Economical wind powered bioventing systems successfully applied at remote locations

Conference · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:488815

Graves, D ^[1]; Klein, J; Dillon, T Jr ^[2]; Wilson, B ^[3]; Walker, K ^[4]

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1. IT Corp., Knoxville, TN (United States). Biotechnology Applications Center
2. IT Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
3. IT Corp., Richland, WA (United States)
4. IT Corp., Somerset, NJ (United States)

Wind-powered bioventing systems were designed to operate at remote locations in the absence of electrical power. Laboratory measurements of soil respiration under bioventing conditions indicated the biodegradation of up to 25 mg of weathered diesel per kg of site soil per day. Further testing demonstrated the potential for harnessing wind-power to stimulate air movement through vadose zone soil. Several wind-powered bioventing systems were installed near Nome, Alaska. In situ respiration tests, soil gas composition measurements and measurable pressure changes in the soil indicated that the systems were capable of aerating the soil. Diesel range oil measurements indicated contaminant reductions up to 90% after only two treatments seasons. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of wind-powered biovents. The low cost, low maintenance, and simplicity of the biovents make them a very attractive treatment option for windy, remote sites with unsaturated soil impacted by biodegradable contaminants.

• OSTI ID: 488815
• Report Number(s): CONF-9610152--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
17 WIND ENERGY
BIODEGRADATION
DIESEL FUELS
HYDROCARBONS
OIL SPILLS
REMEDIAL ACTION
SOILS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
WIND POWER