Presentations Flashcards
Burning methods?
Ex-situ incineration
in situ combustion
Advantages of burning?
- contaminants are converted
- relatively quick remediation
- high temperature good for sandy soil, desert, beach
- very high (+1600C) temperatures effective for inorganic contaminants
Disadvantages of burning?
- energy intensive
- destroys everything organic
- emits pollutants to the atmosphere
- cost
What is remediation by volatilization?
Heating the contaminated soil to volatilize the contaminants
-> released to the atmosphere or collected
Advantages of volatilization?
- less destructive than incineration
- both ex- and in situ
Disadvantages of volatilization?
- applications mainly volatile organic compounds (VOC), semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC) and heavier hydrocarbons
- not effective for most inorganic contaminants
Capping and encapsulation in a nutshell?
- Contaminants from the soil are not removed nor somehow treated.
- The methods prevent people and wildlife from coming in contact with contaminants.
- After executing any of the methods, soil is not used for agriculture.
- The methods are chosen when other cost-effective remediation technologies are not available
How does capping work?
Soil is covered on top or also with additional tools in the ground (like monitoring well) that prevent the spreading of the pollutants in the soil.
Layers could be: • Asphalt or concrete • Vegetative layer • Geomembrane • Clay
When to use capping?
- Volume of polluted soil is big
- Concentration and the hazard of the pollutants are low enough
- No groundwater under the contaminated site
How does encapsulation work?
1) Excavation phase to remove the contaminated soil
2) Creation of the storage cell formed by geomembrane
3) Putting the soil in the cell
4) Creating a layer on top with geomembrane and ventilation if needed
The encapsulation can take place on the site or
in waste storage place specialized for hazardous
waste
When to use encapsulation?
- Quantity of soil is small enough to excavate it
- Concentration and the hazard of the pollutants is high
- Groundwater can possibly be contaminated
What is natural attenuation?
Natural attenuation means physical, chemical and biological processes (or combinations of these processes) that occur naturally and reduce concentration or mass of contaminants
What is the primary mechanism for natural attenuation?
Biodegradation
What are monitored natural attenuation’s essential aspects?
Source control
Long-tern performance monitoring
Natural attenuation involves aerobic and anaerobic degradation of the pollutants, these processes can be assessed by?
Measuring microbial activity and using molecular biology methods in combination with chemical
analyses
Where does monitored natural attenuation work best?
Where source of pollution has been removed
What are the two types of natural attenuation?
Destructive and non-destructive
Advantages of natural attenuation?
- Cost-effective
- Can be applied partly or on all contaminated areas
- Less intrusive
- Less generation and transfer of waste
Disadvantages of natural attenuation?
• Slow process
• NA is not a desirable remedial alternative for certain sites
• For long-term situations, performance monitoring is required
– Costs more
What is excavation?
Excavating, digging is mostly done when something specific is aimed to be removed.
Excavation of contaminated sediment basically involves taking off the sediment from the water and this can be achieved by relocating the
water body permanently or re-routing the water body temporarily using pipes, dams or sheet piling.
Positives of excavation?
Excavation enables visual observation of the sediment removal process.