A Pilot-Scale Demonstration of an Innovative Soil Remediation Process: Air Emissions Quality

Abstract

The Institute of Gas Technology (IGT) conducted a pilot-scale study at a former manufactured gas plant (MGP) site in New Jersey. The objective of the study was to determine the effectiveness of an innovative chemical/biological treatment process, the MGP-REM Process, to remediate soils contaminated with polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This paper evaluates the quality of air emissions from slurry phase application of the MGP-REM Process and conventional (engineered) bioremediation, and compares these emissions with the limits set by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). Air emissions from the process were passed through two granular activated carbon (GAC) units prior to discharge to the atmosphere. Air samples were collected before and after they were passed through the GAC units and analyzed for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, PAHs, and meta-, ortho-, and para-xylenes (BTEX). Results of the air monitoring showed that benzene and total hydrocarbon (BTEX and PAHs combined) emissions before and after the carbon treatment were significantly lower than the NJDEP limits of 0.05 and 0.5 lb/hr, respectively. Approximately 95% of the total hydrocarbons in the soil were degraded using the MGP-REM Process, while less than 0.1% of the total hydrocarbons were volatilized.