High Mass Delivery Gas Infusion Systems for Active Bioremediation, Modification of Groundwater Geochemistry and NAPL Removal
James F. Begley, MTER/inVentures Technologies, Plymouth, MA

Real-Time Contaminated Soil & Groundwater Remediation Optimization via the Information Superhighway 
Richard Cartwright, MECX, LLC, East Amherst, NY

Fluorescent Dyes Define Ground Water Flow Paths in Unconsolidated Aquifers
Edward Hinchey, ERM-Northeast, Inc, Syracuse, NY

Innovative Groundwater Imaging Technology
Mark Kluger, Dajak, LLC, Wilmington, DE

Innovative Off-Gas Treatment Technology Allows Recycling of Extracted Soil Vapor
Cannon F. Silver, Battelle, Columbus, OH

Contaminant Removal during Large-Scale Experiments of Thermal Remediation of DNAPL Sources in Aquifers

Ralph S. Baker, Ph.D., TerraTherm, Inc., 10 Stevens Road , Fitchburg , MA 01420 , Tel: 978-343-0300, Fax: 978-343-2727
John C. LaChance, TerraTherm, Inc., 10 Stevens Road , Fitchburg , MA 01420 , Tel: 978-343-0300, Fax: 978-343-2727
Gorm Heron, Ph.D., TerraTherm, Inc., 28900 Indian Point, Keene , CA 93531 , Tel: 661-823-1620, Fax: 661-823-1620
Uwe Hiester, University of Stuttgart, VEGAS-Research Facility for Subsurface Remediation, Pfaffenwaldring 61, D-70550, Stuttgart, Germany, Tel: 49(0)711-685-4745, Fax: 49(0)711-685-7020
Hans-Peter Koschitzky, Ph.D., University of Stuttgart, VEGAS-Research Facility for Subsurface Remediation, Pfaffenwaldring 61, D-70550, Stuttgart, Germany, Tel: 49(0)711-685-4717, Fax: 49(0)711-685-7020
Oliver Trötschler, University of Stuttgart, VEGAS-Research Facility for Subsurface Remediation, Pfaffenwaldring 61, D-70550, Stuttgart, Germany, Tel: 49(0)711-685-7021, Fax: 49(0)711-685-7020
Myron Kuhlman, Ph.D., MK Tech Solutions, Inc., 12843 Covey Lane , Houston , TX 77099 , Tel: 281-564-8851, Fax: 281-564-8821

At the core of a three-year SERDP-funded research project, two large-scale (75m³ and 150m³) 3-D remediation experiments, with controlled release of DNAPL into a lower-permeability layer beneath the water table are being conducted at the facilities of VEGAS - the Research Facility for Subsurface Remediation at the Univ. of Stuttgart, Germany. The purpose of these experiments is to better understand the principal mechanisms that control the performance of thermal conduction heating (TCH) and vapor recovery of DNAPL in the saturated zone, at field-relevant scales and under well-controlled conditions. In parallel, a numerical model was optimized based on earlier experiments, enabling numerical simulations to be used to design the controlled release experiments. During the experiments, the progression of heating to 100°C and accompanying desaturation are monitored using 300 temperature sensors and 35 time domain reflectometry probes, respectively, allowing comparisons of the physical conditions and accompanying numerical simulations. In addition, numerous solution and vapor samplers enable monitoring of contaminant concentrations at various locations within the containers over the course of the heating.

High Mass Delivery Gas Infusion Systems for Active Bioremediation, Modification of Groundwater Geochemistry and NAPL Removal

James F. Begley, MTER/inVentures Technologies, 24 Bay View Avenue , Plymouth , MA 02360 , Tel: 508-732-0121, Fax: 508-732-0122, jbegley@cape.com
Karen D. Greer B.Sc. P.Geo., Water and Earth Science Associates Ltd., 182 Victoria Street South Kitchener Ontario Canada Tel 519 742 6685 Fax 519 742 9810, kgreer@wesa.ca
Peter Guerra, AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc., 8519 Jefferson NE Albuquerque, NM  87113, Tel. (505) 821-1801, Fax: (505) 821-7371, peter.guerra@amec.com

High mass delivery rate gas infusions systems have been developed as new tools for site remediation.  These systems transfer dissolved gasses including oxygen, hydrogen and cometabolic substrates to groundwater for active in situ bioremediation and optimization of extraction, treatment and reinjection systems.  Additional applications include pH and redox adjustment and enhancement of NAPL recovery with CO₂ Saturated Water Injection.  Laboratory scale technology development and field trial systems data for multiple applications will be presented.

Real-Time Contaminated Soil & Groundwater Remediation Optimization via the Information Superhighway

Richard Cartwright, MECX, LLC, 8096 Clarherst Drive, East Amherst, NY 14051, Tel: 713-412-9697, Fax: 713-585-7049, Email: Richard.Cartwright@mecx.net

An innovative engineering control system has been developed to optimize the process of activating sodium persulfate used to oxidize organic contaminants in soil & groundwater. This in-situ chemical treatment remediation process can be continuously optimized using an innovative web-based Smart Data^SM software information package that provides via the information superhighway three-dimensional images of real time data, which is readily accessible in the field.

Activated persulfate is a much more robust chemical oxidant than “unactivated” persulfate. Thus, the real-time field optimization of the techniques used to activate persulfate has significant process safety and economic value. Persulfate can be activated by a combination of the following: hydrogen peroxide injection, pH manipulation, transition metal catalyst application, and exceeding the minimum activation temperature threshold which can be achieved by exothermic chemical reactions generated by the application of catalyzed hydrogen peroxide.

The installation of a thermocouple in every chemical injection well and monitoring well can provide useful chemical oxidation process control data. Wireless radio frequency transmitters can be used to collect the real-time temperature data from the thermocouples on-site. A laptop computer equipped with a wireless modem on-site can then transmit this data electronically via the information superhighway to an off-site computer equipped with a web-based Smart DataSM software information package to provide three-dimensional images of the data in a timely manner thus allowing efficient and effective field optimization of the chemical oxidation treatment process. Three-dimensional images enable the field technicians to adjust chemical oxidant and conditioning reagent injection flow rates. Groundwater temperature can be continuously optimized. If appropriate, dual phase extraction and off-gassing rates can also be readily controlled.

Key benefits include process safety management via the avoidance of potential run away exothermic reactions, reduction in chemical and in-situ groundwater heating costs and of course the minimization of field technician labor.

Fluorescent Dyes Define Ground Water Flow Paths in Unconsolidated Aquifers

Edward Hinchey, P.G., Partner, ERM-Northeast, Inc., 5788 Widewaters Parkway, Syracuse, NY 13210
Martin Otz, Ph.D., ERM and NannoTrace Technologies

Organic fluorescent dyes are rarely used in organic-rich environments because most dissolved organic substances fluoresce thus camouflaging the fluorescent dyes.  In this paper, we report the results of the successful application of ultra-high resolution dye tracing experiments in unconsolidated aquifers at multiple sites affected with organic contaminants.  ERM and Nanotrace Technologies have developed continuous synchronous spectrofluorometric scanning techniques to characterize background water that allows us to identify the fluorescent fingerprint of ground water affected by organic contaminants.  Dyes are then chosen with a specific spectral signature and dominant wavelength peak that does not overlap with the background fluorescence allowing tracer detection in the part per trillion range.  The combined background identification techniques and ultra-low detection limits provide a cost effective and “ground truthed” method of empirically determining actual subsurface flow paths. 

We will present the results from a site contaminated for over 50 years with chlorinated solvents, cutting oils and heating fuel.  We injected low concentrations of the fluorescent dyes uranine and sulforhodamine B in monitoring wells at opposite ends of the site to determine the direction and velocity of ground water flow, and to evaluate matrix effects to dye transport.  Within 12 days, the uranine dye reached an onsite ground water recovery system identifying the major flow paths across the site.  The observed velocity and flow differed widely from multiple observations via ground water gauging and aquifer testing.  At a second site, ultra-low detection limits allowed for the conducting of dye tracing close to potential sensitive receptors in a populated area.  The dye tracer study successfully identified actual cross-gradient limits of ground water flow which will be used to direct the precise application of in-situ oxidation chemicals.

The fluorescent dye techniques developed provide a degree of accuracy to flow path and aquifer analysis that was not previously available to investigators of contaminated ground water in unconsolidated formations.

Innovative Groundwater Imaging Technology

Mark Kluger, President, Dajak, LLC, 7 Red Oak Road , Wilmington , DE   19806 , Tel: 302-655-6651, Email: mkluger@dajak.com

Groundwater contamination is perhaps the most troubling aspect of a brownfields site.  The diffusion of pollutants into the aqueous networks lying beneath such a site not only adds to the difficulties of local remediation, it also threatens the drinking water of a much larger area. The greatest challenge in addressing groundwater contamination is gaining an accurate understanding of the complex web of channels and reservoirs which lie hidden below the surface.  Unfortunately, traditional methods for determining the potential flow paths of subsurface pollution require extensive drilling—a time-consuming and expensive process which could result in significant environmental harm such as formation caving or slumping in loose sands.  The electromagnetic imaging procedure detailed in this presentation provides exceptionally accurate groundwater maps but requires significantly less drilling.  As a result, this method entails fewer costs in terms of time, money and ecological disruption.  This rapid and minimally invasive technique may be particularly well suited to the task of environmental cleanup.  

In this procedure, electrodes are used to charge the groundwater in question with a low voltage, low amperage, high frequency electrical current.  As the current moves through the water between the electrodes, it induces a magnetic field whose size, shape, magnitude and direction are characteristic of the surrounding aqueous system.  This field is then read at the surface by a specially tuned receiver.   The data thus generated can be used to create maps indicating the attributes of the subsurface water network, including potential flow paths.  Such information is of tremendous value in the difficult effort to remediate groundwater pollution.

This technology has recently been deployed in a variety of projects involving subsurface contamination.  This presentation will discuss the science behind the methodology and the lessons learned from its recent applications.

Innovative Off-Gas Treatment Technology Allows Recycling of Extracted Soil Vapor

Cannon F. Silver, P.E.,  Battelle, 505 King Ave. , Columbus , OH , 43220 , Tel: 614-424-7406, Fax:  614-458-7406, Email: silverc@battelle.org
Carol Winell, G.E.O., Inc., 1949 North Diamond St. , Orange , CA , 92867 , Tel: 714-283-1682, Email: cwinell@mindspring.com

Top