Low Temperature Thermal Desorption: An Innovative and Environmentally Sound Means for Remediation of Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soil
Often hydrocarbon impacted soil is disposal at a landfill. This method does not remediate the soil, it merely re-locates the problem. From an environmental perspective, landfilling is not sustainable.
Low Temperature Thermal Desorption (LTTD) is an innovative process of remediating hydrocarbon contaminated soils, sediments and sludge in a sustainable manner which preserves the remediated soil for re-use while eliminating liability. LTTD is an Ex-Situ means of physically separating volatile and semi volatile organic contaminants from the soils through application of heat, incorporating sound environmental practices. Hydrocarbon impacted soils are placed in a rotary drum desorber, and heated to volatilize the hydrocarbons. The process gas stream is then routed through a baghouse to remove particulates and the contaminants of concern (COC’s) are routed to a thermal oxidizer, converting the COC’s into carbon dioxide and water. The clean treated soil can be recycled and returned to the site of origin, to be used as backfill, or for re-use on site for a variety of purposes.
This presentation will focus on the technology, and the performance factors one must consider in order to successfully use Low Temperature Thermal Desorption. These factors include proper logistical planning, site requirements, the soil’s physical properties (these include the moisture, the plasticity, heat capacity, particle size, and bulk density of the influent soil). The COC’s characteristics and concentrations, volume of contaminated soil and fuel sources, are all factors that can affect the effectiveness of the treatment process. Operational issues; like frost and frozen ground conditions, plant operations, treated stockpile confirmation sampling and reinstatement/backfilling will be discussed to help understand the real issues that occur after the selection and applicability of the technology.