In terms of potential applications of PIRT, Hager says the system is proven to work with water, and that's where the technology will be applied first. He says there are limited data that the chemistry can be adapted to vapor phase contaminants. In fact, Hager says, PIRT is unique in its capacity to selectively dechlorinate organics in concentrated mixtures of waterborne organic contaminants. With respect to decontamination of HOCs in groundwater, Hager says PIRT offers several advantages over the technologies in current use. The granular activated carbon technology accumulates HOCs on site, requiring frequent off-site disposal and ultimate destruction of the contaminants.
Air stripping, meanwhile, simply transfers the contaminants from the water to the surrounding air.
The on-site contaminant destruction offered by PIRT will assure immediate interest from industry, environmental engineers, and regulatory officials. Hager says it is too early to estimate the exact costs of PIRT, but he predicts it will be fully competitive with granular activated carbon, air stripping with contaminant destruction, and advanced oxidation systems. Fernando Q, Korte N, Muftikian R. A method for the rapid dechlorination of low molecular weight chlorinated hydrocarbons in water.