Remediation Optimization and Sustainability
Rose Forbes, Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment, Otis ANG Base, MA

Sustainable Bioreactors to Achieve Remedy in Place
Erica Becvar, AFCEE Technology Transfer, Brooks City-Base, TX
Ravi Ravichandran, AFCEE Technology Transfer, Brooks City-Base, TX 
Doug Downey, PE, Ch2M Hill, Evergreen, CO
Bruce Henry, Parsons, Denver, CO
John Hicks, Parsons, Denver, CO
Steve Brauner, Parsons, Denver, CO      

Parallel Lines of Evidence to Verify Natural Attenuation Processes: Results of Collaborative Effort
Diane Saber, Gas Technology Institute, Des Plaines, IL
Xiangyang Zhu, Gas Technology Institute, Des Plaines, IL
Lily Young, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Robert  M. Kalin, Strathclyde University, Glasgow, Scotland

Advantages and Case Studies of Nano Size Remediation for Petroleum Release Sites
John H. Patterson, Continental Remediation LLC, Waltham, MA
Wei-xian Zhang, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
David Henderson, Gitech llc, Hamilton, NJ

Surfactant Enhanced Desorption of PAH’s Improving their Biological, Chemical and Hydraulic Availability for In-situ and Ex-situ Remediation
George A. Ivey, Ivey International Inc., Campbell River, BC, Canada
Paul V. Wierbicki, Ivey International Inc., Newington, CT

Assessing Waste Site Evolution and Implications for Sustained Metal and Radionuclide Attenuation at Savannah River Site
Skip Chamberlain, U. S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC
Miles Denham, Savannah River National Laboratory, Aiken, SC
Karen Vangelas, Savannah River National Laboratory, Aiken, SC
Karen Skubal, U. S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC

Remediation Optimization and Sustainability

Rose Forbes, P.E., M.S. Chemical Engineering, Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment, 322 East Inner Road, Otis ANG Base, MA 02542, Tel:  508-968-4670 x 5613, Fax:  508-968-4476, Email:  rose.forbes@brooks.af.mil 

The Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment (AFCEE) has been managing the Installation Restoration Program (IRP) at the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR) since 1996.  Eight pump and treat systems have been constructed to remediate the contaminated groundwater at a treatment rate of up to 16 million gallons per day.  The System Performance and Ecological Impact Monitoring (SPEIM) and Operations & Maintenance (O&M) programs continuously evaluate the changing plumes and systems for optimization opportunities which result in better performance, cost savings, and a reduced environmental footprint.

Optimization has been integrated into all aspects of the SPEIM and O&M programs.  Examples include optimizing the monitoring networks, analytes, and sampling frequencies; sampling methodologies; extraction well pumping rates and screen lengths; type of carbon and carbon use; field and treatment plant equipment and operation; reporting frequencies; data validation; and sample analyses. 

Sustainability has also been integrated into the SPEIM and O&M programs to minimize the environmental impacts associated with remediation in addition to saving money and improving systems.  Several activities have been completed in order to reduce energy consumption including replacement of inefficient lighting systems, installation of variable frequency drives (VFDs), and change out of pump and motor assemblies as flow rates are adjusted.  Alternative fuels, such as biodiesel, are used where possible and alternative energy technologies have been evaluated resulting in the selection of a utility-class wind turbine. 

Combined, these optimization and sustainability activities have saved, and will continue to save, millions of dollars and have become the strategy for the IRP to continue to reduce costs while improving system performance with the overall benefit of reducing the program’s environmental footprint.

Sustainable Bioreactors to Achieve Remedy in Place

Erica Becvar, AFCEE Technology Transfer, AFCEE/TDV, 3300 Sidney Brooks, Brooks City-Base, TX  78235, USA, Tel:  210-536-4314, Fax:  210-536-4314, Email:  Erica.becvar@brooks.af.mil
Ravi Ravichandran, AFCEE Technology Transfer, AFCEE/TDV, 3300 Sidney Brooks, Brooks City-Base, TX  78235, USA, Tel:  210-536-5348, Fax:  210-536-2239, Email:  Mahalingam.Ravichandran@brooks.af.mil
Doug Downey, PE, Ch2M Hill, 27625 Hi-View Rd, Evergreen, CO 80439, Tel: 303-674-6547, Email: doug.downey@ch2m.com
Bruce Henry, Parsons, 1700 Broadway Suite 900, Denver, CO 80290, USA, Tel:  303-831-8100, Fax:  303-831-8208, Email:  bruce.henry@parsons.com
John Hicks, Parsons, 1700 Broadway Suite 900, Denver, CO 80290, USA, Tel: 303-831-8100, Fax:  303-831-8208, Email:  john.hicks@parsons.com
Steve Brauner, PhD, Parsons, 1700 Broadway Suite 900, Denver, CO 80290, USA, Tel:  303-764-1913, Fax: 303-831-8209, Email: steve.brauner@parsons.com

The in situ bioreactor is a simple and cost-effective application of enhanced reductive dechlorination technology. It can be used to accelerate the removal of chlorinated volatile organics (CVOCs) from both soil and groundwater in a known source area. This technology is particularly well suited for treating smaller source areas and shallow aquifers. In situ bioreactors have a great deal of flexibility in their application and geometry, but generally consist of an excavation of a source area, backfill of the excavation with reactive material to promote enhanced reductive dechlorination and biogeochemical reduction, and an extraction well or trench with pumping to collect and recirculate groundwater through the in situ bioreactor and source aquifer area. Solar-powered pumps can be added for low-yield aquifers. In situ bioreactors could speed remedy completion at CVOC sites and reduce long-term operation and maintenance (O&M) costs.  Sites that have achieved remedy in place (RIP) can benefit from the use of in situ bioreactors to reduce hot spot concentrations or treat residual contamination from other source zone treatment technologies which have failed to achieve complete removal. The Department of Defense (DoD) and the US Air Force (USAF) have investigated the use of in situ bioreactors at several USAF installations since 2003 beginning with Altus AFB, OK. Since then, full-scale in situ bioreactors have been installed at Camp Stanley, TX, Travis AFB, CA, and Hickam AFB, HI. This presentation will provide an overview of the technology, covering the basic principles as outlined in the USAF “Technical Protocol for Enhanced Anaerobic Bioremediation Using Permeable Mulch Biowalls and Bioreactors.” It will also provide lessons learned from the first in situ bioreactors installed at Altus AFB and Camp Stanley, as well as the most recent demonstrations at Travis AFB and Hickam AFB.

Parallel Lines of Evidence to Verify Natural Attenuation Processes: Results of Collaborative Effort

Diane Saber, Ph.D. Gas Technology Institute, 1700 S. Mount Prospect Road, Des Plaines, IL, 60018, USA, 847-768-0538, 847-768-0569 (fax), diane.saber@gastechnology.org
Xiangyang Zhu, Ph.D. Gas Technology Institute, 1700 S. Mount Prospect Road, Des Plaines, IL, 60018, USA, 847-768-0621, 847-768-0569 (fax), xiangyang.zhu@gastechnology.org
Lily Young, Ph.D. Biotechnology Center for Agriculture and the Environment, Foran Hall, 59 Dudley Rd., Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA, 732-932-8165, x312, 732-932-0312 (fax), lyoung@aesop.rutgers.edu
Robert  M. Kalin, Ph.D. David Livingstone Center for Sustainability, Level 6, Graham Hills Building, 50 Richmond Street, Strathclyde University, Glasgow G1 1XN, Scotland, +44 141 548 4649,  +44 141 548 3489 (fax), Robert.Kalin@Strath.ac.uk

The Gas Technology Institute (GTI), a not-for-profit research center for the natural gas industry, and researchers from Rutger’s University and Queen’s University, Belfast, NI have completed a three year project to elucidate corresponding lines of evidence indicating the progression of natural attenuation of a model compound, naphthalene, from MGP sites. The US EPA and other regulatory bodies have been increasingly interested in endorsing natural attenuation as method of site remediation.  However, few consistent and parallel lines of evidence have been collected and tested with rigor.  To this end, an industry funded study was conducted in order to investigate the possibility of using corresponding analytical, molecular and isotopic techniques to verify and predict the biodegradation of a compound.  The study described here was executed using MGP site materials and focused on naphthalene degradation.  

The study was comprehensive; aerobic and anaerobic experiments were conducted using known naphthalene degraders (aerobic) and site isolates (anaerobic), and groundwater samples from 2 sites (New Jersey and United Kingdom).  Naphthalene was monitored for degradation over time using the combined techniques of: 1) loss of parent compound, 2) isotopic shifts in naphthalene, 3) accumulation of intermediate compounds (metabolites), 4) shifts in enzyme activity, and, 5) presence of specific genetic markers (a selected functional gene) associated with compound degradation.  Combined, results of these tests showed remarkable predictability and consistency.  The technique was applied to a representative MGP site for verification; non-impacted, moderately and highly impacted groundwater samples were tested and results were encouraging.  Aspects of the study will be highlighted in the talk. 

Advantages and Case Studies of Nano Size Remediation for Petroleum Release Sites

John H. Patterson, Continental Remediation LLC, 184 Riverview Avenue, Waltham, MA 02453 Tel: 781-891-0431, Fax: 866-461-8183 Email: continental.llc@gmail.com 
Wei-xian Zhang, Director, Institute of Environmental Nanotechnology, Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA 18015-3176 Tel: 610-758-5318 Fax: 610-758-6405 Email: wez3@lehigh.edu
David Henderson, Gitech llc, 92 Sharps Lane, Hamilton, New Jersey 08610, Tel: 609-273-0524 Email: drh@gitechllc.net

Most remediation processes experience variations in effectiveness when treating differing types of soil conditions and locations. By reducing the particle size of well know and trusted remediation materials, the ability to contact contaminates is significantly improved. The smaller particle size allows effective treatment beneath homes without the environment problem of fumes, heat, or pressure caused by many of the treatment materials used today. Dangers of Nano size materials are eliminated by proper manufacturing processes. Five sites are presented to illustrate the application and results of Nano Peroxide treatment for home heating oil contamination in soil and groundwater.

Surfactant Enhanced Desorption of PAH’s Improving their Biological, Chemical and Hydraulic Availability for In-situ and Ex-situ Remediation

George A. Ivey, B.Sc., CES, CESA, P. Chem., Ivey International Inc., PO Box 706, Campbell River, BC  V9W 6C9, Canada, Tel: 250-923-6326, Fax: 250-923-0718, Email:  budivey@island.net
Paul V. Wierbicki, P.E., P. Eng., Ivey International Inc., 26 Berkeley Place, Newington, CT 06111, USA, Tel:  506-363-4494, Fax: 506-363-4606, Email:  cupw@nbnet.nb.ca

This paper will focus on the application of surfactant enhanced desorption techniques to desorb sorbed Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) using non-ionic surfactants to improve their availability for in-situ and ex-situ treatment of contaminated soil, sediments and groundwater.

Normally PAH’s exhibit limited solubility in water as the contaminants tend to partition and sorb (i.e., absorbs and or adsorbs) onto the soil, sediment or bedrock surfaces. This partitioning can account for as much as 90% or more of the total contaminant mass.  Consequently the subject contaminants exhibit a limited degree of ‘availability’ for in-situ and or ex-situ treatment. This includes technologies such as: pump and treatment, bioremediation, chemical oxidation, chemical reduction, soil washing and thermal desorption.  Hence certain PAH’s can persist in soils, bedrock, solid waste, waste water and or groundwater for extended periods.

The sorption of PAH’s onto solids is considered the principal limiting factor affecting the effectiveness of most treatment technologies. This coupled with complex chemistry, geology and hydrogeology only further complicates matters.

Surfactant enhanced desorption involves the use of surfactant formulations to selectively desorb and dissolve (i.e., make miscible) target PAH contaminants from the solid to liquid phase.  In addition, the surfactants will lower the surface tension of water from 72 dynes to <30 to 40 dynes increasing the wetting and permeability properties of water in fine grain soil, sediments and bedrock fractures.  The surfactants affect the sorption of PAH’s at the solid-liquid interface (i.e., the surface–H2O–PAH interface).  As a result, the surfactants increase the PAH solubility and improved ‘availability’ for rapid and cost effective treatment.

Assessing Waste Site Evolution and Implications for Sustained Metal and Radionuclide Attenuation at Savannah River Site 

Skip Chamberlain, U. S. Department of Energy, Office of Groundwater and Soil Remediation, 1000 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20585 USA, Tel: 301-903-7248, Fax: 301-903-3617, Email: grover.chamberlain@em.doe.gov
Miles Denham, Savannah River National Laboratory, Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC 29808 USA.  Tel: 803-725-5521, Fax: 803-725-7673, Email: miles.denham@srnl.doe.gov
Karen Vangelas, Savannah River National Laboratory, Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC 29808 USA.  Tel: 803-725-5223, Fax: 803-725-7673, Email: karen.vangelas@srnl.doe.gov
Karen L. Skubal, U. S. Department of Energy, Office of Groundwater and Soil Remediation, 1000 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20585 USA.  Tel: 301-903-6524, Fax: 301-903-3617, Email: karen.skubal@em.doe.gov

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sponsors basic and applied research initiatives to improve the understanding of metal and radionuclide behavior in soil, sediment, and groundwater.  DOE-supported researchers are developing novel remediation methods and guidance for applying natural or enhanced attenuation strategies to complex sites for successful long-term control of contaminants.  This presentation focuses on research activities at a former disposal area at the Savannah River Site (SRS) in Aiken, South Carolina.  The unlined F-Area Seepage Basins at SRS received approximately seven billion liters of acidic, aqueous, low-level radioactive waste over more than 30 years.  The resulting groundwater plume contains multiple nonradioactive and radioactive constituents, including nitrate, iodine‑129, strontium‑90, technetium‑99, tritium, and uranium isotopes.  Since 1991, groundwater near the source area has been analyzed for evidence that plume acidity is naturally attenuating.  Additionally, temporal and spatial gradients in other biogeochemical parameters are being evaluated to determine natural waste site evolution and impacts from active remediation systems.  These systems include a neutralization barrier to mitigate plume acidity and a biostimulation zone to enhance in situ reductive metal precipitation.  The influence of reactive facies on plume dynamics is also being examined using geophysical tools to detect these subsurface zones of unique mineralogy, hydrology, and microbiology.  Site characterization data, plume dynamics, and contaminant behavior are incorporated into an evolving site conceptual model, which serves as the foundation for reactive transport modeling.  This diverse approach for site assessment is expected to improve the selection of remedial strategies and decision making for long-term environmental stewardship at SRS and other waste areas.  The work is complementary to the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent guidance on monitored natural attenuation of inorganics and to related regulatory guidance under development by the Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council.

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