details the strong correlation between the cost of a site cleanup and the level of public dissatisfaction and provides an organization with specific strategies on how to use proven communications techniques to lower costs. Examination of several case studies is provided, including a study involving a site in which community representatives actively worked to reduce project costs.

It is clear that any responsible cleanup must be protective of public health and the environment. But it is becoming increasingly apparent that wise allocation of available resources has a profound effect on the program's ability to ensure public and environmental safety. In many cases, it has been proven that some costly cleanups—for example, involving excavation—sometimes actually increase risk by creating an exposure pathway where none existed before. In turn, such cleanups waste resources that are needed elsewhere. The challenge in dealing with this complicated issue is to help stakeholders understand the true ramifications of the choices that are faced at each site. If these stakeholders feel uninformed, powerless, or excluded from the process, it is likely that they will be unable to enter a productive discussion.

The community relations programs outlined in documents such as a Superfund guidance can be helpful in familiarizing the community with site‐related issues and with gathering public input. These activities act as a baseline for the programs discussed in this article. However, existing programs are not focused on providing a strategic advantage in reaching cleanup solutions and balancing health and environmental considerations with economic considerations.
Understanding technology trends for remediation projects
Authors: Painter Jennifer P.
Published: February 2007

Success of future environmental remediation projects depends on applying knowledge gained from completed projects. This article examines the trends in technology implementation, quantifies the impact of different remediation technologies on project costs and execution risks, and quantifies the economies of scale experienced by remediation projects. Actual project data from remediation projects conducted by the private sector and government organizations form the basis of the analysis.
Underwater treatment of lead‐contaminated sediment
Authors: Chowdhury Ajit K. , Stolzenburg Thomas R. , Stanforth Robert R. , Warner Michael A. , Larowe Mark E.
Published: February 2007

The sediment associated with the reconstruction of a bridge pier was classifiable as hazardous by the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP), due to elevated concentrations of lead. However, RCRA regulations do not classify the sediment as hazardous unless it is moved. RMT designed an in‐situ, underwater treatment process to render the sediment nonhazardous, using phosphate‐based chemistry before dredging. Subsequent sediment management was conducted without the additional regulatory requirements and costs associated with managing hazardous waste.
To clean or not to clean: A geostatistical approach for evaluating contaminated soils
Authors: Cameron Kirk , Brown James R.
Published: February 2007

Indicator kriging is used to estimate the probability that a discrete area of soil (known as an exposure unit) lies either above or below an action level, warranting a response of either remediation or “no further action.” Resampling procedures are introduced as a way to optimize the number of additional samples needed to meet desired Type I and Type II error rates. This article provides the reader a step‐by‐step guide to the kriging analysis and a case study illustrating the procedures.
Accessing EPA's hazardous waste remediation technology information
Authors: Stirling Dale
Published: February 2007

Hazardous waste remediation technologies are rapidly evolving, and it is a challenge for environmental consultants and those working in the government and public sectors to remain current with those technologies. Fortunately, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through a variety of programs and initiatives, has been a leader in providing information on hazardous waste remediation technologies. This article provides an overview of EPA remediation programs and guides the reader through valuable EPA information sources including publications, databases, and on‐line services.
The role of cost in remedy selection
Authors: Astin Jared , Sanders Dee Ann
Published: February 2007

Records of Decision from 16 environmental cleanup sites on 11 different Air Force bases were evaluated to determine if cost plays a role in remedy selection. Cost percentile (the cost of the selected remedy compared to the ranges of costs in the alternatives considered) was evaluated against the variables of risk (current and future, carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic), location, and contaminated media at the sites.

Despite a statutory preference for permanent (and usually more expensive) remedies, the study found that cost is a significant factor in remedy selection. Eighty percent of the selected remedies fell in the bottom two thirds of alternatives by cost. Current carcinogenic risk and cost percentile were moderately correlated, but no significant correlation was found between the percentile of the selected remedy and future risk at the site or the location of the site. There was a moderate correlation between the contaminated medium and the percentile. Decision makers at sites with contaminated groundwater were more likely to select a high‐cost alternative than sites with other contaminated media.
Bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons: A flexible, variable speed technology
Authors: Brown Richard A. , Hinchee Robert E. , Norris Robert D. , Wilson John T.
Published: February 2007

The bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons has evolved into a number of different processes. These processes include in‐situ aquifer bioremediation, bioventing, biosparging, passive bioremediation with oxygen release compounds, and intrinsic bioremediation. Although often viewed as competing technologies, these processes actually form a continuum of biodegradation processes governed primarily by the interplay between oxygen or electron acceptor and carbon availability. Generally, as more carbon needs to be removed per unit time, more oxygen needs to be supplied. As the carbon availability or desired removal rate decreases, so does the electron acceptor requirement. By understanding this continuum approach, bioremediation can be applied as a flexible, variable‐speed technology, where the effort can be increased or decreased through oxygen supply. This article discusses the carbon‐oxygen demands of each process and the interplay between processes, and then provides operating guidelines for configuring bioremediation systems for maximum flexibility.
Current use of bioremediation for TCE cleanup: Results of a survey
Authors: Kato Kinya , Davis Kimberly L.
Published: February 2007

In 1995 the University of Tennessee's Waste Management Research and Education Institute and Canon Inc. began an analysis of the extent to which remediation firms and research centers have implemented bioremediation strategies, particularly for the cleanup of trichloroethylene (TCE) in soil and groundwater. The research involved the mailing of surveys to a select, representative group of environmental professionals involved in TCE cleanup activities. The survey was divided into two parts. Part I gathered cost information for TCE cleanup, using both bioremediation and “conventional” cleanup technologies. Part II asked the survey recipients to relate their opinions on the use of nonindigenous microorganisms for bioremediation, especially their assessment of the effectiveness, reliability, safety, and predictability of this approach. The results of this survey are discussed in this article.
In‐situ sparging: Mass transfer mechanisms
Authors: Clayton Wilson S. , Bass David H. , Ram Neil M. , Nelson Christopher H.
Published: February 2007

In‐situ sparging has been accepted as a method to rapidly remediate groundwater at considerably lower costs compared to remedies based on groundwater recovery alone. The success of in‐situ sparging depends on effective mass transfer between air and contaminated media in the subsurface. Factors affecting mass transfer include advective airflow, diffusive transport, interphase chemical partitioning, and chemical and biological reaction rates between sparged gases and subsurface contaminants, minerals, and naturally occurring organic compounds. Understanding these factors can increase the design efficiency of in‐situ sparging and assist in developing sparging systems that use gases other than air (i.e., oxygen, ozone, and methane).
Perspective and trends in the environmental remediation industry
Authors: Findley Dean , Whitridge Jill
Published: February 2007

The approach to management and execution of remediation projects has changed drastically over the past decade, as remedial project managers have begun to understand and accept the numerous environmental regulations developed in the mid‐1980s. For example, the adversarial relationship that once existed between regulators and owners has become more cooperative. This article documents trends over time in remediation project practices and quantifies the impact these trends have had on the cost and schedule performance of projects. Proven successful practices are highlighted, and those with the potential for improving project performance further are also discussed.
Preliminary comparison of alternative designs for soil remediation by bioventilation
Authors: Gates Walter C. , Marshall Elizabeth M.
Published: February 2007

Computer simulation provides a powerful tool for comparing alternative designs of remediation processes. The software package FLUENT copes successfully with subsurface three‐dimensional flow fields, multiple and directional permeabilities, wide spatial variations in subsurface gas velocities, and the presence of surface structures. FLUENT can provide an invaluable method for comparing remediation efficiencies among competing design alternatives. This article features case studies to illustrate the benefits that simulation studies provide before and during the initiation of remedial actions using bioventing.
Stalking the RCRA leapfrog
Authors: Gibbons Robert D.
Published: February 2007

In the preceding article, “RCRA Leapfrog: How Statistics Shape and in Turn Are Shaped by Regulatory Mandates,” Dr. Kirk Cameron expressed his opinion on how the RCRA statistical program had developed into its current state, focusing on interactions that have occurred between regulators, geologists, regulated individuals, and a small group of professional statisticians over the past 10 to 15 years. Here, Dr. Robert Gibbons, a member of that small group, responds to some of Dr. Cameron's comments.
Influences on RCRA corrective action costs for nonfederal facilities
Authors: Gampel Mindy
Published: February 2007

Thousands of known hazardous waste sites across the country require remediation, with thousands more yet to be discovered, at estimated cleanup costs of billions of dollars over the next few decades. With this enormous financial burden placed on all members of society through increased prices, taxes, and lost investment opportunities, policy makers face the difficult prospect of defining cleanup standards that meet the goals of protecting human health and the environment and achieving remediation in the most cost‐effective manner. Using a statistical methodology to investigate factors influencing the cost of RCRA corrective action, this article examines site characteristics that significantly affect cleanup costs and explains differences in costs among EPA's four proposed Subpart S corrective action options.
Environmental legislative accomplishments: The 104th congress in review and a look at what's ahead
Authors: Schaaff Lesley‐Anne
Published: February 2007

Contrary to many's expectations, the Republican‐led 104th Congress passed a substantial amount of environmental legislation. In addition to a variety of bills that received limited public attention, two major environmental laws—the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments and the Food Quality Protection Act—were passed and signed into law. Still, many important legislative efforts were left unfinished at the end of the second session and will resurface in the 105th Congress. This article discusses the environmental legislation that passed in the 104th Congress and explores what environmental legislative initiatives will be addressed in the 105th Congress. (While not intended to be all‐inclusive, the article mentions most major environmental legislation, with a particular focus on waste issues.)
Using uncertainty analysis to reduce costs at a pump‐and‐treat site
Authors: Elmore Andrew Curtis , Vandeberg Mark A.
Published: February 2007

The former Nebraska Ordnance Plant site in east‐central Nebraska was included on the National Priorities List because of explosives and trichloroethene contamination. The preferred groundwater remedy includes hydraulic containment of the contaminated groundwater and focused extraction of the more highly contaminated groundwater as components of the remedial action. The purpose of hydraulic containment is to stop the spread of contamination, while the more aggressive focused extraction will be used to speed up the remediation and reduce total cleanup costs. This case study illustrates how straightforward groundwater models were combined with uncertainty analysis to select a precise definition of the focused extraction areas. The purpose of the analysis was to reduce ultimate remediation costs, given the significant uncertainty associated with the estimated remediation times. The selected definition provides a basis for more sophisticated groundwater modeling, the goal of which was to locate extraction wells and define their flow rates. The batch flushing model provided the governing equations, and Monte Carlo analysis was used for the uncertainty analysis. All of the analysis was performed on a personal computer using commercially available software.
Cleanup levels for dioxin‐contaminated soils
Authors: Hirschhorn Joel S.
Published: February 2007

EPA's use of a 1 part per billion (ppb) level for dioxin contamination in residential soils is shown to be too high and not protective of public health. It was derived in a 1984 cancer risk assessment by another federal agency, but it is inconsistent with risk‐based levels of 2 to 4 parts per trillion (ppt) obtained by using EPA's standard risk assessment methods. EPA has called the 1 ppb level a policy‐based level, which correctly distinguishes it from a risk or health‐based cleanup standard. The 1984 assessment is shown in this article to have considerable shortcomings. For over a decade, dioxins have been left in soils at levels posing health risks and sometimes at levels that EPA is legally required to address. Moreover, noncancer effects have been ignored, but recent work has shown them to support action at low ppt levels. To protect public health, be consistent with current scientific knowledge and other EPA policies, reduce confusion in the environmental management community, and be responsive to public demands for stringent dioxin cleanups, new EPA policy guidance for dioxin soil cleanups is needed, and key elements are presented in this article. In an ad hoc fashion, EPA Region 4 has recently used a 200 ppt dioxin cleanup level for residential soil, acknowledged to correspond to a one‐in‐ten‐thousand cancer risk, at two Superfund sites, which environmental professionals should be aware of. This suggests a shift in EPA policy.
A method to compare groundwater cleanup technologies
Authors: Quinton Gary E. , Buchanan Ronald J. , Ellis David E. , Shoemaker Stephen H.
Published: February 2007

DuPont has developed a method to compare, on a consistent economic basis, in situ remediation technologies. The methodology employs a template site with a perchloroethylene plume 1000 ft long by 400 ft wide, and incorporates various aquifer thicknesses and depths. Variables considered in the methodology include duration of the remediation; estimated engineering and flow/transport modeling costs; equipment costs; and operation, maintenance, and monitoring costs. In this article, substrate‐enhanced anaerobic bioremediation, intrinsic bioremediation, in situ permeable reactive barriers, and pump‐and‐treat systems are evalutated. Cost metrics include present cost, cost per pound of contaminant removed, and cost per 1000 gals treated, using a discounted cash‐flow analysis. Costs of the remedial alternatives increase starting from intrinsic bioremediation, to substrate‐enhanced anaerobic bioremediation, to a biological substrate‐enhanced anaerobic barrier, to in situ permeable reactive barriers, to pump‐and‐treat systems with air stripping and carbon adsorption.
Use of lignin degrading fungi in bioremediation
Authors: Azadpour Azadeh , Powell Patricia D. , Matthews John
Published: February 2007

The use of lignin degrading fungi for decomposition of a wide variety of xenobiotics has become an area of intensive research. One distinct advantage of lignin degrading fungi over bacteria is that they do not require preconditioning to a particular pollutant prior to transformation. This degradative ability has been attributed to a nonspecific and nonstereoselective extracellular lignin‐degrading enzymatic system (ligninase) which is induced by the fungi under nitrogen or carbon‐limiting conditions (Reid, 1979). Ligninases (lignin‐peroxidases) are responsible for the initial oxidative attack on lignin and other complex molecules via formation of a free radical thereby leading to depolymerization of complex molecular structures. Potential degradative ability of peroxidases may extend to include (1) sorbed contaminants, (2) high molecular‐weight, hydrophobic contaminants, and (3) complex mixtures of chemicals typical of a contaminated site.
The impact of high level gamma radiation on immobilized waste forms in polymeric matrices
Authors: Soundararajan R. , Lee O. Lawrence , Haugse A. Leonard
Published: February 2007

A new polymer‐based composite binder was developed for the containment/immobilization of radioactive waste forms. This material was subjected to a variety of physicochemical tests to determine its suitability for this purpose. It appears that this composite material possesses superior qualities in terms of resisting radiation damage, retaining the radio isotopes after radiation exposure, and resisting biodegradation. Further, a combination of chemical fixation/immobilization technology with the radiation‐resistant binder was studied. Our evaluation procedures, the results, and its potential applications based on our conclusions are presented in this article.
Successful Deployment of an Innovative Environmental Technology: The Terra‐Kleen Experience
Authors: Cash Alan B. , Miller Melvin N.
Published: February 2007

The National Research Council's report, Innovations in Ground Water and Soil Cleanup: From Concept to Commercialization, reviewed the implementation of innovative remediation technologies and portrayed a bleak outlook for them. Conversely, Terra‐Kleen has invented, patented, permitted, and profited through the use of an innovative technology in the current market. Terra‐Kleen has implemented a solvent extraction technology for the removal of PCBs, PAHs, and chlorinated pesticides from soil, sediment, and debris. To date, Terra‐Kleen has successfully processed over 23 million pounds of PCB‐contaminated soil in Alaska, California, Florida, Ohio, and Oklahoma. The company has been profitable each year since its inception, and has averaged a revenue growth rate of 94 percent per year for the last four years. Corporate growth has been financed entirely through profits and conventional bank loans at favorable interest rates. This article reviews the factors that have led to Terra‐Kleen's success, overviews the solvent extraction technology, and details specific projects that have implemented the technology.
Application of the SOLVTM Process: A Total Systems Approach to Environmental Remediation
Authors: Getman Gerry D.
Published: February 2007

Commodore Solution Technologies, Inc. has developed an innovative total systems approach to environmental remediation that utilizes a patented chemistry called Solvated Electron Technology (SETTM). Solvated electron solutions are some of the most powerful reducing agents know. Formed by dissolving alkali and alkaline‐earth metals in anhydrous liquid ammonia to produce a solution of metal cations and free electrons, solvated electron solutions are capable of providing reductants of great activity and uniqueness. They provide a highly useful mechanism for the reductive destruction of many organic molecules and are extremely effective in the dehalogenation of halogenated organic compounds. Commodore has received a nation‐wide EPA operating permit for the nonthermal destruction of PCBs using this process. The SoLVTM process is a total solution approach that incorporates SETTM with pre‐and post‐treatments, when necessary, for environmental cleanup. It is applicable to a broad range of substrates including liquids, solids, soils, and job materials. This article presents results from several pilot, field, and commercial validation studies utilizing the SoLVTM process.
In‐Situ Fenton‐Like Oxidation of Volatile Organics: Laboratory, Pilot, and Full‐Scale Demonstrations
Authors: Greenberg Richard S. , Andrews Thomas , Kakarla Prasad K. C. , Watts Richard J.
Published: February 2007

Laboratory, pilot, and full‐scale experiments were used to evaluate and optimize the ISOTECSMremedial process at a warehousing facility in Union, New Jersey. Based on modified Fenton's oxidative chemistry, the ISOTECSMprocess uses a proprietary catalytic agent that delays formation of reactive hydroxyl radicals. This allows adequate dispersion of the hydroxyl radicals, which is an oxidizing agent, throughout a contaminant plume. Ground‐water at the site was contaminated with high levels of gasoline and waste oil constituents, principally BTEX and MTBE. Bench scale microcosm studies were used to evaluate the appropriate site‐specific stoichiometric relationships between catalyst, stabilizers, and oxidizers; the effect of contaminant type and concentration; and the pH optima. Based on results of the laboratory studies, a pilot‐scale study was performed at the site. One injection point for catalyst, stabilizers, and oxidant was installed in the contaminated zone at the site, with one hydraulically connected downgradient well used for monitoring. A single treatment of the reagents in the optimal stoichiometry determined from the laboratory study was injected in‐situ over a period of three days. A 98.5 percent reduction in volatile organics was observed in the area treated, with the radial extent of treatment estimated to be approximately 20 feet, based on the presence of hydroxyl radicals detected in hydraulically connected areas and at the surface. The full‐scale process employed six injection points and three treatment cycles over a three‐month period. Subsequent to treatment, contaminant levels were either nondetectable or were reduced to below applicable New Jersey groundwater standards, with regulatory closure on the site achieved in less than one year.
Commercialization of Dredged‐Material Decontamination Technologies
Authors: Jones Keith W. , Guadagni Anthony J. , Stern Eric A. , Donato Kerwin R. , Clesceri Nicholas L.
Published: February 2007

This article describe a unique federal project aimed at the commercialization of different technologies for the decontamination of dredged material. The project is organized so that commercialization is achieved in a seamless way, starting with validation at the bench‐ and pilot‐scale levels, and ending with the actual construction of operational facilities. This is the first integrated sediment decontamination program in which a step‐wise bench‐scale validation process of innovative/emerging technologies will scale‐up to a production‐scale facility capable of processing up to 375,000 m3 of dredged material per year. The need to develop public‐private partnerships for the facility construction is emphasized as a way of obtaining adequate finding for capital and operating costs during the startup time of the commercialization process. It is expected that the end result of the project work will be the creation of economically‐viable, self‐sustaining decontamination technology companies.
Geophysical and Hydrologic Monitoring of Air Sparging Flow Behavior: Comparison of Two Extreme Sites
Authors: Lundegard Paul D. , LaBrecque Doug J.
Published: February 2007

The distribution of air around injection wells is an important determinant of the effectiveness, design, and cost of air sparging remediation systems. High‐level air sparging field tests were conducted at two sites for the purpose of determining the pattern of airflow under widely different subsurface conditions. One site consisted of relatively homogeneous dune sand (Site A). The other consisted of highly heterogeneous glacial till (Site B). At both sites, cross‐borehole electrical resistance tomography (ERT) was used to image the principal region of airflow in the saturated zone. The response of conventional monitoring data was compared with the ERT results. At Site A, the principal region of airflow was approximately symmetric about the sparge well and only 2.4 m in radius. At Site B, the pattern of airflow was much more complex and had a major horizontal component. In both site studies, conventional monitoring data provided a much more ambiguous indication of the region of airflow in the saturated zone than did ERT. The investigations at these two sites demonstrate that, while the exact distribution of injected air is not readily discernible by conventional monitoring, the character of the airflow pattern can be recognized when appropriate physical response data are collected. Such response data can be used to evaluate site suitability for air sparging and to improve the system design and operation.
In situ Remediation of Metals Comes of Age
Authors: Brown Richard A. , Leaby Maureen C. , Pyrih Roman Z.
Published: February 2007

Since the early 1970s, technologies for remediating organic contamination in soils and groundwater have evolved through three stages with primary emphasis on (1) gross removal processes, (2) active in situ treatment, and (3) risk‐based closure and natural attentuation. Technologies for treating metals contamination are evolving through similar stages. In the late 1990s, metals remediation has arrived at the second stage in which a wide range of in situ technologies are available either to extract metals directly from the subsurface or to render them immobile and harmless. In situ geochemical fixation is an example of a commercial technology capable of addressing a wide range of metals contamination sites. Four case histories demonstrate the versatility of this approach. Other promising technologies for treating metals contamination are also emerging. These include geokinetics, biocatalytic precipitation processes, phytoremediation, and artificial wetlands. As our knowledge continues to grow, the most elegant solutions to metals contamination will rely more and more heavily on the soil's natural capacity to stabilize and immobilize metals over time.
A Complete Remediation System for Uranium‐Contaminated Soils: Application to a Uranium‐Contaminated Site at Los Alamos National Laboratory
Authors: Mason Caroline F. V. , Lu Ningping , Turney William R. J. R. , Williams Matthew
Published: February 2007

A description of a complete remedial scheme for a uranium‐contaminated site is presented. Results for the example site are discussed. Volume reduction for the contaminated soil was greater than 99 percent and secondary waste volumes were kept to a minimum. The stages of physical separation for radioactive segregation, and chemical separation and immobilization of soluble uranium are universally applicable to all uranium contaminated sites when tailored to specific site requirements. Discussion is presented for adaptation to different soil types and different chemical forms of uranium.
The Market for Waste Vitrification Technology
Authors: Sigmon Brent , Skorka Maria B.
Published: February 2007

Waste vitrification technology has largely been developed by the United States Department of Energy (DOE). Numerous vendors offer vitrification units, and a number of commercial and large pilot applications have been made. Nevertheless, the industry is still in its infancy and does not dominate any waste treatment niche.

DOE funding of vitrification technology development is nearing an end, and DOE waste treatment is being privatized, with private bidders selecting the technologies and offering to treat wastes for a per‐unit fee. Thus, the DOE market is shifting from a cost‐plus, largely R&D environment to a fixed‐fee environment in which vendors and waste treatment contractors must accept technological risks.

Significant quantities of DOE waste are still uncommitted, but the number of vendors is larger than the market can possibly sustain. Domestic private sector opportunities are limited and vendors are looking to foreign markets with less mature treatment capacity and growing demand.
Groundwater Remediation via Marcro Porous Polymer Extraction
Authors: van der Meer A. B. , Brooks Paul E.
Published: February 2007

Akzo Nobel's Macro Porous Polymer Extraction (MPPE) technology effectively removes dissolved hydrocarbons from groundwater via liquid‐liquid extraction with an innovative medium. Excellent performance in removal of chlorinated, aromatic, and aliphatic solvents, coupled with simple, robust design, make MPPE an attractive process for groundwater remediation applications.

Hydrocarbon‐contaminated water is passed through a column packed with MPPE particles. An extraction fluid, immobilized within the polymer matrix, removes the hydrocarbons from the water. All hydrocarbons with affinity for the extraction fluid (compared to water) are removed. Regeneration is accomplished in situ with low‐pressure steam. The steam volatilizes the hydrocarbons but not theimmobilized extraction fluid. Volatilized hydrocarbons are condensed and then separated from condensate by gravity. The hydrocarbon product is available for recycle or reuse.

MPPE systems achieve removal efficiencies of 99.99 percent for wide varieties and combinations of aliphatic, aromatic, and chlorinated compounds. For a broad range of mass loadings and effluent requirements, especially rigorous ones, the MPPE system offers lower investment and operating costs than traditional water treatment technologies. Currently, 14 industrial units are running or under construction in the United States and Europe. Eight of these are treating groundwater.
Recovery and Microbial Remediation of Organic Wood Preservatives in Groundwater at a Former Wood Treating Plant
Authors: Portier R. J. , Sattler D. L. , Hoover D. G. , Davis T. M. , Williams S. E.
Published: February 2007

Well‐recovery networks coupled to immobilized microbe bioreactors (IMBRs) were installed at a 172‐acre former wood preserving facility for the bioremediation of organic wood preservatives present in site groundwater. Free‐phase creosote from the hardpan and soluble preservative fractions contained in subsurface groundwater were pumped separately to different holding tanks. Trace creosote fractions contained in the subsurface groundwater were further gravity separated in the holding tank. Immobilized microbial isolates evaluated in earlier laboratory and field pilot tests were established into two 40, 000‐liter bioreactors for the biodegradation of all targeted consitituents. Microbial growth, dissolved oxygen, pH, nutrients, flow rate, and temperature were monitored in this in situ/ex situ bioremediation system. The process was used to remove the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and phenolic components of creosote and pentachlorophenol from contaminated groundwater. Data generated during the past 2 1/2 years indicate that 26 target compounds consistently are reduced to levels acceptable for discharge. Currently operating in Baldwin, Florida, this full‐scale prototype is remediating the former wood preserving facility and is being used as a model system for the design and construction of new bioreactor systems needed at similar industrial sites in the United States and abroad.
Electrochemical remediation of heavy metal contaminated soils
Authors: Orcino Michael A. , Bricka R. Mark
Published: February 2007

Over the years, many soils have been contaminated with toxic heavy metals as a result of a variety of industrial and military activities. Electrokinetic soil treatment is an emerging technology that could prove to be very effective in the remediation of these sites. “Real‐world” heavy metal contaminated (Pb(II), Cd(II), and Cr(III)) soils from three military sites with varying soil properties were subjected to electrokinetic treatment in the laboratory. Metal extractants (chelating agents and acids) were studied and found to be effective in enhancing the electrokinetic process. Results indicated that heavy metal removal efficiencies varied in the three soils tested. In one case, removal efficiencies of 90 percent and 60 percent were obtained for Cd and Cr, respectively, for the nitric acid amended experiments. For another case, over 60 percent of the total Pb in the system was deposited near the cathode for the non‐amended and the citric‐acid amended tests. Conversely, in the third case, the electrokinetic soil‐washing treatment process failed to produce significant removal of any metal contaminant. The discrepancies that exist between the metal removal results of the three soils were attributed to the different physiochemical characteristics of each soil.
Investigation versus remediation: Perception and reality
Authors: Popek Emma P. , Kassakhian Garabet H.
Published: February 2007

Case studies show some eyebrow‐raising discrepancies between estimated contamination levels and the actual levels measured at the point of remediation. The three site investigations did not provide nearly enough information for estimating the magnitude of the cleanup effort. Inadequate numbers of samples and improper sampling design and analyses provided an unrepresentative picture of the true site conditions.
Design and cost estimation of permeable reactive barriers
Authors: Schultz Dale S. , Landis Richard C.
Published: February 2007

Cost‐effective use of permeable reactive barriers for groundwater treatment requires properly estimating the amount of reactive material required and choosing the best means of emplacing it. The weight of reactive material per unit cross section of the plume can be estimated from laboratory reaction kinetics data and basic knowledge of the plume and the remediation goals. This parameter has implications regarding the choice of permeable barrier design and emplacement method. The use of tremie tubes, trenching machines, high‐pressure jetting, and deep soil mixing may be appropriate for different situations depending on the amount of reactive material required, the dimensions of the plume, and other factors. The specific application considered here is the use of granular iron to treat groundwater contaminated with chlorinated solvents.
Higher performance in remediation
Authors: Kinney Andrea , McKenna Gerard
Published: February 2007

Clean‐up of sites around the nation has been inhibited by the high costs of assessment and monitoring activities. The use of prescriptive methods adopted at the state and city levels further increase costs and slow cleanup activity. Performance Based Measurement Systems (PBMS) has the potential to change the way in which environmental scientists conduct assessment and cleanup activities. Through a case study, illustrating the way in which “change” can speed up normal assessment activities, the authors will show the utility of PBMS in a brownfields cleanup process. In addition to fostering scientific creativity in the design of measurement methods, PBMS opens the door for the use of many field technologies that had previously been disregarded. The full implementation of PBMS should result in stimulating the development of more innovative and necessary measurement systems.
Comparative evaluation of demonstration testing of two PCB detoxification technologies
Authors: Hirschhorn Joel S.
Published: February 2007

This paper presents a summary of the comparative analysis of two polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) detoxification technologies that were evaluated in pilot scale equipment. Two treatment technologies, base catalyzed decomposition (BCD) and gas phase chemical reduction, treated materials removed from the PCB landfill in Warren County, North Carolina. There has been a remarkable amount of public opposition to this landfill. Very stringent performance criteria for soil cleanup of PCBs and dioxins and for air emissions from the treatment equipment were used, along with a number of other factors to evaluate the two technologies. The BCD technology was selected as the best performing one for this project.
Remediation of PCB‐contaminated sediments: Volatility and solubility considerations
Authors: Scrudato Ronald J. , Chiarenzelli Jeffrey R. , Pagano James J. , Wunderlich Michele
Published: February 2007

Through volatilization and long distance atmospheric transport, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been redistributed throughout the global environment. Over the last 70 years, these compounds have permeated every known environmental niche including the remote polar regions of the globe. In this article, the solubility and volatility of the PCB congeners are reviewed relative to the remedial technologies that are currently in use or under consideration. The following discussion focuses primarily on the management options for PCB‐contaminated, subaqueous solids that require removal, dewatering, drying, and other treatment to degrade the target contaminants and/or containment in engineered facilities including constructed islands, upland secure landfills and subaqueous pits. Environmental mobility resulting from natural and engineered processes is discussed in relation to the potential for contributing to the global loading and redistribution of PCBs. Additionally, select emerging technologies and management options are reviewed relative to their potential to produce secondary environmental impacts resulting from the soluble and/or volatile redistribution of PCBs. Based on a lack of long‐term experience and the recognition that contaminants will remain unaltered for decades, technologies involving engineered containment structures should be considered temporary remedial measures until cost‐competitive, destructive processing of contaminated sediments is feasible.
Best value remedial design
Authors: Elmore Andrew Curtis , Graff Thomas
Published: February 2007

Best value remedial design combines traditional design by prescriptive specification with the use of open competition to determine design elements specified by performance requirements. Compelling reasons to use best value remedial design include the potential realization of life cycle cost savings, an inherent flexibility that can accommodate changing public priorities as well as evolving innovative technologies, and the ability to provide a protective remedial action. Best value challenges include technical issues such as the selection of the “best” technology from the proposals received during the open competition aspect of the process. A major administrative challenge is the development of a partnering relationship which fosters trust between project stakeholders. The best value approach is appropriate for most projects where the stakeholders have a genuine desire to pursue environmental restoration in an effective, open, and cost‐effective manner. It is conceivable that the state of the practice will evolve in terms of effectiveness and cost savings as a result of the best value approach because environmental professionals will be required to consider critical nontechnical elements during the pre‐design and design stages of a project.
Petroleum‐contaminated soil in Minnesota
Authors: Kolar James L.
Published: February 2007

Petroleum‐contaminated soil remediation in Minnesota will continue to include land treatment, composting, and thermal treatment alternatives. Contaminate levels, soil volume, disposal costs, and public opinion are ultimately the deciding factors in selecting any soils treatment technology appropriate for mitigating and remediating petroleum releases that, pursuant to the Minnesota Rules… “will protect the waters of the State”.
Phytoremediation of lead‐contaminated soil at a New Jersey Brownfield site
Authors: Blaylock Michael J. , Elless Mark P. , Huang Jianwei W. , Dushenkov Slavik M.
Published: February 2007

Phytoremediation is a new technology that uses specially selected metal‐accumulating plants as an attractive and economical method to clean up soils contaminated with heavy metals and radionuclides. The integration of specially selected metal‐accumulating crop plants (Brassica juncea (L) Czern.) with innovative soil amendments allows plants to achieve high biomass and metal accumulation rates. In a recent study conducted at a lead‐contaminated site in Trenton, New Jersey, the soil was treated with phytoremediation using successive crops of B. juncea combined with soil amendments. Through phytoremediation, the average surface soil lead concentration was reduced by 13 percent. In addition, the target soil concentration of 400 mg/kg was achieved in approximately 72 percent of the treated area in one cropping season.
Advancing the use of an innovative cleanup technology: Case study of Lasagna™
Authors: Ho Sa V. , Hughes B. Mason , Brodsky Philip H. , Merz John S. , Egley Larry P.
Published: February 2007

Originated from a recognized need for significantly more effective technologies for soil cleanup, the LasagnaTM project provides an interesting case study in which industry, government, and academia successfully collaborated to rapidly advance the technology from the laboratory to the field. Called LasagnaTM because of its layered configurations, the technology combines electrically induced contaminant transport in soils, treatment in place, and geotechnical methods to achieve completely in situ clean‐up of contaminated soils. Experiences with respect to the partnership, the development of technology and its current commercialization status are described.