Innovative Subsurface Remediation

This volume evaluates a selection of new technologies for the remediation of groundwater pollution. It covers techniques for both site remediation and characterization, and many of the techniques described are ready for commercial application.

Most books on ground water and soil cleanup address only the technologies themselvesâ€"not why new technologies are or are not developed. Innovations in Ground Water and Soil Cleanup takes a holistic approach to the entire field, addressing both the sluggish commercial development of ground water and soil cleanup technologies and the attributes of specific technologies. It warns that, despite cleanup expenditures of nearly $10 billion a year, the technologies remain rudimentary. This engaging book focuses on the failure of regulatory policy to link cleanup with the financial interests of the company responsible for the contamination. The committee explores why the market for remediation technology is uniquely lacking in economic drivers and why demand for innovation has been so much weaker than predicted. The volume explores how to evaluate the performance of cleanup technologies from the points of view of the public, regulators, cleanup entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders. The committee discusses approaches to standardizing performance testing, so that choosing a technology for a given site can be more timely and less contentious. Following up on Alternatives for Ground Water Cleanup (NRC, 1994), this sequel presents the state of the art in the cleanup of various types of ground water and soil contaminants. Strategies for making valid cost comparisons also are reviewed.

This book presents a comprehensive, up-to-date review of technologies for cleaning up contaminants in groundwater and soil. It provides a special focus on three classes of contaminants that have proven very difficult to treat once released to the subsurface: metals, radionuclides, and dense nonaqueous-phase liquids such as chlorinated solvents. Groundwater and Soil Cleanup was commissioned by the Department of Energy (DOE) as part of its program to clean up contamination in the nuclear weapons production complex. In addition to a review of remediation technologies, the book describes new trends in regulation of contaminated sites and assesses DOE's program for developing new subsurface cleanup technologies.

Introduces the most up-to-date techniques for soil remediation, including chemical fixation/stabilization, soil vapor extraction, thermally enhanced vapor stripping, biodegradation, and air spargingwritten in a style accessible to nonspecialists. Desc4ibes the ex shu technique of thermal desorption of soil contaminants-a low-cost aftemative to incineration for the removal of organics.

Presenting a clear, understandable examination, this book outlines efficient, effective methods and strategies for the complex field of subsurface remediation. The editors fully assess the state-of-knowledge of subsurface science requisite for finding new solutions, providing a focused guide for advanced subsurface remediation technology. Unparalleled in scope and practicality, Subsurface Restoration assists those persons determining the extent of environmental contamination for remedial technology selection and for environmental decision-making at all levels.

Chlorinated Solvent and DNAPL Remediation addresses remediation of chlorinated solvents and dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) in groundwater and discusses remedial alternatives that are available for subsurface cleanup. Chlorinated Solvent and DNAPL Remediation: Innovative Strategies for Subsurface Cleanup focuses primarily on current technological developments and innovative applications for in situ remediation of chlorinated solvents including DNAPLs in soil and groundwater. However, this book also provides a general overview of all of the physical, chemical, and biological processes available for in situ remediation of groundwater contaminated with chlorinated solvents and DNAPLs. Chapters discuss surfactant flushing to enhance DNAPL removal; in situ chemical destruction by reduction processes involving zero valent iron or related metals; in situ chemical destruction by advanced oxidation processes; and in situ biological destruction by enhanced anaerobic bioremediation or natural bioattenuation. This book also emphasizes zero valent iron-based strategies, including reaction geochemistry, permeable reactive barrier longevity, rejuvenation of iron walls, and emplacement technique. One chapter summarizes 10 years of permeable reactive barrier development and application. The controversial issues related to DNAPL remediation, including the concept that remediation of sites affected by DNAPL could be technically impractical, are reviewed. Another chapter focuses on the evolution of DNAPL remediation practice.

2 DANNY D. REIBLEI AND KATERINA DEMNEROVA 1 Hazardous Substance Research Center/South and Southwest, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 2 Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Prague, Czech Republic On May 24, 2001, a total of 102 students and lecturers participated in an Advanced Study Institute (ASI) sponsored by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) under our direction. The Institute was focused on in situ and onsite management of contaminated sites. The objective of the Institute was to balance state of the art science with techniques for field application of a variety of technologies for in situ assessment and remediation of contaminated sites. Many of the lecturers were drawn from the ranks of the Hazardous Substance Research Centers, multi-university consortia that have been funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency to conduct research and technology transfer designed to promote risk-based management and control of hazardous substances for the nation. The Centers have made special contributions to the areas of in situ and onsite assessment and remediation of contaminated sites. Such approaches have the potential for being significantly less expensive than other assessment and remediation approaches while maintaining accuracy and effectiveness. Cost-effective remedial and management approaches that are also effective in minimizing exposure and risk to human health and the environment are a critical need throughout the world but particularly in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union where resources that can be devoted to environmental cleanup are especially limited.