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

Remediation Technology Demonstration Project Profiles

Electrochemical Remediation Technology (ECRT) at Georgia Pacific, Inc. Log Pond in Bellingham Bay, Washington
Last Updated: January 20, 2005
Site Identifying Information                                                
Site Name, Location:   Georgia Pacific, Inc. Log Pond, Bellingham Bay, Washington, United States
(EPA Region 10)
Cleanup Program:   EPA SITE Demonstration Program
Entity Responsible for Cleanup:   Not Specified
Site Type:   Not Specified
Government Affiliation:   Federal

 
Project Information                                                                   
Project Name:   Electrochemical Remediation Technology (ECRT) at Georgia Pacific, Inc. Log Pond in Bellingham Bay, Washington
Project Status:   Complete
Contaminants Treated:  
Chemical Name Conc. Units Comment
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)
Mercury
Phenols
Media Treated:  
Media Quantity Units Basis for Quantity
Sediment 250 square feet 50 ft by 50 ft test area
Demonstration Technology and Type:   Electrochemical Treatment (Ex Situ Physical/Chemical)
Geology and Hydrogeology:   The mudline elevations within the test plot ranged from approximately -4 to -8 feet Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW). Log Pond sediments with elevated chemical concentrations and woody debris measured approximately 5 to 6 feet thick between underlying native material and a cap of clean sand from regional maintenance dredging projects. The area was capped in late 2000 and early 2001 with clean capping material. Cap thickness within the sediment treatment demonstration area ranged from 0.5 to 1 foot in thickness.
Demonstration Start Date:   08/2002
Demonstration Completion Date:   03/2003 (Actual)
Demonstration Year:   2003
Year of Publication:   2003
Goal of the Demonstration:   To evaluate the effectiveness of electrochemical remediation technology (ECRT) process for treating capped marine sediments contaminated with mercury, PAHs, and phenolic compounds.
Design and Operations:   The ECRT process utilizes an AC/DC current between a series of electrodes to remediation sediments through electrochemicalgeooxidation (ECGO) by mineralization of organic contaminants, or through induced complexation to complex, mobilize, and remove metal contaminants that are subsequently plated on the electrodes. Sediment cores collected before, during and after the six-month demonstration were used to evaluate the spatial and vertical heterogeneity of mercury concentrations within the cap, contaminated horizon, and underlying native material to determine whether there is a decreasing trend in mercury concentrations. Sediment samples were collected from 10 locations within the test plot, five from the extended zone of influence (adjacent to the test plot), and five remote reference locations. Samples were collected on four occasions including a baseline survey prior to the demonstration, two intermediate monitoring events, and the final post-demonstration event.
Performance Data Relevant to Demonstration Goals:   A statistical analysis of the sediment chemistry results indicates no significant trend in the reduction of sediment mercury concentrations over the period of the demonstration. In addition, there was no trend in the reduction of PAHs and phenolic compounds.
Interesting Aspects or Significance of the Demonstration:   Treatment of Recalcitrant Compounds
Lessons Learned:   Performance issues may be partially attributed to system operational problems encountered during the course of the demonstration. Electrical readings collected by the technology's sponsor indicated a steady degradation of system performance throughout the duration of the demonstration, resulting in an early shutdown of the system prior to completion of the planned test period. In addition, when the electrodes were removed from the test plot, it was evident that the connections between the electrical supply and anode plates had completely corroded to the point that viable contact had not been maintained.
Other Demonstration Information (such as cost data, if available):   The Log Pond is a marine embayment that served as a former log storage and handling area and receiving water for facility effluent and stormwater runoff.
Vendor(s) or Consultant(s) Associated with the Demonstration:   Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Information Source(s) for the Demonstration:   Hammermeister, T.J.; S.W. Becker; J.D. Evans; R. Parker. Evaluation framework to assess the effectiveness of electrochemical remediation technologies on the remediation of mercury in marine sediments. The 225th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, March 23-27, 2003, Abstract ENVR 117, 2003. Reported in Technology Innovation News Survey (TINS) - May 1 - May 15, 2004
http://www.clu-in.org/products/tins/

EPA SITE Demonstration Bulletin: Electrochemical Remediation Technologies (ECRTs). October 2004. EPA/540/MR-04/507
http://www.epa.gov/ORD/NRMRL/pubs/540mr04507/540mr04507.pdf

Contact Information                                                                      
Point(s) of Contact:   T.J. Hammermeister
SAIC
18706 North Creek Pkwy, Suite 110
Bothell, Washington 98011, United States
  S.W. Beckman
SAIC
18706 North Creek Pkwy, Suite 110
Bothell, Washington 98011, United States
  J.D. Evans
SAIC
18706 North Creek Pkwy, Suite 110
Bothell, Washington 98011, United States
  Randy Parker (Primary Contact)
EPA
26 W Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
Cincinnati, Ohio 45268, United States
Telephone: 513-569-7271
E-mail: Parker.randy@epa.gov
 

RETURN TO LIST


Top of Page