Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Technology assessment of soil vapor extraction and air sparging

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6830272

Air sparging, also called 'in situ air stripping' and 'in situ volatilization' injects air into the saturated zone to strip away volatile organic compounds (VOCs) dissolved in groundwater and adsorbed to soil. These volatile contaminants transfer in a vapor phase to the unsaturated zone where soil vapor extraction (SVE) can then capture and remove them. In addition to removing VOCs via mass transfer, the oxygen in the injected air enhances subsurface biodegradation of contaminants. Air sparging is a relatively new treatment technology. Research efforts have not yet fully elucidated the scientific basis (or limitations) of the system, nor completely defined the associated engineering aspects. However, a substantial body of available information describes the effectiveness and characteristics of air sparging systems. This document summarizes the available literature and addresses case studies of practical air sparging applications. It also identifies needs for further research.

Research Organization:
Camp Dresser and McKee, Inc., Cambridge, MA (United States)
OSTI ID:
6830272
Report Number(s):
PB-93-100154/XAB; CNN: EPA-68-03-3409
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English