Composting Explosives Organics Contaminated Soils

Some of the more difficult environmental problems facing the Department of Defense (DOD) include (1) chemical weapons destruction, (2) explosive waste remediation, and (3) unexploded ordnance clearance and extraction. It is conceivable that $50 to $100 billion will be spent by DOD for these three programs, offering unusual opportunities for environmental engineering and related firms. Military installations are similar to small cities in terms of population, industrial activities, and some types of contaminated sites. However, some cover an area larger than a small state. DOD has operated industrial facilities on its installations for several decades that have generated, stored, recycled, or disposed of hazardous wastes. Many of these activities have contaminated the nearby soil and groundwater. To study and clean up contaminated sites, DOD established the Installation Restoration Program (IRP) in 1975. In 1984, the IRP was made part of the Defense Environmental Restoration Program. The Secretary of Defense delegated cleanup responsibility to the Army, Navy, the Air Force, and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). Cleanup actions are usually accomplished under contract with private firms, which are monitored by the services. Most cleanup actions are funded through the Defense Environmental Restoration Account (DERA) and the Base Realignment and Closure Account. Congress established DERA in 1984 to fund the cleanup of inactive contaminated sites on DOD installations. The technology to clean up the conventional hazardous wastes on DOD sites are the same as those utilized for industrial sites, and well-documented by this publisher. However, there are three DOD programs that require the utilization of somewhat unusual or different technologies that have not been as well documented. These three programs are: 1. Chemical weapons destruction 2. Remediation of explosives contaminated soils and lagoons 3. Unexploded ordnance detection, clearance, and extraction This book discusses the current and potential treatment technologies involved in these three programs.

Biotechnology in Industrial Waste Treatment and Bioremediation addresses the increasingly important topic of waste treatment. Focusing on microbiological degradation of contaminants, it offers a representative picture of the current status of environmental biotechnology and lays a solid foundation of the methods and applications of bioremediation. The expert presentations of case studies in this new book demonstrate successful treatment schemes and technologies meeting regulatory standards. These case studies represent an international cross-section of strategies for developing and implementing the evolving technologies of bioremediation. Biotechnology in Industrial Waste Treatment and Bioremediation examines the primary waste streams, including air, water, soils, and sediments, and explores specific treatment methodologies for industrial and environmental contaminants. This broad and unique coverage allows treatment firms and regulatory authorities to determine and develop appropriate treatment strategies for site-specific problems of waste remediation. The observations and successful field applications compiled in Biotechnology in Industrial Waste Treatment and Bioremediation make it an excellent reference for understanding, evaluating, developing, and operating efficient and cost-effective full-scale treatment systems.

The use of biotechnical processes in control of environmental pollution and in haz ardous waste treatment is viewed as an advantageous alternative or adduct to phys ical chemical treatment technologies. Yet, the development and implementation of both conventional and advanced biotechnologies in predictable and efficacious field applications suffer from numerous technical, regulatory, and societal uncertainties. With the application of modern molecular biology and genetic engineering, there is clear potential for biotechnical developments that will lead to breakthroughs in controlled and optimized hazardous waste treatment for in situ and unit process use. There is, however, great concern that the development of these technologies may be needlessly hindered in their applications and that the fundamental research base may not be able to sustain continued technology development. Some of these issues have been discussed in a fragmented fashion within the research and development community. A basic research agenda has been established to promote a sustainable cross-disciplinary technology base. This agenda includes developing new and improved strains for biodegradation, improving bioanalytical methods to measure strain and biodegradation performance, and providing an in tegrated environmental and reactor systems analysis approach for process control and optimization.