This report presents cost and performance data for the application of on-site incineration at the Petro Processors (Petro) Superfund site in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Since November 1994, an incinerator designed to dispose of fumes and liquids from the groundwater treatment system has been operating as part of a remedial action. Contaminants of concern at the site include chlorinated hydrocarbons, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metals, and oils.
The Petro site operated as a petrochemical waste disposal site from 1961 to 1980. During this period, various chemical wastes were disposed of in lagoons. It was estimated based on the results of an investigation conducted at the site that 330,000 m3 of soil was contaminated. Groundwater and soil at Petro is contaminated with hexachlorobutadiene and hexachlorobenzene.
In 1984, a Consent Decree was signed by Federal and State government agencies and the Responsible Parties (RPs) for the Petro site. A Destruction and Removal Efficiency (DRE) of at least 99.99% for organic constituents of concern was called for by the approved operating specifications.
Remedial activities at the site include the design, construction and operation of a groundwater treatment system which uses the incinerator for the destruction of the residuals generated. This report focuses on the cost and performance of the incinerator and does not present any detailed information on the groundwater treatment system.
Groundwater is currently being extracted with a system of 165 recovery wells. Recovered groundwater is treated by phase separators to remove non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) from the water; the separated water is treated with air strippers to remove additional contaminants.
The NAPLs removed by the groundwater treatment system are stored in a waste feed tank prior to being fed to the incinerator through a liquid waste feed nozzle. The vent gas from the air strippers also is fed to the incinerator as part of the combustion air.
The incineration system consists of a vent gas feed system; a liquid waste feed system; a horizontal, direct-fired incinerator; a quench tank; a HCl absorber/caustic scrubber; a particulate scrubber; and an entrainment separator.
The incinerator volatilizes and destroys organic compounds from the liquid and fumes. Treated gas is then drawn into the quench tower for cooling. The HCl absorber/caustic scrubber then removes HCl, Cl2, SO2, and some particulate matter. The particulate scrubber and entrainment separator remove additional particulate matter before off-gas is released through the stack.
During the 30 months of operation, the incinerator has processed approximately 213,376 gallons of dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs). Treatment performance and emissions data collected during this application indicate that all performance standards and monitoring requirements are being achieved.
The cost for treatment of the residuals using the incineration system is approximately $32,827,799 to date. This amount consists of $18,159,087 in capital costs and $14,668,900 in operating costs.
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