United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of
Solid Waste and Emergency
Response
EPA/540/R-92/013b
Publication No. 9355.0-38FS
May 1992
Chemical Dehalogenation
Treatability Studies Under CERCLA:
An Overview
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response
Hazardous Site Control Division OS-220W
Quick Reference Fact Sheet
Section 121 (b) of CERCLA mandates EPA to select remedies that "utilize permanent solutions and alternative treatment technologies
or resource recovery technologies to the maximum extent practicable" and to prefer remedial actions in which treatment "permanently
reduces the volume, toxicity, or mobility of hazardous substances, pollutants, and contaminants as a principal element." Treatability studies
provide data to support treatment technology selection and should be performed as soon as it is evident that insufficient information is
available to ensure the quality of the decision. Conducting treatability studies early in the remedial investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS)
should reduce uncertainties associated with selecting the remedy, and provide a sounder basis for the Record of Decision (ROD).
Treatability studies conducted during remedial design/ remedial action (RD/RA) provide data to support remedy implementation. Regional
planning should factor in the time and resources required for these studies.
This fact sheet provides a summary of information to facilitate the planning and execution of chemical dehalogenation treatability studies
in support of the RI/FS process. Detailed information on these pre-ROD treatability studies is provided in the Guide for Conducting
Treatability Studies Under CERCLA: Chemical Dehalogenation, EPA/540/R-92/013a, May 1992. This technology-specific guide was
designed to be used in conjunction with the final generic Guide for Conducting Treatability Studies Under CERCLA, which provides
general information on the planning and execution of pre- and post-ROD treatability studies. Although some information on post-ROD
chemical dehalogenation testing is provided here, the focus of this fact sheet and the chemical dehalogenation guide is on pre-ROD
treatability studies.
TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION AND
PRELIMINARY SCREENING
This fact sheet presents information on conducting treatability
studies involving direct chemical dehalogenation of halogenated
organics in soils, sediments, and sludges. For the purposes of this
document, chemical dehalogenation includes those processes in
which 1) a chemical reagent is applied directly to the contaminated
matrix (soil or sludge), and 2) the reagent reacts with the
contaminant to effect the removal of one or more halogen atoms
from a molecule of the contaminant. The reaction between the
reagent and the contaminant may be a substitution reaction (in
which the halogen atoms are replaced by other atoms or chemical
groups) or an elimination reaction [in which the halogen atoms and
other atoms (e.g., hydrogen) are simultaneously removed from an
aliphatic compound and form a double or triple bond in the
molecule]. Examples of direct chemical dehalogenation include the
alkaline polyethylene glycolate (APEG) processes and
base-catalyzed decomposition (BCD) processes; they do not include
desorption or extraction processes followed by chemical treatment
of the condensate or extraction medium.
Chemical dehalogenation technologies that use an alkaline glycolate
or base-catalyzed reagent are applicable to halogenated aromatic
compounds, including PCBs, PCDDs, PCDFs, chlorobenzenes,
chlorinated phenols, organochlorine pesticides, halogenated
herbicides, and certain halogenated aliphatics (e.g., ethylene
dibromide, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, anddichloromethane).
If other volatile organic, semivolatile organic, or metal contaminants
are present, chemical dehalogenation can be used in conjunction
with other technologies, such as low-temperature thermal
desorption, solvent extraction, or biodegradation, as part of a
treatment train. Chemical dehalogenation technologies are applicable
to soils, sludges, and sediments. Treatment effectiveness depends
on thorough mixing of the contaminants and treatment reagents,
which requires that the waste matrix be excavated; in situ
applications of the technology are not likely to be effective. Treated
soils and residuals from chemical dehalogenation treatment may
require posttreatment (e.g., neutralization) prior to their final
disposition.
Chemical dehalogenation treatment is largely a vendor-
controlled market comprising a number of patented, proprietary
processes. Firms currently offering full-scale, alkaline glycolate
remediation services (direct soil treatment or as
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part of a treatment train) include Galson Remediation Corporation,
Soil Tech Inc., Chemical Waste Management Inc., and SDTX
Technologies, Inc.
To date, chemical dehalogenation has been selected in the ROD
for cleanup of contaminated soils at four Superfund sites: Wide
Beach Development, Brant, New York (Region II, August 1985);
Re-Solve, Inc., North Dartmouth, Massachusetts (Region I, July
1987); Sol Lynn/Industrial Transformers, Houston, Texas (Region
VI, March 1988); and Myers Property, Hunterdon County, New
Jersey (Region II, September 1990).
Prescreening the Technology
Potentially applicable process options are screened based on
three factors: effectiveness, implementability, and cost. Table 1
presents the site and technology data that are required to screen the
chemical dehalogenation process. The effectiveness evaluation
focuses on 1) the potential for the process option to treat the
estimated volume of contaminated media and to achieve the
remediation goals identified in the remedial action objectives, 2) the
potential impacts on human health and the environment during
construction and implementation of the option, and 3) the
documented performance of the option for treating similar
contaminants and matrices. Implementability addresses both the
technical and administrative aspects of implementing a process
option. The cost analysis is made on the basis of engineering
judgment and past treatment operations. This evaluation is crude,
and its results alone will not be adequate to eliminate innovative
process options such as chemical dehalogenation from further
consideration.
USE OF TREATABILITY TESTS IN
REMEDY SELECTION
The Process of Treatability Testing in Selecting a
Remedy
As site and technology information is collected and reviewed,
additional data needs for evaluating alternatives are identified.
Treatability studies may be required to fill these data gaps. If so,
treatability studies must be scoped and initiated as early as possible
to keep the RI/FS on schedule and within budget.
The final generic Guide for Conducting Treatability Studies
Under CERCLA details the three tiers of treatability testing (remedy
screening, remedy selection, and remedial design/remedial action)
and their relationship to the RI/FS and RD/RA processes. The three
tiers are described here.
1) Remedy Screening-Small-scale studies performed in the
laboratory that provide gross performance data for feasibility
evaluation. They are characterized by:
• Relatively low cost
• Short amounts of time to perform
• Less stringent quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC)
2) Remedy Selection-Small-scale studies performed in the
laboratory or field that provide detailed performance and cost
data for remedy selection. They are characterized by:
Table 1. Data collection requirements for prescreening the chemical dehalogenation process option.
Required Data
Prescreening Criteria
Effectiveness
Contaminated media type
Volume of contaminated media
Contaminant type
Contaminant concentration
Past performance on similar wastes
Implementability
Availability of process
Administrative
Accessibility of site
Cosf
Relative capital and O&M costs
Applicable to soils, sludges, and sediments.
Cost-effective for volumes greater than 1000 m3.
Applicable to halogenated aromatics and aliphatics (PCBs, PCDDs/PCDFs,
chlorobenzenes, chlorinated phenols, organochlorine pestisides, halogenated
herbicides).
Applicable to concentrations of parts per million or greater.
Demonstrated applicability for waste contaminants and matrices should be
available in the literature.
Should be a commercially available process.
Necessary permitting requirements should be achievable; necessary treatment,
storage, and disposal services should be available; equipment should be readily
available.
Site should have adequate accessways and space to set up large trailer-based
equipment and staging areas for excavated soil.
Cost estimates, based on engineering judgment and historical costs, should be
comparable to other options.
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• Moderate cost
• Moderate amounts of time to perform
• Stringent QA/QC
3) Remedial Design/Remedial Action-Post-ROD, pilot-scale
studies performed in the field that provide scale-up and design
optimization data. They are characterized by:
• High cost
• Long amounts of time to perform
• Moderately stringent QA/QC
The flow diagram in Figure 1 traces the stepwise data reviews
and management decisions that occur in the tiered approach to
treatability testing. A detailed description of this approach is
presented in the final generic guide.
Applicability of Treatability Testing to Chemical
Dehologenation
The three-tiered approach to treatability testing is designed to
be flexible to meet site- and technology-specific needs. Some
technologies, including chemical dehalogenation, may not be
investigated at all three tiers. The applicability of the tiered approach
to chemical dehalogenation treatability studies is outlined in Table
2 (see next page).
Literature Survey
The decision to perform a chemical dehalogenation
treatability study is based on the available site
characterization data, input from management, and the results of a
literature survey. The purpose of the literature survey is twofold.
First, it should identify potentially applicable dehalogenation
processes that have been adequately demonstrated and that are
commercially available. Second, it should obtain all existing
treatability data that are relevant to the site's waste matrix and
contaminants of concern.
Remedy-Screening Treatability Studies
Remedy screening is the first step in the tiered approach. Its
purpose is to determine the potential feasibility of chemical
dehalogenation as a treatment alternative for the
contaminants/matrix of interest. A chemical dehalogenation process
is potentially feasible if it can be shown that the chemical reactions
occurring between the dehalogenation reagents and the
contaminants have the potential to dehalogenate the waste
adequately.
The need to perform screening studies of chemical
dehalogenation processes is contaminant- and matrix-specific. For
example, the feasibility of several proprietary processes for the
treatment of PCBs and dioxins in various soil types has been
established and is well documented in the literature. Therefore,
screening studies of these processes will generally not be required
when PCBs or dioxins are the contaminants of concern. When the
treatment of other halogenated organics, such as chlorinated
phenols or halogenated aliphatics, or other matrices,
such as sediment are involved, however, screening
studies may be required, particularly given the
Figure 1. Flow diagram of the tiered approach.
MANAGEMENT DECISION FACTORS:
• Stats and Community Acceptance
• Schedule Constraints
• Additional Data
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Table 2. Applicability of tiered approach to chemical dehalogenation treatability studies.
Purpose
Objective
Parameters
investigated
Data generated
Literature survey
• Identify potentially
applicable processes
• Obtain existing treatability
data
• Determine treatability
data needs
Not applicable
Not applicable
Remedy screening
• Determine process
feasibility for
contaminants/matrix
• Achieve >90% reduction in
target contaminant
concentrations
• "Severe" conditions
• Concentration of target
contaminants before and
after treatment
Remedy selection ROD RD/RA
• Generate performance
and cost data for the
detailed analysis of
alternatives
• Meet site cleanup criteria
for target contaminants
• Temperature
• Reaction time
• Reagent
formulation/loading
• Other process specific
parameters
• Sample type
• Effects of process
parameters on target
contaminant
concentrations
• Characteristics of product
and residuals
• Capital/O&M cost
estimates
• Generate scale-up,
design, and cost data for
implementation of
selected remedy
• Optimize process
• Feed rates
• Mixing rates
• Heating rates
• Other equipment specific
parameters
• Materials-handling
characteristics
• Reagent
recovery/recycling
efficiency
• Energy/chemical usage
• Treatment train
performance
• Residuals treatment
performance
proprietary nature of chemical dehologenation reagents.
Typically, remedy-screening treatability studies are conducted
at the bench scale under "severe" conditions, based on available
data and knowledge of the reaction chemistry. The concentrations
of the target contaminants in the soil are measured before and after
treatment to determine the efficiency of the dehalogenation process.
Generally, this is the only measure of performance obtained at the
screening tier.
The suggested performance goal for remedy-screening
treatability studies is a 90 percent or greater reduction in the
concentrations of the target contaminants. (Alternatively, site
cleanup criteria can be used if they have been determined at this
early stage in the RI/FS process.) If this goal is achieved, the
process is considered a potentially feasible alternative and is
retained for further evaluation. If greater than 90 percent reduction
in the target contaminant concentrations cannot be achieved under
the severe conditions of screening treatability studies, the process
should be screened out.
Remedy-Selection Treatability Studies
A remedy-selection treatability study is designed to verify
whether a chemical dehalogenation process can meet the site
cleanup criteria and at what cost. The purpose of this tier is to
generate the critical performance and cost data necessary for
remedy evaluation in the FS.
Remedy-selection tests are normally conducted at the bench-
scale and the concentrations of the target contaminants in the soil
are measured before and after treatment to determine the efficiency
of the dehalogenation process. At this tier, operating parameters are
examined for their effects on target contaminant concentrations. A
remedy-selection study should provide the RPM with enough
information to ensure that the performance goals can be reliably
met.
Performance goals for remedy-selection treatability studies
should correspond to the anticipated remedial action objectives
(cleanup criteria) for the site. If the dehalogenation process can
achieve these cleanup criteria, it should be retained as an alternative
for detailed analysis in the FS.
Data from remedy-selection tests can be used to characterize
the product and residuals from dehalogenation treatment. Data
generated at this tier can also be used to estimate the costs of
full-scale implementation of the alternative, as required in the
detailed analysis.
Remedial Design/Remedial Action Treatability
Studies
Remedial design/remedial action is the final step in the tiered
approach. The purpose of this tier is to generate detailed scale-up,
design, and cost data for full-scale remedediation. These
treatability studies are conducted after the remedy has been
selected and the ROD has been signed. In the implementation
of a remedy, RD/RA treatability studies can be used 1) to
select among multiple chemical dehalogenation processes
and prequalify vendors of these processes, 2) to select the
most appropriate of the remedies prescribed in a
Contingency ROD, or 3) to support Agency-prepared de-
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tailed design specifications for dehalogenation systems and
treatment trains. Additional information on RD/RA treatability
testing is available in the final generic guide.
Post-ROD studies conducted to support preparation of detailed
design specifications for chemical dehalogenation typically generate
data on materials-handling characteristics, reagent
recovery/recycling efficiency, energy/chemical usage, treatment
train performance, and residuals treatment performance. The
parameters investigated at the RD/RA tier may include feed rates
(continuous processes), number of treatment cycles (batch
processes), mixing rates, heating rates, and other
equipment-specific parameters. The objective of these studies is to
optimize the process in terms of both performance and cost.
TREATABILITY STUDY WORK PLAN
Carefully planned treatability studies are necessary to ensure
that the resulting data are useful for evaluating the feasibility,
performance, and cost of a technology. The Work Plan, which is
prepared by the contractor when the Work Assignment is in place,
sets forth the contractor's proposed technical approach for
completing the tasks outlined in the Work Assignment. It also
assigns responsibilities and establishes the project schedule and
costs. Table 3 presents the suggested organization of a treatability
study Work Plan. Elements of a Work Plan that are specific to
pre-ROD chemical dehalogenation treatability studies are discussed
here. Information on the remaining elements can be found in the
final generic guide.
Table 3. Suggested organization of treatability
study work group plan.
1. Project description
2. Remedial technology description
3. Test objectives
4. Experimental design and procedures
5. Equipment and materials
6. Sampling and analysis
7. Data management
8. Data analysis and interpretation
9. Health and Safety
10. Residuals management
11. Community relations
12. Reports
13. Schedule
14. Management and staffing
15. Budget
Test Objectives
The Work Plan outlines the treatability study test objectives and
describes how these objectives will be used in evaluating chemical
dehologenation for selection at a site. Test objectives consist of
meeting quantitative performance goals or making a qualitative
engineering assessment of the process. Well-reasoned test
objectives will ensure that the treatability study provides
meaningful, scientifically sound data for remedy evaluation and
selection
Experimental Design and Procedures
At the screening tier, the experimental procedures should not
be complex. To reduce the risks of falsely screening out the
technology at this early stage, the treatment should be carried out
under "severe conditions"; i.e., the reaction should proceed with
the use of excess reagent at a high temperature for an extended
period of time. The particular reaction conditions used should be
based on the process vendor's knowledge of the equipment and
reaction chemistry. A single test run should be performed, and only
limited QA/QC is required. Only pre- and posttreatment samples
will be collected and physical and chemical analysis will be limited.
If chemical dehalogenation is determined to be potentially
feasible at the remedy-screening tier, the effect of varying operating
parameters on treatment performance can be investigated at the
remedy-selection tier. Parameters that can be evaluated at this tier
include reagent formulation and loading, temperature, reaction time,
and other process-specific parameters. Duplicate or triplicate test
runs should be performed, and a stringent level of QA/QC is
required.
A remedy-selection treatability study must be designed to
generate sufficient quantities of treated product and treatment
residuals for characterization and posttreatment testing. If the
dehalogenation process is part of a treatment train, the amount of
treated material needed to investigate other train components must
also be determined before the chemical dehalogenation study is
designed.
Equipment
Remedy-screening studies normally are performed in a batch
system using off-the-shelf laboratory glassware. A typical
bench-scale reactor consists of a reaction flask, a stirrer, a heating
mantel, and a condensate collection system.
Remedy-selection studies will be conducted in larger bench- or
pilot-scale reactors. These systems may include ancillary equipment
such as a feed preparation and delivery system, a steam plant, a
reactant delivery system, and a soil/ reagent separation system.
Full-scale chemical dehalogenation treatment may generate several
residual streams, including spent reagent and wash waters,
condensate (aqueous and organic fractions), and process off-gases.
The experimental design and procedures of a remedy selection
treatability study should allow for investigations of these residuals.
To establish that the target contaminants were dehalogenated
and not simply removed from the waste and transferred to the
residuals, a material balance should also be designed and
performed.
Permits
Treatability studies of chemical dehalogenation technologies are
subject to certain regulatory requirements under Federal
environmental laws. The final generic guide describes the
permitting and operating requirements under
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CERCLA and RCRA. Under the Toxic Substances Control Act
(TSCA), laboratories or testing facilities that handle PCB-containing
materials must obtain a Research and Development Permit. Storage
of PCB-containing materials for purposes of treatability testing is
limited to no longer than 1 year.
Residuals Management
Residuals generated as a result of chemical dehalogenation
treatability testing must be managed in an environmentally sound
manner. Early recognition of the types and quantities of residuals
that will be generated, the impacts that managing these residuals
will have on the project schedule and costs, and the roles and
responsibilities of the various parties involved is important for their
proper disposal.
Project residuals may include the following:
Unused waste not subjected to testing
Treated waste
Treatment residuals (e.g., spent reagent, condensate)
Laboratory samples and sample extracts
Used containers
Contaminated protective clothing and debris
Schedule
The duration of a chemical dehalogenation treatability study will
vary with the level of testing being conducted. Remedy-screening
studies can usually be performed within a few weeks.
Remedy-selection studies, however, may require several months.
In addition to the time required for actual testing, the schedule must
allow time for obtaining approval of the various plans; securing any
necessary environmental, testing, or transportation permits;
shipping analytical samples and receiving results; seeking review
and comment on the project's deliverables; and disposing of the
project's residuals.
Budget
Elements of a budget include labor, administrative costs, and fees;
equipment and reagents; site preparation and utilities; permitting and
regulatory fees; unit mobilization; on scene health and safety
requirements; sample transportation and analysis; emissions and
effluent monitoring and treatment; unit decontamination and
demobilization; and residuals transportation and disposal.
The size of the budget will generally reflect the complexity of
the treatability study. Consequently, the number of operating
parameters chosen for investigation at the remedy-selection tier and
the approach used to obtain these measurements will often depend
on the available funding. The technology vendor should be
consulted to obtain this kind of information during the planning of
the treatability study.
Analytical costs can have a significant impact on the project's
overall budget. Sufficient funding must be allotted for the amount
of analytical work projected, the chemical and physical parameters
to be analyzed, and the required turn-around time. Specialty
analyses, such as for dioxins and furans, can quickly increase the
analytical costs.
SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS
Factors associated with sampling and analysis that affect the
development of the Work Plan and the Sampling and Analysis Plan
(SAP) for chemical dehalogenation treatability testing are
summarized here. A detailed discussion on the development of a
SAP for remedy-screening and remedy-selection treatability studies,
including a suggested plan organization, is contained in the chemical
dehalogenation guide.
Field Sampling
The amount of sample collected should be based on the
quantities needed for each test run and for pre- and posttreatment
analyses as well as the number of test runs and replicate analyses
to be performed. Bench-scale tests at the remedy-screening tier
generally require small sample volumes (<1 L per test run). The
increased number of test runs and the extent of pre- and
posttreatment analyses for bench-scale, remedy-selection testing
will require that a greater total waste sample volume be collected.
Pilot-scale tests conducted in support of remedy selection will
require much larger sample volumes (>100 L per batch). If the
dehalogenation process is part of a treatment train, the volume of
treated product and treatment residuals needed for later testing also
will impact the total volume of waste to be collected.
Waste Characterization
Various chemical tests may be used to establish the baseline
concentration of the target halogenated organic contaminants and
other contaminants of interest. For remedy-screening studies, only
one analysis for the target contaminants expected to be present in
the untreated waste may be necessary. For remedy-selection
studies, however, two or three replicate analyses may be required
to establish the homogeneity of the waste and to determine
statistical confidence levels for the target contaminant
concentrations.
Additional compounds of interest at the remedy-selection tier
may include selected possible halogenated byproducts from the
degradation of the target contaminants. The selection of other
halogenated organic compounds should be based on the likely
chemical reactions and relative toxicity of the byproducts.
Compounds that could interfere with the chemical dehalogenation
process (e.g., elemental forms of certain metals) or those that
affect treatment or handling of residual fractions from the process
also may be of interest at the remedy-selection tier.
Soil moisture content and pH or buffering (base absorption)
capacity should be determined at the remedy-screening and
remedy-selection tiers. High-moisture-content soils may require
greater quantities of reagent because of the dilution effects of the
soil water. Acidic soils or soils with a high buffering capacity
will require excess base to compensate for base-
consuming reactions with the soil. Particle-size analysis
of the soil is used to determine the experimental apparatus
needed for mixing and soil/ reagent separation. Bioassays of
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the untreated waste may be required to establish baseline biotoxicity
data if replacement of the treated product on site is being evaluated
as a disposal option.
Treated Product and Residuals Sampling
and Analysis
Posttreatment sampling and analysis at the remedy-screening
tier will be limited to the target halogenated organic contaminants
in the treated product. Posttreatment analytes at the
remedy-selection tier may also include selected potential
halogenated byproducts. Analysis for target and other contaminants
of interest in the treatment residuals also may be necessary at the
selection tier to demonstrate dehalogenation of the target
contaminants rather than physical removal. This determination
would require a careful accounting of the mass of all materials that
enter and exit the system. The material balance, combined with the
concentrations of target contaminants in all exit fractions, can then
be used to refine the estimate of actual dehalogenation efficiency of
the process.
In addition to chemical tests, physical and toxicological tests
also may be conducted on treated product or treatment residuals at
the remedy-selection tier to evaluate posttreatment and disposal
options. If treated product is to be placed back into the original
excavation (i.e., not in an onsite disposal cell), determination of its
mechanical properties, pH, and nutrient levels and the leachability
of remaining contaminants may be required. It is important to note
that mechanical test methods may require significant quantities of
soils (e.g., 20 kg); therefore, the vendor may be required to
perform multiple test runs to generate sufficient quantities of
material for analysis. Bioassays also may be required for evaluation
of the toxic or mutagenic effects of chemical dehalogenation
residuals on biota. Applicable tests include freshwater algae,
daphnid, and minnow assays of product extracts and seed
germination and earthworm tests of treated product.
TREATABILITY DATA INTERPRETATION
The purpose of a pre-ROD treatability investigation is to
provide the data needed for detailed analysis of alternatives and,
ultimately, the selection and design of a remedial action that can
achieve the site cleanup criteria.
Use of pre-ROD Treatability Study Results in the
RI/FS Process
The interim final Guidance for Conducting Remedial
Investigations and Feasibility Studies Under CERCLA,
EPA/540/G-89/004, October 1988, specifies nine evaluation criteria
to be considered in the assessment of remedial alternatives. These
criteria were developed to address both the specific statutory
requirements of CERCLA and the technical and policy
considerations that are important when selecting among remedial
alternatives. The nine RI/FS evaluation criteria are as follows:
• Overall protection of human health and the environment
• Compliance with ARARs
• Long-term effectiveness and permanence
• Reduction of toxicity, mobility, or volume through
treatment
• Short-term effectiveness
• Implementability
Cost
• State acceptance
• Community acceptance
Table 4 (see next page) lists factors important to the analysis
of the first seven of these criteria and the treatability study data that
provide information for this analysis. The results of treatability
studies also may influence the evaluations against the state and
community acceptance criteria.
Use of Pre-ROD Treatability Study Results in the
RD/RA Process
Pre-ROD treatability study results also provide information for
the subsequent detailed design investigations of the selected
remedial technology. Pre-ROD data on the chemical, physical, and
toxicological characteristics of the treatment residuals will be useful
in planning remedy design studies in which large volumes of
residuals will be handled and disposed of. Problems encountered
during remedy selection treatability studies-such as difficulties in
mixing, heating, reagent separation and recovery, and health and
safety-should be carefully documented for post-ROD pilot-and
full-scale investigations.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
The Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
(OSWER) and the Office of Research and Development (ORD)
established the Superfund Technical Support Project (TSP) to
provide direct, technology-based assistance to the Regional
Superfund programs through ORD laboratories. As part of the
TSP, the Engineering Technical Support Center provides technical
assistance in the planning, performance, review, and oversight of
treatability studies. For further information please contact:
Engineering Technical Support Center
ORD/Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
Cincinnati, Ohio
Contact: Ben Blaney or Joan Colson
(513)569-7406
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This fact sheet and the corresponding guidance document were
prepared for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of
Research and Development, Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
by IT Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. David L. Smith served as
the EPA Technical Project Monitor. Ms. Judy L. Hessling and Mr.
Gregory D. McNelly were IT's Work Assignment Managers.
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Table 4. Applicability of chemical dehalogenation treatability study data to RI/FS evaluation criteria.
Evaluation Criteria
Analysis Factors
Treatability Study Data
Long-Term Effectiveness and
Permanence
Magnitude of residual risk
Target contaminant concentrations in treated product and
treatment residuals
Presence of specific reaction byproducts in treated product
Results of bioassays performed on treated product
Reduction of Toxicity, Mobility, or
Volume Through Treatment
Reduction in toxicity
Percent reduction in target contaminant concentrations
Comparison of bioassay results before and after treatment
Irreversibility of the treatment
Material balance data combined with target contaminant
concentrations in treated product and treatment residuals
Type and quantity of, and risks
posed by, treatment residuals
Target contaminant concentrations in treatment residuals
Presence of specific reaction byproducts in treatment
residuals
Results of bioassays performed on treatment residuals
Volume of treatment residuals
Short-Term Effectiveness
Protection of community
during remedial actions
Physical/chemical characteristics of waste matrix
Physical/chemical characteristics of treatment residuals
Protection of workers during
remedial actions
Physical/chemical characteristics of waste matrix
Physical/chemical characteristics of treatment residuals
Reagent formulation/material safety data
Time until remedial response
objectives are achieved
Reaction time
Implementability
Reliability and potential for
schedule delays
Reliability and schedule delays during testing
Reaction time/throughput
Physical characteristics of waste matrix
Contaminant variability in untreated waste
Cost
Direct capital costs
Reaction time/throughput
Reagent usage/recovery
Reaction temperature
Physical characteristics of waste matrix
Site characteristics
Operation and maintenance
costs
-Chemicals/reagents
Reagent formulation/loading
Reagent usage/recovery
Volume and characteristics of treated product and treatment
residuals
-Utilities
Reaction time/throughput
Reaction temperature
-Residuals
treatment/disposal
Volume and physical/chemical characteristics of treatment
residuals
-Equipment
Reaction time/throughput
Physical characteristics of waste matrix
-Labor
Reaction time/throughput
Compliance with ARARs
Chemical-specific ARARs
Target contaminant concentrations in treated product and
treatment residuals
Location-specific ARARs
Target contaminant concentrations in treated product and
treatment residuals
Results of bioassays performed on treated product and
treatment residuals
Action-specific ARARs
Target contaminant concentrations in treated product and
treatment residuals
Overall Protection of Human
Health and the Environment
Ability to eliminate, reduce, or
control site risks
Target contaminant concentrations in treated product and
treatment residuals
Presence of specific reaction byproducts in treated product and
treatment residuals
Results of bioassays performed on treated product and
treatment residuals
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