Description:

Figure 4-9a:
Typical Auger/Caisson and Reagent/Injector Head Systems

Auger/caisson systems and injector head systems are techniques used in soil S/S. They apply S/S agents to soils to trap or immobilize contaminants.

Bottom barriers are horizontal subsurface barriers that prevent vertical migration by providing a floor of impermeable material beneath the waste. The installation of a grout injection bottom barrier involves directional drilling with forced grout injection. Implementation of this technology is highly dependent on the physical properties of soil.

In Situ Vitrification (ISV)

In situ vitrification (ISV) is another in situ S/S process which uses an electric current to melt soil or other earthen materials at extremely high temperatures (1,600 to 2,000 °C or 2,900 to 3,650 °F) and thereby immobilize most inorganics and destroy organic pollutants by pyrolysis. Inorganic pollutants are incorporated within the vitrified glass and crystalline mass. Water vapor and organic pyrolysis combustion products are captured in a hood, which draws the contaminants into an off-gas treatment system that removes particulates and other pollutants from the gas. The vitrification product is a chemically stable, leach-resistant, glass and crystalline material similar to obsidian or basalt rock. The process destroys and/or removes organic materials. Radionuclides and heavy metals are retained within the molten soil.

The timeframe for in situ S/S is short- to medium-term, while in situ ISV process is typically short-term.

Synonyms:

DSERTS Codes:

M13 (Vitrification).
N11 (Solidification/Stabilization)

Applicability:

The Auger/Caisson and Reagent/Injector Head Systems have limited effectiveness against SVOCs and pesticides and no expected effectiveness against VOCs; however, systems designed to be more effective in treating organics are being developed and tested.

The ISV process can destroy or remove organics and immobilize most inorganics in contaminated soils, sludge, or other earthen materials. The process has been tested on a broad range of VOCs and SVOCs, other organics including dioxins and PCBs, and on most priority pollutant metals and radionuclides.

Limitations:

• Depth of contaminants may limit some types of application processes.
• Future usage of the site may "weather" the materials and affect ability to maintain immobilization of contaminants.
• Some processes result in a significant increase in volume (up to double the original volume).
• Certain wastes are incompatible with variations of this process. Treatability studies are generally required.
• Reagent delivery and effective mixing are more difficult than for ex situ applications.
• Like all in situ treatments, confirmatory sampling can be more difficult than for ex situ treatments.
• The solidified material may hinder future site use.
• Processing of contamination below the water table may require dewatering.

Data Needs:

Performance Data:

Auger/Caisson and Reagent/Injector Head Systems processes have demonstrated the capability to reduce the mobility of contaminated waste by greater than 95%. The effects, over the long term, of weathering (e.g., freeze-thaw cycles, acid precipitation, and wind erosion), ground water infiltration, and physical disturbance associated with uncontrolled future land use can significantly affect the integrity of the stabilized mass and contaminant mobility in ways that cannot be predicted by laboratory tests.

There have been few, if any, commercial applications of ISV. The ISV process has been operated for test and demonstration purposes at the pilot scale and at full scale at the following sites: (1) Geosafe Corporation's test site, (2) DOE's Hanford Nuclear Reservation, (3) DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and (4) DOE's Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. More than 170 tests at various scales have been performed on a broad range of waste types in soils and sludge. A demonstration will take place at the Parsons/ETM site in Grand Ledge, Michigan, where the process is currently operating.

Process depths up to 6 meters (19 ft) have been achieved in relatively homogeneous soils. The achievable depth is limited under certain heterogeneous conditions.

Cost:

The shallow soil mixing technique processes 36 to 72 metric tons (40 to 80 tons) per hour on average, and the deep soil mixing technique averages 18 to 45 metric tons (20 to 50 tons) per hour.

The major factor driving the selection process beyond basic waste compatibility is the availability of suitable reagents. Auger/Caisson and Reagent/Injector Head Systems processes require that potentially large volumes of bulk reagents and additives be transported to project sites. Transportation costs can dominate project economics and can quickly become uneconomical in cases where local or regional material sources are unavailable.

The cost for grout injection varies depending on site-specific conditions. Costs for drilling can range from $50 to $150/ft and grouting from $50 to $75/ft, not including mobilization, wash disposal, or adverse site condition expenses.

For ISV, average costs for treatability tests (all types) are $25K plus analytical fees; for PCBs and dioxins, the cost is $30K plus analytical. Equipment mobilization and demobilization costs are $200K to $300K combined. Vitrification operation cost varies with electricity costs, quantity of water, and depth of process.  One recent study on the west coast estimated vitrification costs at $375-425 per ton of soil treated; while another study in the midwest estimated vitrification costs at $267 per cubic yard.

References:

Treatment Technologies for Site Cleanup: Annual Status Report (ASR), Tenth Edition, EPA 542-R-01-004

Innovative Remediation Technologies:  Field Scale Demonstration Project in North America, 2nd Edition

Remediation Technology Cost Compendium - Year 2000

Abstracts of Remediation Case Studies, Volume 4,  June, 2000, EPA 542-R-00-006

Guide to Documenting and Managing Cost and Performance Information for Remediation Projects - Revised Version, October, 1998, EPA 542-B-98-007

DOE, 1992. In Situ Vitrification, Technology Transfer Bulletin, prepared by Battelle's Pacific Northwest Laboratories for DOE, Richland, WA.

DOE, January 1992. "ISV Planning and Coordination," FY92 Technical Task Plan and Technical Task Description, TTP Reference No. RL-8568-PT.

DOE, July 1992. "116-B-6A Crib ISV Demonstration Project," FY92 Technical Task Plan and Technical Task Description, TTP Reference No. RL-8160-PT.

DOE, April 1995. Technology Catalogue, Second Edition, Office of Environmental Management & Office of Technology Development, DOE/EM-0235.

EPA, 1989. Chemfix Technologies, Inc. Chemical Fixation/Stabilization, EPA RREL, series includes Technology Evaluation, Vol. I, EPA/540/5-89/011a, PB91-127696, and Technology Evaluation, Vol. II, EPA/540/5-89/011b, PB90-274127.

EPA, 1989. Hazcon Solidification, EPA RREL, series includes Technology Evaluation, Vol. I, EPA/540/5-89/001a, PB89-158810; Technology Evaluation, Vol. II, EPA/540/5-89/001b, PB89-158828; Applications Analysis, EPA/540/A5-89/001; and Technology Demonstration Summary, EPA/540/S5-89/001.

EPA, 1989. IWT/GeoCon In-Situ Stabilization, EPA RREL, series includes Technology Evaluation, Vol. I, EPA/540/5-89/004a; Technology Evaluation, Vol. II, EPA/540/5-89/004b, PB89-194179; Technology Evaluation, Vol. III, EPA/540/5-89/004c, PB90-269069; Technology Evaluation, Vol. IV, EPA/540/5-89/004d, PB90-269077; Applications Analysis, EPA/540/A5-89/004; Technology Demonstration Summary, EPA/540/S5-89/004; Technology Demonstration Summary Update Report, EPA/540/S5-89/004a; and Demonstration Bulletin, EPA/540/M5-89/004.

EPA, 1989. SITE Program Demonstration Test International Waste Technologies In Situ Stabilization/Solidification Hialeah, Florida, Technology Evaluation Report, EPA RREL, Cincinnati, OH, EPA/540/5-89/004a.

EPA, 1989. Soliditech, Inc. Solidification, EPA RREL, series includes Technology Evaluation, Vol. I, EPA/540/5-89/005a; Technology Evaluation, Vol. II, EPA/540/5-89/005b, PB90-191768; Applications Analysis, EPA/540/A5-89/005; Technology Demonstration Summary, EPA/540/S5-89/005; and Demonstration Bulletin, EPA/540/M5-89/005.

EPA, 1989. Stabilization/Solidification of CERCLA and RCRA Wastes: Physical Tests, Chemical Testing Procedures, Technology Screening, and Field Activities, EPA, CERL, Cincinnati, OH, EPA/625/6-89/022.

EPA, 1990. International Waste Technologies/Geo-Con In Situ Stabilization/Solidification, Applications Report, EPA, ORD, Washington, DC, EPA/540/A5-89/004.

EPA, 1993. Solidification/Stabilization and Its Application to Waste Materials, Technical Resource Document, EPA, ORD, Washington, DC, EPA/530/R-93/012.

EPA, 1993. Solidification/Stabilization of Organics and Inorganics, Engineering Bulletin, EPA, ORD, Cincinnati, OH, EPA/540/S-92/015.

EPA, 1994. In-Situ Vitrification Geosafe Corporation, EPA RREL, Demonstration Bulletin, EPA/540/MR-94/520.

EPA, 1995. Remediation Case Studies: Thermal Desorption, Soil Washing, and In Situ Vitrification, Federal Remediation Technologies Roundtable, Report, EPA/542/R-95/005.

EPA, 1997. Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Soil Treatment Technologies: Suggested Operational Guidelines to Prevent Cross-media Transfer of Contaminants During Clean-UP Activities, EPA OSWER, EPA/530/R-97/007.

EPA, 1997. Technology Alternatives for the Remediation of Soils Contaminated with As, Cd, Cr, Hg, and Pb, Engineering Bulletin, EPA540/R-97/008.

Federal Remediation Technologies Roundtable, 1995. Remediation Case Studies: Thermal Desorption, Soil Washing, and In Situ Vitrification, EPA/542/R-95/005.

• In Situ Vitrification at the Parsons Chemical/ETM Enterprises Superfund Site Grand Ledge, Michigan (interim results)

Federal Remediation Technologies Roundtable, 1997. Remediation Case Studies: Bioremediation and Vitrification, EPA/542/R-97/008.

• In Situ Vitrification at the Parsons Chemical/ETM Enterprises Superfund Site, Grand Ledge, Michigan
• In Situ Vitrification, U.S. Department of Energy, Hanford Site, Richland, Washington; Oak Ridge National Laboratory WAG 7; and Various Commercial Sites.

Rumer, R. and J.K., Mitchell (eds.), 1995. Assessment of Barrier Containment Technologies - a Comprehensive Treatment for Environmental Remediation Applications, International Containment Technology Workgroup, Baltimore.

Wiles, C.C., 1991. Treatment of Hazardous Waste with Solidification/Stabilization, EPA Report EPA/600/D-91/061.

• EPA SITE Demo: Hialeah, FL
• EPA Demo: Geosafe Test Site, WA; Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA
• DOE Demo: Hanford Reservation, WA
• EPA Demo: Douglassville, PA
• Parsons Chemical/ETM Enterprises Superfund Site, Grand Ledge, MI (interim report)
• Parsons Chemical/ETM Enterprises Superfund Site, Grand Ledge, MI (final report)
• Hanford Site, Richland, WA; Oak Ridge National Lab WAG 7
• 

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A list of vendors offering In Situ Physical/Chemical Soil Treatment  is available from EPA REACH IT which combines information from three established EPA databases, the Vendor Information System for Innovative Treatment Technologies (VISITT), the Vendor Field Analytical and Characterization Technologies System (Vendor FACTS), and the Innovative Treatment Technologies (ITT), to give users access to comprehensive information about treatment and characterization technologies and their applications.

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