BIOMIN, INC.
State of the art water filtration media
We will lower
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(248) 544-2552. Fax: (248) 544-3733
E-Mail: biomin@aol.com
Web: www.biomininc.com
Technical Advisory #12
BIOMIN’S “TIP OF THE MONTH”: REMEDIATION PRINCIPLES
The design of groundwater
remediation programs and the selection/sequencing of effective remediation
technologies are based on Richard Sloan’s remediation principles*. They are:
1.
Physical and
chemical properties of the contaminants.
2.
Concentrations of
the contaminants in the groundwater and vadose soil zones.
3 Status of the source of the
contaminants.
4. Extent of any LNAPL or DNAPL
present.
5.
Physical characteristics
and lithology of the contaminated zone.
6.
Availability of
utilities and support facilities.
7.
Status of at-risk
receptors.
8.
Local and
regional socio-political interest.
“Pump and Treat”
is effective in remediating groundwater under the appropriate conditions. When the contaminants have a relatively
high water solubility and low liquid/solid absorption co-efficient, then
“Pump and Treat” is an efficient, cost effective component of the
overall remediation program. At sites, which include spilled/leaked fuel and/or
chlorinated solvents, the remedial design, the technology selection/sequencing,
and the remedial progress/cost are driven by the gasoline component.
Bioremediation, both ex situ and in situ, is usually an integral part of such a
design.
Typically, “Pump and
Treat”, combined with soil vapor extraction and in situ thermal
desorption is used when the total VOC concentration exceeds 5-10 ppm. When the
VOC concentration drops below 5 ppm, then in situ bioremediation, using “Pump
and Treat” can be cost effective if the main objective is the removal of
biological waste and its by-products, or to supply oxygen or nutrients.
The “Pump and Treat” method
is used as either primary or support technology. As remediation progresses “Pump
and Treat” often alternates between primary and support status. For example, you would be following this
principle if you carried out the following sequence:
·
Begin remediation
of a site contaminated with creosote by surfactant flushing (see Technical
Advisory # 10, www.biomininc.com)
·
Followed by
Oilsorb organoclay and activated carbon adsorption
·
Then re-injection
of the clean water into the aquifer until the bulk of the contaminants are
removed.
·
Then use in-situ
methods to eliminate the smaller amounts of contaminants.
The numerous remediation
technologies available for groundwater and soil remediation cover source
control, free-phase remediation (Oilsorb/activated carbon), dissolved phase
remediation, and natural (passive remediation) attenuation.
The typical remediation
phases are:
·
Protect receptors
·
Control sources
·
Remediate
residual and dissolved contamination
·
Monitored natural
attenuation.
The goal is to achieve
monitored natural attenuation in a timely, cost effective manner.
Assessment
The first general step of
addressing site contamination is a detailed study assessment to determine:
1.
Chemicals of
concern.
2.
Location and
status of contaminant sources.
3.
Nature and extent
of contaminated soil and groundwater.
4.
Rate and
direction of contaminant migration.
5.
Status of at-risk
receptors and likely exposure to pathways.
6.
Applicable and
relevant regulatory requirements.
7.
Available
facilities, utilities, and “room to work”.
Site assessment planning
needs to focus on defining the chemical, physical and “social”
issues while protecting the receptors, (drinking water wells, for example).
No single technology can
fulfill all the expectations, which is why sequencing is often advisable. If
you are not sure about the new technologies, the old, tried and true method,
“Pump and Treat” with Oilsorb organoclay and activated carbon,
followed by in situ technologies, is often the most efficient and most cost
effective methodology.
(see Technical Advisory #5, www.biomininc.com).
*Refer to: “Technology Sequencing to Reduce
Groundwater Remediation Costs” by Richard Sloan www.chickadeeusa.com.