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For more information on Thermal Treatment - In Situ, please contact:

Jim Cummings
Technology Assessment Branch

PH: 202-566-0868 | Email: cummings.james@epa.gov



In Situ Thermal Treatment Site Profile Database

Unknown, Southeastern U.S.
Last Updated: 10/28/2009
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Site Name   Unknown, Southeastern U.S.
Site Location  
Project Name   Unknown
Project Technology   Conductive Heating (In Situ Thermal Treatment)
Scale   Full scale
Vendor   TerraTherm
Project Status   Complete

Contaminants of Concern Trichloroethene
Media Type Soil
Dense Non-aqueous Phase Liquids (DNAPLs)
Fractured Bedrock
Extent/size of area of contamination   The DNAPL source zone extended 90 feet below the ground surface.
Treatment depth   90 feet below ground surface
Description of geology/hydrogeology   The hydrogeology at the site includes saprolite and weathered bedrock in the upper 75 feet of the treatment zone with the water table at 55 feet below ground surface. Fractured gneiss comprises the bottom 15 feet of the treatment zone.
Cleanup goals or remedial objectives   The primary remedial objectives were to remove the TCE from the unconsolidated deposits and to achieve a 95% UCL of the mean TCE soil concentration that was less than 60 ug/kg.
Performance data available?   Yes
Summary and description of performance data   Post-remediation soil samples from within the treatment zone showed a thorough removal of the contaminants. The starting concentrations of TCE in soil were as high as 81,000,000 ug/kg; however, the post-remediation 95% UCL was 17 ug/kg. TCE concentrations at saturation levels in groundwater were reduced from 1,100,000 ug/L to less than 5 ug/L. Pre- and post-remediation samples of underlying bedrock were not available for laboratory analysis.
Comments   In Situ Thermal Desorption (ISTD) was selected to remediate the TCE DNAPL in fractured bedrock. ISTD involves applying Thermal Conduction Heating (TCH) and a vacuum to the subsurface to remove organic chemicals. ISTD was used to remediate the TCE DNAPL source zone. In order to minimize the downward mobilization of DNAPL, the heated/treatment interval extended to 90 feet below the ground surface to create a “hot floor” within the upper portion of the bedrock. Therefore, DNAPL also was removed from this zone. The ISTD system also used ground water extraction to create an upward hydraulic gradient between the bedrock and unconsolidated soils.
Site contact information   Ralph Baker
CEO & Technology Manager
TerraTherm, Inc.
10 Stevens Road, Fitchburg, MA 01420
Tel.: (978) 343-0300
Fax: (978) 343-2727
Email: rbaker@terratherm.com
Information Source(s)   LaChance, John et. al. 2008. Use of Thermal Conduction Heating for the Remediation of DNAPL in Fractured Bedrock. Platform Abstracts, C5. Presented at Sixth International Conference on Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds Sponsored by Battelle.

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For more information on Thermal Treatment - In Situ, please contact:

Jim Cummings
Technology Assessment Branch

PH: 202-566-0868 | Email: cummings.james@epa.gov