A Demonstration of In-Situ Thermal Desorption-Destruction of PCB's in Contaminated Soils at Mare Island Shipyard
Abstract
TerraTherm Environmental Services, Inc. and RT Environmental Services, Inc. conducted a successful field demonstration of In-Situ Thermal Desorption (ISTD) sponsored by the Bay Area Defense Conversion Action Team Environmental Technology Partnership. The ISTD technology uses the direct application of heat supplied by electrical heater elements to raise the temperature of soil in-situ to destroy the organic contaminant targeted. Two configurations of the heating elements are the Thermal Blankets, which treat surface soil up to 18 inches deep, and the Thermal Wells, which are drilled vertically or horizontally to treat deep or hard-to-reach areas. Both ISTD configurations were demonstrated at Mare Island Shipyard in Vallejo, California. The advantages of TerraTherm's ISTD technology provides benefits not found in conventional remediation techniques that outweigh the limitations. The goals of the demonstration were to gain further evidence on the performance of ISTD to destroy and remove PCB's to well below 2 mg/kg and to obtain cost estimate data. Verification sampling results showed that TerraTherm met the 2 mg/kg goal by achieving non-detect readings in all areas tested. Continuous air monitoring from the stack showed all emissions within allowable limits, as was ambient HCl levels. The project was concluded in November 1997. Previous demonstrations of ISTD have been conducted at a PCB contamination at a state superfund site in New York and a federal superfund site in Missouri, and a chlorinated solvent contamination site in Indiana. The cost of ISTD depends on a variety of factors such as depth of contamination, soil moisture and contaminant types.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA361264
Entities
People
- Amber Evan
- Chris Lonie
- Gary Brown
- John Reed
Organizations
- Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center