United States Office of EPA/540/R-97Y506a
Environmental Protection Research and Development March 1998
Agency Cincinnati, OH 45268
x _, y ^ <••
&EPA "SITE Technology Capsule
Geotech Development
Corporationl^old Top Ex-Situ
Vittif ication technology ^
Introduction
In 1980, the U.S. Congress passed the
Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also
known as Superfund, which is committed to
protecting human health and the environment from
uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. CERCLA was
amended by the Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act (SARA) in 1986. SARA
mandates cleaning up hazardous waste sites by
implementing permanent solutions and using
alternative treatment technologies or resource
recovery technologies to the maximum extent
possible.
State and federal agencies and private organizations
are exploring a growing number of innovative
technologies for treating hazardous wastes. These
new innovative technologies are needed to remediate
the more than 1,200 sites on the National Priorities
List, which involve a broad spectrum of physical,
chemical, and environmental conditions requiring
diverse remedial approaches.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
focused on policy, technical, and informational issues
related to exploring and applying new technologies to
Superfund site remediation. One EPA initiative to
accelerate the development, demonstration, and use
of innovative technologies for site remediation is the
Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE)
Program.
EPA SITE Technology Capsules summarize the
latest information available on selected innovative
treatment and site remediation technologies. The
Technology Qapsules assist EPA remedial project
managers, EPA on-scene coordinators, contractors,
and other remedial managers in the evaluation of
site-specific chemical and physical characteristics to
determine a technology's applicability for site
remediation.
This Technology Capsule provides information on the
Cold Top ex-situ vitrification system, developed by
Geotech Development Corporation (Geotech), of
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Geotech has targeted
vitrification of contaminated soil from
chromium-contaminated sites in northern New
Jersey as a potential application for its technology. To
test the system's potential effectiveness on such
chromium-contaminated soil, the Cold Top
technology was demonstrated at the Geotech pilot
facility in Niagara Falls, New York, using soil from two
of the New Jersey chromium sites. The SITE
Program evaluated the technology's performance
during the demonstration.
This Technology Capsule describes the Cold Top
technology and summarizes results based on the
I
SUPERFUND INNOVATIVE
TECHNOLOGY EVALUATION
Printed on Recycled Paper
-------
This
trolledar;msion5pfdioxins,furanSj trace;i metals,
(4)
capsule includes the following information: particulate, and hydrogen chloride; (4) the
'" ' • ' "'" ' • IP'S, ill1""."1 !"" 'l'i::>l!l!!iliHlr ; ' a-!!, ,: I'lHSl1 ' ^l"'?:," ':",',',,; 'i',;1;!: i'11!1:1"""1"!1!:1!!!1!:1!,!"1:!* Ii i:1,1!,1"!!!:,,'"'•:',"ft ili'i'Wi'iNllii'iS11*1!! l!!l|!!sWlP:iM^ "'V "'"• "'"lli " '""?' '''"•'' : ! |1""" r' "ii" ' ' '• t " ' r' •• ' "' '
i lOTpilAbstract uncontrolled air emissions of the oxides of nitrogen,
r<£i! E™ :,!Ii,IJi,,,,:! :!!: fSRSSSi ;,,,:2,i:i:,!:,,,l,,; Ll,,!i:,l,i: ::::,,!!!!i,!!,!:,,!:i,!!;i:i:,!!!:,,:!:::,l!! L,,,i!:i:,O!K^ iii'!|i|'!;ipiriiii|i»»i]wiipp!i!!i»piii»pji'!iiiin»i»»iipii|i :, IT nipnpp'ippppnjpipppis!! 'm • •» ".• •• , ,1":. '' '"' i;i '; , • " - .', • '!
Ijlnnil |||l||nnnndnnipi||nnnilhpnip|||l|||||nnpn|nipnnnd||||p||nn|nhni|pinnnh|l||llnipnn ^T*_ _l_ _ _ I _ . _I _.-* i? _ m ilri if f*tts\\ft*~ts\ /"» r"»^l ^^*^ «"l-^^\v^ *-v% s\ tr* r\ \r i r* XN f*s\w\ 4-l-*xN
:,!I,i,,,,: :: I ;,,:;;!,,:i:,,!:,,,,,; :
|te requirements Demonstration results showed that the Cold Top
'erlbrrnahce daia system vitrified chrbmium-contaminated soil from the
Ifl :, ',',||ti ,,|, .ij,.,,',] JH.,I, , 1,,| ^''rif "f'ili^ rfiilii1!1 i1,11"" : lli!||IJ »"! I!iiiil||h!!lr 'tlf11' tl "f"1 if1,1!'1!' li'lii!"1 dilii'''^'!^!!!'!!;!! flii" ll i i ii *'::» .'I!™ '/wniMnitP''^^^*' i m u-r»n «IHI»II'»HI ivrnpi "'» i -'N/I M v M" • , '' " ,- , ,« "« , . '
'gchnblogy'"status two New Jersey sites, yielding a product meeting the
:! ! ! "'"" : "ll1 : " : " ' RCRA^' tpxicity ^characteristic jeaching procedure
sulfur" 9ioxT3e'rlan3 " carbon' monoxide from "the
vitrification unit; and (5) the projected operating costs
of the technology per ton of soil.
rcesslres"icluals
^,jurces,,pf,ifurthennfprni,ationi i i( ri i ,j , tni TIII ri r r , i _ .
'll ' • :::: y± 2;;;1: || ilkl^ ^filMii|Ji 1^^^
SITE technology demonstration was conducted in
nd .
JQS7 to, £Vjyu§tg,J&£ Eotentjaj
......... ....... ' ....... ....... .......
caiiy ard efecyeness o the eptech Cold
" " .............. "
bottoms," that also met the RCRA TCLP chromium
Standard. Demonstration results also showed that
©x-s/fu ^ vitrification
i/QJpfM,m^.njSm:maj^i
technology on the total chromium content of the vitrified products did
us f ge Hemonsfration not differ s'9n'f'cant'yfrom tnat of tne untreated soils,
vitrification 'fcmace at Dut that the baghouse dust from soils from both sites
0eot§ch's, pilot plant in Niagara Falls' :New "York."" were higher in chromium content than the untreated
lit II!
its
^lu'm^o^ soils-The baghouse dust is composed of small-sized
;is':"|n II ''I'iley Cityr New" leTsey! "aria" was"' particulate produced when untreated soil is added to
isiiiiiii^
filling " a')5&llution contro1 system by its vacuum. Hexavalent
Iff!deraoniration^ chromium concentrations in the untreated soil were
Tireran^bmeaciisijS! MogeachlesC'sold and *'' 'Ph'emifyribt detected (reduced'at least two'to three
oHectedl from v"a"r-jou"s" jocaBoris in orders of magnitude) in the vitrified product and
Top system arid Ima!yzel3 for several ferrofurnace bottoms. The hexavalent chromium
Ii9jJTg5ysica[ parameters; In "adclition; Concentration in the baghouse dust
od
........ 8'afa ...... were'recorcfecT.' .............. During ....... the
in te agouse ust was
approximately the same as that in the untreated soil.
!= ||l |.dernpn^trattpn,, the Cold,,,r Top system treated
1 ':: i:i;;i'^----'--i-'-- _ji5;6off ' 3^n.c[i..'.of' !' .^®source"
iro i „ Y?.n,,^
primary and five secondary objectives were ~
Comparison of metal concentrations in the vitrified
fjRJduct to NJDEP interim soil cleanup standards
indicates that antimony, beryllium, cadmium,
—- clrTOmlum
hexavalent chromium met these
while tbtalchrbrniurn and nickel did not.
ii!HViiPiailliiillnh,i<,'i,!'i:,Liii'PlUhiLiLiimihj III" llP'l"( 1,1 Ii !'i" ,i,,i! :m, !„:' \ •,' , ,i !, • • '•;, ,•: '»•, ' iii,, •',,1:' •
Results of emissions modeling indicate that the
ipirid
Jegjfiecj ........ for ....... the ...... SITE ........ j2gQ3gnsJratioru ........ ..The.^imary ................ concentratipnS| of metals m_ stack emissions .........
jl-'S^ ............ ' .............. ........ on .......... ffie ........... cTiaTacteflstics ........... of ......... tfie ........... soil, ......... the ........ air ........... pollution
......... si'e waste 'and ..... prbSuct ........ strea rri I ........ from ....... tKe ..... Solcf Top ........ ..... ...... """ cbntroT "systeifn," an9 ..... trie detection limits of the various
uijililjiiiiii .......... !l|iilliili|ll|i|iliiii||i|i||iliiiii||||||||ll|l|lliii| ..... |l||||||||ili|iinl ............ liiljii!,,,,^,,,,,,,, ....... ............................... , ....... .......... , ........ |TlllBjn ............ „ ........ , .......... , ....... , ....... n ..... ............ , ............... ............... ,, ................. „ ...... ,,i ........................ n ,r|| ...... ....................... ,,„ .......... ,,r|1||| ...... „ ........... ....... ',, ....... I||I|T|T ...... ........... , ..... „„, ..... ..... „ ........ ......... [[[ ' [[[ ,
;ificat!on system pilot giant were ^^ capable of rneeting analytes. Emissions of dioxins, particulate, oxides of
EPA R5RA "definitions' of a riohFazarBbils waste" hrtrbgerii sulfur dibxide, carbon monoxide, and
' : „: V: ,afi:f;:?;. : ' ' i. y. .......... • "K, ..... :;: • , ......... , ............. ; : ;•) ........ , ."s:;;;,:",:!" ....... :.r, " ..... t ............ ;>t ...... j; ......... • ....... ",;- ...... - ......... ,:.u;r IL .......... us ,1. „/=' ..... • ...... ...... t >•• -^ ..... ........ ............... ' " '
afi:f;:?;. : ' ' i. y. .......... • "K, ..... :;: • , ......... , ............. ; : ;•) ........ , ."s:;;;,:",:!" ....... :.r, " ..... t ............ ;>t ...... j; ......... • ....... ",;- ...... - ......... ,:.u;r IL .......... us ,. „/=' ..... • ...... ...... t >•• j - ..... ........ ............... ..... "Q" ....... ' ..... * J '" ............. ....... " " ........ ..... i i i_ ' V IL. " • ^ K i
g ...... Jh§ ...... slream's ...... leachaJDle ....... chrornium ....... cgntent. ....................................... hydrpgen chjoridewere all below the appropriate New
'"' ..... " ........ ' ...... '
p3$|:;||cpndgry'pbj^^ fpllpwjn|':'"'' "" YorR"Iirmte^ ga"s"eg""o'n" appropriate measurement and
""''" fii'illpg^jgQpjpg'Q^ "" "calculation p,:QCe(|Q|;e'g_
corjiarninateg soil into Jhe,various, waste and
Ahalysis of 'operatingcosts indicates that Cpld Top
!rea!rrienT of cTirornluTrHc^rrtaTnlrlated soil1,"sirn'ilar to
li,iii|ii i iiill
, ,i, ,,,i ,,,,.,..i P!.
ElS^^S^S^^^i^E^^-^^l^if^i !n"M !rl!§l? ?u"r"'Qi fi® ^'^ dem6'ristratioi.s is
_p_---g--_
...... ° .............................. ofTTSispsai ..... costs'an'd ...... potential ..... credits ...... for ..... sale ..... of the .........
Wfe ' applicae cQpjancg vtre prouc.
-------
The Cold Top technology evaluation, described in
detail in an Innovative Technology Evaluation Report,
was based on the nine decision-making criteria used
in the Superfund feasibility study process. Results of
the evaluation are summarized in Table 1.
Technology Description
The Geotech Cold Top technology is an ex-situ
vitrification process designed to transform
metal-contaminated soils into a nonleachable
product. The primary component of the technology is
a water-cooled, double-walled, steel vessel or furnace
with submerged-electrode resistance heating. The
vessel is designed to pourfrom the bottom while being
fed either manually or automatically from the top.
Geotech has developed a procedure of maintaining
electrical balance such that the feed, melt, and pour
processes occur at the same rates. Figure 1 is a
schematic depiction of the furnace and associated
equipment.
Geotech claims that this technology converts
quantities of contaminated soil from a large number of
particles into an essentially monolithic, vitrified mass.
According to Geotech, vitrification will transform the
physical state of contaminated soil from assorted
crystalline matrices to a glassy, amorphous solid
state comprised of interlaced polymeric chains.
These chains typically consist of alternating oxygen
and silicon atoms. It is expected that chromium can
readily substitute for silicon in the chains. According
to Geotech, such chromium should be immobile to
leaching by aqueous solvents and, therefore,
biologically unavailable and nontoxic. Geotech has
targeted vitrification of contaminated soil from
chromium-contaminated sites in Northern New
Jersey as a potential application for the system. To
test its potential applicability and effectiveness on
such chromium-contaminated soil, the Cold Top
technology was demonstrated at the Geotech pilot
facility in Niagara Falls using soil from two northern
New Jersey sites.
According to Geotech, the furnace and associated
equipment are capable of attaining melting
temperatures of up to 5,200 °F. The technology has
been used to vitrify chromium-contaminated soil,
municipal solid waste incinerator ash, fly ash,
asbestos and asbestos-containing materials,
ceramic minerals, and a range of other materials,
including soils contaminated with metals such as lead
and cadmium. The vitrified product can be formed
into glassy blocks of up to 300 pounds or as granular,
nonporous solids of 3/8 inch or smaller. The vitrified
product has potential economic value as shore
erosion block, roadbed fill, aggregate for concrete or
asphalt, or other uses where a high-density, solid
material is needed. The product can also be spun into
mineral or ceramic fiber, that may have economic
value as insulation, wall board, industrial furnace
linings, and ceramic fiber.
Geotech currently operates a 50-ton-per-day Cold
Top vitrification pilot plant in Niagara Falls, New York.
This facility has been used for over 38 research and
customer demonstrations, including the SITE
demonstration. Materials fused in this plant range
from high purity zirconia and magnesite, requiring
fusion temperatures in excess of 5,000 °F, to
contaminated soils that melt at 1,800 °F. Geotech has
also built or assisted with the construction or
upgrading of five operating vitrification plants and
tentatively plans to build a commercial Cold Top
vitrification facility within 50 miles of the northern New
Jersey sites. The planned capacity of this facility is
300 tons per day. Geotech is also evaluating the
building of a transportable system.
Technology Applicability
The Cold Top process can be applied to soils, sludge
ashes, and other solid materials contaminated with
chromium, lead, cadmium, other metals, and
asbestos after the material to be treated has been
prepared, such as by drying, crushing, and amending,
as necessary. Laboratory- and pilot-scale Cold Top
systems have been used to treat solid materials
contaminated with trivalent and hexavalent
chromium, municipal solid waste residue, and
asbestos and asbestos-containing materials. Other
materials that have been vitrified include both granite
and blast furnace slag to make mineral wool
insulation, alumina and silica to make mineral wool
fiber and vacuum cast shapes; coal fly ash and
incinerated sewage-sludge residue to form glass
fiber; and oil ash residue containing metals to form
high-strength glass blocks.
Technology Limitations
Geotech claims the Cold Top ex-situ vitrification
process can be used to vitrify any solid material with
a few limitations. Vitrification requires a significant
amount of energy; therefore, the technology is usually
limited to dried solids that are relatively low in total
organic content. The energy required to heat and
-------
"ii;-l":!;i'!l!";\f' "".'i'1!,,,''
ffi? I"'!" ' I' ?
ill ! '^iiii£ 1^ i i ii i I i ! ii ii ii. iiifts, ;;.i ih i liiiiiiiii iii ! ii i i,, iiiiiiil ' ' I
laDie j. reasiDiiiiy oiuuy tvaiuanon uritenaTonne oeoiecn i ecnnoiogy
Overall
ii,iini inlllllll lililillllilnlllnllllhlllillllllll'liililll Illlllinlilii illllllliiiiiiiiilllll I iiilliilllillllllilllllililiillllllliiiiii!iliiiliiiliii!i!ll!li«iii liliiiull Illiililnl Illil iiii hiiliii I miiu, I ' • , ,i ,, •
TheCold Tpp process fuses hazardous inorganic constituents into a
,,,,,,_., ,__ ,,_,,. ,,
^remissions are redticed By'uslhg'ari air
''£$£$!;:•• C^moiiahcewithfederal"', ' """,'"' ComgHancewUhc^
, , , requirements^
'"i', T";;7 ;,'?,,,:' |ij|i v: i;U&KJTSystemantf t^ Compliance'with i
"i i i '" i ' fefj ; s!!1! i * ii1 i*i';rbh'emical-J1ocation-,^
li ; L; Llj ;,| I,;:,; ;; ;; L I,;,;; ; ;„;„; ,;„!,;,; | ; ;; ; KHI.lJ :,:;; i !„;!;; iiiiiM:"".. " :|l"l""!' i?! ''2 i1 "'"fe •ila/i"l||i "i ff "!""Vr " r""71 ""' • '" i i i i* "MI
1;!,,,,; m:,:,l'l ,;!:s: :::; • U^I, : -:i: : :,„',: :,:,i ;; IS iSi 4 i i4i*3 ISie,~sP?C|f|C basis. fo^9?!,S!®?'trr?^!!Pw,!n9environmenta' regulations will
iili!,! i,!,!,L:! ,,!,L,!::,!!,,i!l!ll L! li: III,! i !,,!,,i i il::::,!,!!:,,!:!!:!:,,,!!,,,! i!1,:,,,: i :i,,,ll Llli:,: SdJiiiiil l!,::iLl::i! Li,,,: li: :;,!!,,!;::ii,il!',i:!,[ t"\£* oF\F^li/"*olma ir\ t*n\ H "T"r\r\ /M^/ifQ+irtno- Or^mi-vf^sih't^inoix/^i dnv/icrvnrYi/artt'al
i ^
: : i !i:: ! : : : ; i ! i
! ! IS i i
!;' * i; [i;!;,,; '~!ia ; :,; Ml! ; [,!!>; : : j :;• i ; r^jf
!^
'••£ att-^ji^lle^
'' '" :| the Clean Water Act, the
ES^Jt; gecoyejy_Ac||RCRA]|i,]heCleaniAjrArt
|^ Health Act and the Toxic Substances' Control Act. '_ '
jfjrttsp^ MSsi!;®!!1'1 ^f6.^6065,5, ^s, ti]e, yj^'!i®9 p,[°§y,P!s,m,®* 5,20,^ I2,x'9?y 9,!]araHter'st'c ,!-eac^'n9 ^roce(^ure,
| ii^ aridP^jjripi^noe ~j_ !""L'..',, ."." '.^rgguirementO^^ to"bepermanentlytreated^'
! "' ! *---"—--"residuais from the APCS^^^^c^
j,!liLiiit,i:ii!!n:iKi!!E,ll!l!i,i!IU!l!i:!;!!!il!!!!!!!:!;::!lii:iiiiib :i!Dii!!!!!!!:Eiiii!!lllii,!!!,illEl!,llllli JliiiJiliiLL,: i,I!!!!liiil!llilii!!!!,::lllli!ll!i!!hui;;u,iilii!;,,,:liii£ ! il — *
product and the ferrofurnace bottoms may be recycled or may
:)t::ii i F7iif! :::i • 1!"
., p:'i^;? 6 Implementafaility
"i";" i" i-i'".!,!'1''! "• yjt'":"'' •'tv,.; :"';'' :' LI!")
gj i ;^^
jillilliiiiiiilliH iiiiuiilliili ,iii!iiiiiiln:iiiiii
j i [iii: "'i1,:: juiiiii i; iviiiiiiiii'fir'iii'WiiiFi^^^^^^
: materials. Geotech plans to
fern New Jersey area. Currently,
:^ does not operate a transportable system, so only transportation of the
IK ,i,,i | iri] I i i,,, !'",/" i'«,;, ; ,1, '"il . ' H i, UliJiT Ji.riniJiinHflFi, •ll,,1,!,.;1!',' hi,,,, iHll , !'„ I,, i! II U'l'llllll'll >, ,,: ,-•• j|||| j. '^..fi, \'^^^^a^^f>ec\f\c factors such as the volume of material to be treated, physical
j£ .i I;!,,,, j ,;, „; [ | $£ g^ ;,; i||^^
'"
[scenarios.evaluated .in the economic analysis
ivaluation Report, costs ranged from
/Sk$77 to $207 per ton.
it' "" |i" 8'' State Acceptance
,ll:i ,n|ll| ," ,1'",^ ,i,,, "«,, ; , |,i,i!J"',|'ii:'''liHiii'j
State acceptance of the full-scale, fixed Cold Top facility is likely to be
'.I ,j,|" i 'lii'''1']' •• •• ,«i,! ,'»'•!,,,,, • ii*1! i""' ' • i'1"1 : ''i1 '!• " ' "" " '' • "h"' '|n •'' •' ''"x '' ' '''" • '" •" "•' • • ' '•
I !"P Bff"> fl favorable
;/ ''"; i* ,p - Community Z3P_epn'Encd TTne'mih'frnar'sFiorPterm risks'pTesenfedlo the'community, along with the
i' ' I" i •' '!l||', rl'lSi1 ' I "If ',,||j ,„! , , • :,,| Hi"]*1 I,!"".],.!"1' , ' " 'I"1!'!! ii", ' 1l'il*,i*'!ll!i,,iaiil SlililWIII'11'!'!! *i t'"' ||1< IS1'11!! !• '•" « L "l"111'1 h"11'" ""''''1"; '• "»'•» ' ' 'u ' , . ' '
;; ;;];;!;;;;; -i |;;;|;: ; ;, ;-;- ||T;;] i Ej ^3* ffe ;; j !;^^
iJttSStSl
:,'... n "
|^^^^^^^^^
!!;
jet, should increasethe likelihood of community
:!!"! ^a^^^^^tanc^^ tRis teclinofo^T'^S^wnali^' as treatment'by this technology
r'accegtance^ waste is removed
I ! ! i i ! • ' i
.^ - ii, ,• : g^^ i^v i^^^^^^ I j
3'iJ
FF|i!; ~pi'W
jii:^
• -I' lm.: !>uiL,iiM)U. is / ii-rf ; stalf'/i
..; ••;:;•: i,':- ;'*'"', if, "I"!!! ," .i!1";:-1-,!;,!- 'r
i F' '""« '"
Kin I'll
vi Biiiilliillii iiliilill'llliilri, iiliili ill, ill
: '^m-MiM i,; ii;; m^ :, a ;.: ^sm 'mm :*M$± : : ;
I,; !!!i '
-------
TO AIR POLLUTION
CONTROL SYSTEM
PRETREATED
CONTAMINATED
SOIL
SAND
MOLTEN PRODUCTTAP
MOLD CONTAINING
VITRIFIED PRODUCT
Figure 1. A Schematic Depiction of the Furnace and Associated Equipment
evaporate water or organics would raise the cost of
the technology, and it would produce such a large
amount of steam and organic vapors, that an off-gas
treatment system would need to be configured to
handle this material. The ideal water and organic
content of untreated waste material should each be
less than 5 percent. If the water content of the
untreated waste is greater than 5 percent, the waste
will require drying, possibly using heat scavenged
from the vitrified material. If the organic content of the
untreated waste is greater than 5 percent, it may be
necessary to blend that material with less
contaminated material. Vitrification occurs most
efficiently, producing a better glass product, when the
waste particle size is small; therefore, waste material
should be sized to a diameter of 0.12 to 0.25 inch by
sieving, crushing, or grinding.
Certain waste materials require the addition of small
amounts of carbon to facilitate reduction of metal
oxides, such as ferric oxide to elemental iron, in the
furnace. Sand also may be added to the waste
material prior to vitrification to facilitate vitrification and
improve the physical strength and characteristics of
the vitrified product. These additives must be mixed
with the untreated waste material prior to vitrification.
Process Residuals
During the SITE demonstration, the Cold Top
vitrification process produced several types of
residual material: vitrified product, baghouse dust,
and stack emissions. The vitrified product is expected
to be nonleaching and saleable as sand-sized,
material or larger aggregate. The baghouse dust can
be recycled back through the vitrification process.
The stack emissions are controlled with various air
pollution control devices.
Certain types of untreated wastes may also produce
a metallic product referred to as ferrofurnace bottoms.
This material is a potentially saleable product, as it is
usually composed of iron and other metals.
Depending on the off-gas treatment-system
configuration, scrubber water also may be produced.
This water may have low levels of contamination and
can be recycled or possibly treated and disposed of
through a publicly owned treatment works. If a cyclone
separator or electrostatic precipitator is used, the
paniculate material collected from these air pollution
control devices can be recycled through the
vitrification furnace. Although not evaluated in this
demonstration, when the vitrified product is quickly
quenched in water, producing a sand, the cooling
-------
r ||i||ii | idMairtheco^ The foljowjng "key findings of the Cold Top technology
!w levels of contamination that need tobe'evafualey." 'slTE''^em-b?rstfatib"ri are listed in the following
jy, | , Jinny jJM ii | | iljijjj. |||i||||,||||||||||; liiiiJU jlJIHiljlJJUiy,, i ilJiJiiiiim Hi 'J^ !i||||i||,|iii||il!iil!li|]|i;iiiii;ii,i,i,ii,,,;ii|,||i|,,||,ilii| ilBiiBi'liiiil!! liiniililiJIiliSiillJIIIIIiiiiiiilllllililllElilE iillllllliiiniillliliiiiiiiiiilillilillliililEiiilillliii Illll l! i imiililli iilni'ilmi iiiuli minni iifrl " •i,iii,i,i,-»nr' ' iniiirnir ! rainj niiMiii ill Sin-' llnl II
bgrecycjed thru the process or can be paracjraphs. Readers desiring more" detail "are
prior to"'treatment 'arid"''disposal'"th"rough' a refeirreB to the Sold Top "Innovative Technology
owned treatment works.
Evaluation
ite
remerits
''^jJainlei'Tlii;!"111 ,11 flu !i!!'
B*ij*M*-jr*p - :,;:
lansaitimrrmmfSKKmitir. I-JTT::;:,^—.:,,;•[ :
FCLP Chromium Standard
iiii i siiiiiii iiiiiiii! 'mm i mmm m 'mm
t^r^e.n^|ie;j3|pi(|ehrCpJd.Topbpijcj:-plantp£erates The Cold Top technology vitrified chromium-
IE illlJ^Jjvii'lgara1 TFafis, "New"7b'^'ahd'afuli-sc^le'''^!^''!^ cpntaminafed' soil from"" two "New Jersey sites,
^r^^pgg^ptfjg'pp^eir^ew^
I /New York' area." K ' ' "' '""
.«•• ,i trill •'..•.,: '". Illti 'X "• I'"',!'''!"!1;;.!, ,'i'"!"""
tern producing a product meeting the RCRA TCl_P total
i'unit "is'currently chrpmium standard £seeTabies 2 and 3). Vitrification
Ir^lavailable..Thereforejhe only sjte'reguiremerite to of soil from "one of"the" two''sites also produced
ttielfecrmpljog^ arejfiose typical of spif"' "" ferrpfurnace b^pm's^ " a"" pptentialTy recyclaSle"
the'''£rpper metalfic proSfuct thai also met the RCRA TCL.P total
.............. ancf ..... [arc^^to ...... ^exo^tejK^*^ ...... chrqmium^^
' ............... .............. " ' ....... " ............. '"' .................
a n
ii
Chrprniurrf Partitioning
ISi'SteS'^^ the" SlceSJcin'ot the" ttaSriouse ''dTi'st'"^^^"!^"
9^^^^^ liCSiSlyffliiii iiilnSSPiffli' §a«m,2le,j ^ne, Ma' £nrom'urn
JSfpe performance (^tFe'CpldrTpjD ex^uyfirjfiratip'n OTntent'oTti^^^ri^ h'bfd iffe rsighifica ritly"
, ^ '" ,;*"""' was 'evaluated' at""the Caebtech 'pilbt-pjant in ' from "that of the" untreated soil.' The concentration of'
^ebruary and 'March .1.997.' ''Chrdmium^bntaminMed iri ,'the vitrification baghouse dust and
ll^jillpcplgc^'lrpm^"^ were aPProximatelyi
TO^IWIIJ wtate^Park, in Jersey City, New Jersey, was two and five times greater, respectively, than those
SE^g^f ifor"tfi£.test'rM These data are',,"'
^-"-'-''---"" one Semohsiraiton'' '"test"" run"" was" summarizeidfln fables 2 and""3.
» i ft*.; ",:!ip !,!ii!,;!!i!!,i,,ii!i!,"i!!,",!ii BIIBlBl ir^niBiLh,;; il7iniiMi,«iK;,ih;:i ttiHhliHii,::; aaiilillliiSlvihrrUi :'4;3EEi|s an"3 treated pfodluclswere'ahatyzeH in tnp'iicateT
not detected in the
f :.
:§tac,k oases were cpj]ec|efl,,and,,,analyzed for both of ferrpfurnace bottoms samples and was only detected
™]g^!^o§sy^^w^'o2erS^ ait" in one of six "vitrified product samples. The
hexavalerif cTirbrnium "concentrations ranged from
averac
ch of soil and 3,000 pounds per hour for the one-half to
baghouse dust as in the untreated soil.
same in the vitrifjcation
The
WB'Cpntaminant
: :r; , , . • • > • - • . • „• •
? Average Contaminant Concentrations in SITE Demonstratipn Samples from Site 1 30
. ;, 'x sf" ,it.; I*!, f f teij*^ ....... k* ! ...... I N ..... IS ..... $f!M*i ...... m.^S < &•• -'.;i '*» '*.• f' ,: , ' , • '
™ipHiiift ..... iiiiiiii ..... iiiiiiiii ..... ii ........ FerrofurnacG
........ ' ...... " .......... ";s: ........ ....... u ............... ' .....
Feed Soil
Vitrified Product
Qp
i ;'8oo
<0.412
^^!^|^Bl^4ED^^|,'! " ' 1"*°° '!' ' VJ$$P',
'EESE53553fflgJB.^ !"r'J§
23.7
5,530
b".3i
JiJiil1 :iii!i!niiiiitiF!'< ''iiiliiiiiiilllji'i:ii
: Notes;
'•Him
((ill
• --' H !
i ! j ! mil miff, S B !SM^^^^ !!M^^^^^^^^^^ SSlBStf* !H^^^^ mH
-------
Table 3. Average Contaminant Concentrations in SITE Demonstration Samples from Liberty State Park
Ferrofurnace
Contaminant Feed Soil Baghouse Dust Bottoms Vitrified Product
Total Hexavalent
Chromium (mg/kg)
897
360
<4.0
1.8to<0.391
Total Chromium (mg/kg)
TCLP Chromium (mg/L)2
6,900
29.3
16,000
11.3
35,900
2.4
10,300
1.04
Notes:
'• Hexavalent chromium was detected in one of three samples. The range of values reported is the concentration in the sample
where it was detected and the lowest detection limit.
2- The RCRA TCLP standard for chromium is 5.0 mg/L.
bag house dust was presumed to be mainly fine-
sized, untreated soil that was generated when soil
was added to the vitrification furnace and then carried
through the air pollution,control system.
Cost
Cold Top treatment of chromium-contaminated soil,
similar to that treated during the SITE demonstration,
is estimated to cost from $77 to $207 per ton,
depending on disposal costs and potential credits for
the vitrified product. The three scenarios evaluated
included (1) use of the vitrified product as aggregate,
(2) backfilling of the aggregate on site, and
(3) landfilling of the aggregate. Costs for these three
scenarios were $77, $97, and $207 per ton,
respectively. Because of the uncertainty of their
formation, potential credits for ferrofurnace bottoms
was not considered in this economic analysis.
NJDEP Interim Cleanup Standards
Comparison of metal concentrations in the vitrified
product to the NJDEP interim cleanup standards
indicated that the vitrified product met the interim
standard for antimony, beryllium, cadmium,
vanadium, and hexavalent chromium, but did not for
nickel and total chromium.
Stack Emissions
Although the Cold Top technology is not an
incineration technology, the stack emissions from the
demonstration were compared to Subpart O
incinerator regulations, and the results were mixed.
The data collected during the SITE demonstration
were input into complex modeling calculations
supplied by New York State. The modeling required
site- and waste-specific analyses to assess the
impact of the Cold Top stack emissions. Results of
emissions modeling indicate that the concentrations
of metals in stack emissions depend on the
characteristics of the soil, the air pollution control
system, and the detection limits of the various
analytes. Emissions of dioxins, particulate, oxides of
nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and
hydrogen chloride were all below the appropriate
New York limits, based on appropriate measurement
and calculation procedures.
Technology Status
Geotech owns a 50-ton-per-day Cold Top vitrification
pilot-plant in Niagara Falls, New York. This facility was
used for over 38 research and customer
demonstrations, including the SITE demonstration.
Geotech claims that this plant is capable of melting
any mineral or combination of minerals present in a
relatively dry condition.
Geotech has built or assisted with the construction or
upgrading of five operating vitrification plants. Plants
are located in (1) Teplice, Czechoslovakia, where the
capacity exists to produce 800 pounds per hour of
alumina silica ceramic fiber from the vitrified material;
(2) Atella, Italy, where approximately the same
capacity exists to produce ceramic fiber; (3) Lorete,
France, where Geotech supplied molten stream
control, high speed spinning, and fiber collection
equipment; (4) Nagano, Japan, where Geotech
furnished a melting furnace, electrical controls, high
speed spinning equipment, and fiber collection
equipment for a plant that produces ceramic fibers;
and (5) Nagoya, Japan, where Geotech installed
mineral fusion and fiber formation equipment in a
-------
iiri,. ,\,taste^ateri^s'ind^^^ Richards"
|sh residue, coal-ash residue, and municipal solid EPA Project Manager
' 'J''1T " waste ash. ( ^ ' ; ( ^ ^ ^ u.S. gp^ National Risk Management Research I
I has tentative plans to build a commercial i:3. ,°,rato!?( . , ,
Cold fop.'yM^n^^v^ln 50 miles of the 26 West Martin Luther King Drive
iiMsfi9iSJ§Si l§w Jersey sfesT.The.planned capacity of;; "' 2m,cm™ L ,1 Z?g?g
1-7676
s 3oo ton
be
„ , , _, , _ ,_,„, ,_
to receive, dry,'vitrify,"'and'disgose of the ^
roduct 'from trie cnVomium sites' and'
product
IriunlcipaT solid waste incinerators, as well as otRer Thomas R. Tate
producers of hazardous and nonhazardous waste. President
i i i in Geotech Development Corporation
•i ii^ii ijrfi 11 Irri i 1 ^\f I i—ifGT uwoni 10 ^*i IIT^ K^ii
The data and concusions presented in this King of Prussia'! "PA"19406
ae
Sviewed by tne TelleRno,,n,e,: ,
FAX:'(6TOJ ...... 7B55533
'I'; Nil i?i^SH§i^surance^g FAX:" (6JO) 768=5244
ft ! ! ! il I * i ! i I ! is is ? I Is! :fl !=ii I ii i il !! i i = li ! p i I k ' i ' s • '
' I
.......... i ...... i ............ ,
1
*! !
I11' IFl-Ilili'.11 !| l! ll'l-li'illll .liilB
iifj'iriXi''::!*
!|fc^
tjfiift+^fww.;^^^ n^^yliHiteil^miJ HfefcE>!3fe<*£ iA.imii.t:.±±.: .L1^:: i,, :„!:,,:' ;,„:„„:,
JjjjjimyJi^'lJjirafJ^jfti ,],„;,; Jffi'JHVil'KiiiiidiTriiiff i iiuKSi'mmm ili'iiiimifvii'ii' 'iii ii'lii"' '»»'
""" " i!""11" * "ii'i! i''1"11"11"! ""p™"" TS!l,'iW\l!r* 'tiii'iP1!'1" i!1""! s ij|(^iw I'1"!,;"! .'iiiSH i!;'!!1.11" i | * " ";"• i
, , ,, <~, , ,
fftU i -F -'•" Unitecl States "' , , „
lii'Siilj! ,', ' «''. Ii',' ':,'"!, • J J" "J'l ."''i|'^ "I ili> JHIIHHI il" ..i«"! ! J
EnyirQnrnental Protection Agency
Center for Environmental Research Information
:; '••'•"*••"-•• ; ' ' ^ 6W45268 ' •"" " '"" ' " 3I •••' "" '
i i ill SI Iiii
! I \ i! i | Offiem.Business,
'" : ' iilPerial&lfor Private Use li,i| ,
I I
BULK RATE
POSTAGE & FEES PAID
EPA
PERMIT No. G-35
IB: iiiBiiiiiiiiiriiiiiiiiiiiniiiii ii i liiuiiin jiiiiiiiinii,!;,,,! is; ii' liiiin!! ^ m 'in, • i''riiiiii ^iipi1 i]iiip|i:iii,jiiia;i •iiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliii
fj | | i" i iii i-ji! j in!!!'! if "i i ! i" if I"1"' iii"!"
,, i, '.,;; ;|||H|
'
;„!': I........ t ,.'.' „,.; . . '..": '. , : i, ,, . 11, '„ , | |. 111 'l mi i" 'ii .!' i ill
iiiiil:!iiil^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
• Mir. ' it"!"
ijfe I' Iii,'
l;ii;ii|!;ii|;!i;:;p]!;|i; •I'lijiii i'luU; ^j;]!11; iijji''! iiiiij,
nii,,, i.,,,,:;,,,!.
i :«t fe M^
"i|* fill''II Ii! I !|H" ''!'"II"I!''!I"I1II
'j ' '! ''li'1". -«. ''pi
ii' ',"
Slia^^^^^^^^^^ iiilllSliiViiiiii liii'l !.:irii:.i.''; \: !•' ''"Hi.".!;). : ;.l!!iii:i! .V-W. ^ -M'" ..... 'i'1 rf ' ..... i' ..... ^'
------- |