Workshop #7: In-Situ Thermal Remediation

Dr. Ralph Baker, Dr. Gorm Heron and Mr. John LaChance, TerraTherm, Fitchburg, MA

In-Situ Thermal Remediation (ISTR) comprises several robust technologies that have been proven to be able to clean up DNAPL source zones in a wide range of subsurface settings.  These include Steam Enhanced Extraction (SEE), Electrical Resistance Heating (ERH) and In-Situ

Thermal Desorption/Destruction (ISTD).  This workshop will present the following topics:

• overview of temperatures achieved in the field;
• physicochemical mechanisms underlying ISTR technologies; what happens to the NAPL?;
• in-situ destruction reactions;
• how to optimize operations to achieve maximum remedial efficiency;
• overview of SEE, ERH, ISTD, and combined approaches, including Dynamic Underground Stripping (DUS);
• case studies of SEE, ERH, DUS and ISTD, including both low and high-temperature applications;
• how to choose the optimal heating technique for a site, including data needed for technology screening, cost evaluation, and design. 

Workshop #8: Applied Chemical Fingerprinting in Environmental Forensics

Scott A. Stout and Gregory S. Douglas, NewFields Environmental Forensics Practice LLC, Rockland, MA

Chemical fingerprinting is an important tool in determining the source and age of contamination in the environment.  Fugitive petroleum and other sources of anthropogenic hydrocarbons in the environment can be distinguished from each other and from naturally occurring hydrocarbons when the chemical data available provide a sufficient degree of specificity.  The data necessary for chemical fingerprinting is generally derived from minor modifications of existing analytical methods with the aim toward increases in the target analytes and decreases in detection limits. Interpretation of these data requires careful consideration of the: (1) genetic features of different hydrocarbon sources, (2) refining-induced chemical properties, (3) effects of environmental weathering, and (4) mixing in the environment.   This workshop first will review the fingerprinting methods and the factors affecting fingerprints in environmental samples.  Most of the workshop will address how chemical fingerprinting is applied to specific forensic topics using real-world examples.  The specific topics to be discussed include:

• Gasoline fingerprinting and age-constraining
• Stability of organic lead – implications for age-dating gasoline
• Distillate fuel fingerprinting – implications of sulfur content/treatment, blending practices, and feedstock
• Distinguishing pyrogenic PAH sources – MGP tar versus combustion particulates
• Defining “background” - naturally occurring TPH and urban background
• Fingerprint comparison techniques – qualitative and quantitative correlation techniques

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