Abstract
Vapor extraction is an in situ soil-cleaning process designed to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the unsaturated (vadose) zone of soil (the zone between the soil surface and groundwater). Since the introduction of the vapor extraction system (VES) in 1984, its use has increased markedly; the VES now comprises 18% of selected remedies at Superfund sites, and this number continues to grow. The VES removes VOCs from the subsurface by providing a moving air stream that volatilizes contaminants and carries them to the surface. A review of the technology at 13 sites found vapor extraction to be very effective at removing large quantities of VOCs from the subsurface environment and significantly reducing soil concentrations. VES is very effective for removing labile fractions located in the vapor and free liquid phases or adsorbed to the external surface of the soil matrix. Studies indicate that VES will not be effective for removing contamination trapped in the interior of the soil matrix, therefore VES cannot be relied upon to return long-contaminated soils to their original condition. 16 refs., 1 fig.
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