ART in-well technology proves effective in treating 1,4-dioxane contamination

Abstract

A common industrial solvent additive is 1,4-dioxane. Contamination of dissolved 1,4-dioxane in groundwater has been found to be recalcitrant to removal by conventional, low-cost remedial technologies. Only costly labor and energy-intensive pump-and-treat remedial options have been shown to be effective remedies. However, the capital and extended operation and maintenance costs render pump-and-treat technologies economically unfeasible at many sites. Furthermore, pump-and-treat approaches at remediation sites have frequently been proven over time to merely achieve containment rather than site closure. A major manufacturer in North Carolina was faced with the challenge of cleaning up 1,4-dioxane and volatile organic compound–impacted soil and groundwater at its site. Significant costs associated with the application of conventional approaches to treating 1,4-dioxane in groundwater led to an alternative analysis of emerging technologies. As a result of the success of the Accelerated Remediation Technologies, LLC (ART) In-Well Technology at other sites impacted with recalcitrant compounds such as methyl tertiarybutyl ether, and the demonstrated success of efficient mass removal, an ART pilot test was conducted. The ART Technology combines in situ air stripping, air sparging, soil vapor extraction, enhanced bioremediation/oxidation, and dynamic subsurface groundwater circulation. Monitoring results from the pilot test show that 1,4-dioxane concentrations were reduced by up to 90 percent in monitoring wells within 90 days. The removal rate of chlorinated compounds from one ART well exceeded the removal achieved by the multipoint soil vapor extraction/air sparging system by more than 80 times. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.