Remediation of solvent-contaminated soils by aeration

Journal Article · · Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1992.00472425002100010018x· OSTI ID:5446964

Kempton, H; Davis, A ^[1]; Olsen, R ^[2]

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1. PTI Environmental Services, Boulder, CO (United States)
2. Dresser and McKee, Denver, CO (United States)

A bench-scale box test was performed to evaluate the feasibility of rototilling to remediate excavated soils contaminated with tetrachloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA). Soil A (25,000 {mu}g kg{sup {minus}1} PCE) lost 80% after 24 h and 97% after 407 h. Soil B (8,881 {mu}g kg{sup {minus}1} PCE) lost 29% after 24 h and 92% after 407 h. Initial TCE and 1,1,1-TCA concentrations ranged from 793 to 1,570 {mu}g kg{sup {minus}1}. Relative volatilization loss rates were similar to that of PCE. The average volatilization half-lives of the solvents were 1.2 d for PCE, 0.58 d for TCE, and 0.64 d for 1,1,1-TCA. Removal of the analytes slowed considerably after 200 h, with a small amount of each analyte retained in refractory sites. Residual solvent concentrations in soils A and B after 407 h were 835 and 719 {mu}g kg{sup {minus}1} PCE, 38 and 95 {mu}g kg{sup {minus}1} TCE, and 21 and 31 {mu}g kg{sup {minus}1} 1,1,1-TCA. Simulations of volatilization using the pesticide root zone model (PRZM) accurately predicted the loss of POCE, TCE, and 1,1,1-TCA over the first 24 h when most of the solvent volatilized, but the model overpredicted contaminant losses at longer durations when remnant soil concentrations were less than six times the concentration bound to refractory sites.

• OSTI ID: 5446964
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Quality; (United States) Vol. 21:1; ISSN JEVQA; ISSN 0047-2425
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
CLEANING
DECOMPOSITION
DECONTAMINATION
DEGASSING
EVAPORATION
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
MITIGATION
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOLYSIS
REMOVAL
SOILS
SOLVENTS