ROY F. WESTON, INC.

(Ambersorb® 563 Adsorbent)

TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION:

Ambersorb® 563 adsorbent is a regenerable adsorbent that treats groundwater contaminated with hazardous organics (see figure below). Ambersorb® 563 adsorbent has 5 to 10 times the capacity of granular activated carbon (GAC) for low concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOC).

Current GAC adsorption techniques require either disposal or thermal regeneration of the spent carbon. In these cases, the GAC must be removed from the site and shipped as a hazardous material to the disposal or regeneration facility.

Ambersorb® 563 adsorbent has unique properties that provide the following benefits:

• Ambersorb® 563 adsorbent can be regenerated on site using steam, thus eliminating the liability and cost of off-site regeneration or disposal associated with GAC treatment. Condensed contaminants are recovered through phase separation.
• Because Ambersorb® 563 adsorbent has a much higher capacity than GAC for volatile organics (at low concentrations), the process can operate for significantly longer service cycle times before regeneration is required.
• Ambersorb® 563 adsorbent can operate at higher flow rate loadings than GAC, which translates into a smaller, more compact system.
• Ambersorb® 563 adsorbents are hard, nondusting, spherical beads with excellent physical integrity, eliminating handling problems and attrition losses typically associated with GAC.
• Ambersorb® 563 adsorbent is not prone to bacterial fouling.
• Ambersorb® 563 adsorbent has extremely low ash levels.

In addition, the Ambersorb® 563 carbonaceous adsorbent-based remediation process can eliminate the need to dispose of by-products. Organics can be recovered in a form potentially suitable for immediate reuse. For example, removed organics could be burned for energy in a power plant.

WASTE APPLICABILITY:

Ambersorb® 563 adsorbent is applicable to any water stream containing contaminants that can be treated with GAC, such as 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, tetrachloroethene, vinyl chloride, xylene, toluene, and other VOCs.

STATUS:

This technology was accepted into the SITE Emerging Technology Program in 1993. The Emerging Technology Bulletin (EPA/540/F-95/500), the Emerging Technology Summary (EPA/540/SR-95/516), and the Emerging Technology Report (EPA/540/R-95/516) are available from EPA.

The Ambersorb® 563 technology evaluation was conducted at the former Pease Air Force Base in Newington, New Hampshire. The groundwater contained vinyl chloride, 1,1-dichloroethene, and trichloroethene. The field study was conducted over a 12-week period. The tests included four service cycles and three steam regenerations. The effluent from the Ambersorb® adsorbent system consistently met drinking water standards. On-site steam regeneration demonstrated that the adsorption capacity of the Ambersorb® system remained essentially unchanged following regeneration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

EPA PROJECT MANAGER:
Ronald Turner
U.S. EPA
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
26 West Martin Luther King Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45268
513-569-7775
Fax: 513-569-7620

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPER CONTACTS:
John Thoroughgood
Roy F. Weston, Inc.
1 Weston Way
West Chester, PA 19380-1499
610-701-3728
Fax: 610-701-5129

Deborah Plantz
Rohm and Haas Company
5000 Richmond Street
Philadelphia, PA 19137
215-537-4061
Fax: 215-537-4157
E-mail: MAHZDP@ROHMHAAS.COM

Note: Ambersorb® is a registered trademark of Rohm and Haas Company.