CLU-IN Home

U.S. EPA Contaminated Site Cleanup Information (CLU-IN)


U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. EPA Technology Innovation and Field Services Division

Dense Nonaqueous Phase Liquids (DNAPLs)

Treatment Technologies

Thermal Processes: Ex Situ

Halogenated Alkanes

The 17 chlorinated alkanes covered in this focus area are considered amenable to ex situ thermal desorption (Feeney et al. 1998). The following are case studies involving thermal desorption.

Ethylene Dibromide

Thermal Desorption at the T.H. Agriculture and Nutrition Site, OU2, Albany, GA (2005)
Federal Remediation Technologies Roundtable, Cost and Performance Case Studies Database.

Various liquids and dry formulations of pesticides and other chemical compounds were handled at the two former facilities for ~30 years. EDB is one of the chemicals of concern. The treatment technologies chosen were on-site ex situ thermal desorption and pump and treat. Additional information is available in EPA's NPL site summary.

1,1,2,2- Tetrachloroethane

Otis Air National Guard Base/Camp Edwards, Falmouth, Massachusetts
U.S. EPA, Superfund Site Progress Profile.

The CS-4 plume (PCE, TCE, and 1,1,2,2-TetCA) is ~4,900 feet long and a maximum of 800 feet wide. Groundwater samples between the source area and trailing edge of the CS-4 plume indicate that it has detached from its source area. Excavation with on-site ex situ thermal desorption was chosen for source zone soils and pump and treat for the groundwater plume.

1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane

Aberdeen Pesticide Dumps, Aberdeen, North Carolina
U.S. EPA, Superfund Site Progress Profile.

The Aberdeen Pesticide Dumps Site consists of an inactive pesticide formulation plant and 4 areas where plant operators disposed of waste generated during the formulation process. DBCP was among the contaminants present. Contaminated soils were treated using ex situ thermal desorption. Groundwater initially was addressed with pump and treat, which was replaced after 10 years with MNA and phytoremediation.

References

Overview of Thermal Desorption TechnologyAdobe PDF Logo
R.J. Feeney, P.J. Nicotri, and D.S. Janke.
NFESC-CR-98-008-ENV, NTIS: ADA352083, 32 pp, 1998