United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
; Emergency Response
(5102G)
EPA 542-N-98-007
August 1998
Issue No. 30
CONTENTS
Sediment Decontamination
Program for the Port of
New York and
New Jersey page 1
Bioremediation of
Michigan PCB-
Contaminated Soils
via Composting page 3
International
Cleanup Pilot Studies page 3
Permeable Reactive
Barrier Installation
Profiles Now Available page 4
The Applied Technologies
Newsletter for Superfund
Removals & Remedial
Actions & RCRA
Corrective Action
ABOUT THIS ISSUE
This issue highlights treat-
ment trains used to
decontaminate sediments
containing a diverse range
of hazardous compounds,
and composting for large-
scale remediation of soils
containing polychlorinated
biphenyls.
TECH TRENDS
Sediment
Decontamination :
Program for the Port of
New York and New Jersey
by Eric Stern, EPA, Region 2
Efforts to commercialize dredged-
material decontamination technologies
for use in the New York/New Jersey ;
Harbor are underway by a public/private
partnership involving the U.S. EPA-
Region 2, the U.S. Army Corps of ]
Engineers-New York District, the U.S.
Department of Energy's Brookhaveri
National Laboratory, Rensselaer Poly-
technic Institute, and private industry.
Through a step-wise, bench- and pilot-
scale validation process, innovative and
cost-effective technologies will progress
to a production-scale facility capable of
processing up to 500,000 cubic yards
(yd3) of dredged material per year. This
project is conducted under the Water
Resources Development Acts of 1992
and 1996.
Major contaminants of concern in the
harbor include heavy metals, chlorinated
pesticides, polynuclear aromatic hydro-
carbons (PAHs), polychlorinated
biphenyls, and dioxins/furans. Levels of
contamination vary widely, but range as
high as 130,000 ppb for total PAHs; and
42,631, and 4 ppm for arsenic, lead,-and
mercury, respectively.
In a sediment decontamination program
such as this, the physical characteristics
of the sediment are as important as
contaminant concentrations because of
the associated materials-handling \
problems and difficulty in dealing!with
fine-grained material. The physical
characteristics of typical dredged
material in the Port include fine-grained
silts and clays (80-95%), a small fraction
of larger grain sizes, and large-size
debris. The as-dredged material is
characterized as having a 30-40% solids
content consisting of 3-8% total organic
carbon.
A treatment train comprising materials
handling, decontamination, and benefi-
cial reuse of material is required to treat
the variety of contaminants and wide
range of concentrations found in dredged
material in the Harbor. The project team
determined that dredging/decontamina-
tion costs could be reduced significantly
through the development and commer-
cialization of a long-term, sustainable,
profit-making enterprise for decontami-
nating sediments with a beneficial reuse.
Twelve technologies initially were
evaluated in bench-scale tests. Based on
results of bench-scale testing, the
following six completed pilot-scale
testing on up to 25 yd3 of contaminated
sediments:
A thermochemical process using a
gas-fired melter (rotary kiln) and
modifiers. Operating temperatures
ranging between 1,200° and 1,500°
C achieved destruction of all organic
contaminants to below detection
limits, without any secondary waste
streams. The end product is a
pozzolanic material that can be
mixed with portland cement (which
immobilizes the metals) to make a
marketable blended-cement product
for use in the concrete and construc-
tion industries;
Recycled/Recyclable
printed with Soy(Canola Ink on paper thai
contains aMeast 50% recycled fibor
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A solvent-extraction process followed
by solidification/stabilization using
Portland cement as the binding agent.
Operating at temperatures of 38-60°
C, this process resulted in a 90%
average reduction in organic
concentrations. Potential uses of the
resulting soil-like material include
construction fill, landfill cover, mine
reclamation, and capping of
brownfields and Superfund sites;
Stand-alone solidification/stabiliza-
tion using portland cement. This
process serves to immobilize con-
taminants. Potential uses of the
resulting soil-like material include
construction fill, landfill cover, mine
reclamation, and capping of
brownfields and Superfund sites;
A thermal vitrification process using
a plasma melter. At temperatures of
1,316-1,371°C, the vitrification
process resulted in a 99.9% reduction
in organic and 63% reduction in
metal concentrations. The end
product is a glass-like material that
contains the immobilized metals.
This material could be used as
construction aggregate or roadfill
material, or could undergo further
processing to make glass-fiber or
glass-tile products;
Manufactured soil production
followed by phytoremediation. The
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Waterways Experiment Station, has
developed methods for producing
manufactured soil from untreated
sediment by mixing it with a cellu-
lose material (such as wood chips,
saw dust, or yard waste compost),
cow manure, and lime and fertilizer,
as needed. Commercial vendors are
devising manufactured soil technolo-
gies using decontaminated material.
Phytoremediation was used to reduce
contaminant concentrations in both
metals and organics. The suitability
of the soil for growth of different
plant species was tested for tomato,
marigold, rye grass, and vinca, and it
was found that the soil is most
suitable for the growth of rye grass.
The potential beneficial use is to
serve as a topsoil layer supporting
vegetative cover for landfill
closure, mine reclamation, and
capping of brownfields and
Superfund sites;
• A sediment washing process using
biodegradable surfactants, chelating
agents, and oxidation. During tests,
concentrations of metals and organics
were reduced by approximately 90%
in silts, clays, and sands. The treated
material, which has the consistency
and appearance of sediment, can be
used to make a manufactured soil
product to be used in agriculture,
horticulture, forestry, parks and
recreation areas, and habitat creation.
The testing program led to development
of a treatment train that included both
low- and high-temperature technologies
capable of treating dredged material with
different levels of contamination (Figure
1). Each process of the treatment train
has a beneficial re-use component
necessary to offset the cost of processing.
Findings indicate that improved methods
for removal efficiencies of inorganics are
important for future technology
improvements.
During 1998-1999, the Port program
will involve a 15,000-ydJ demonstra-
tion of an advanced sediment washing
process producing manufactured soil as
a beneficial re-use, and a 10,000 yd3
demonstration of a thermochemical
process using a portable rotary kiln to
manufacture a blended cement. Addi-
tionally, the plasma torch technology will
undergo a marketability study using 1,000
pounds of vitrified dredged material. This
work will lead to full-scale operation of
these technologies, each capable of
decontaminating at least 100,000 yd3 per
year, by the year 2000.
On a parallel effort, in 1998, the New
Jersey Department of the Treasury and the
Office of New Jersey Maritime Resources
will demonstrate new and innovative
decontamination technologies capable of
producing a marketable end product at a
full-scale (500,000 ydVyear) cost of no
more than $35/yd3. For more
information, contact Eric Stern (EPA-
Region 2) at 212-637-3806 or e-mail
stern.eric @ epamail.epa.gov.
Figure 1. Plans for Large-Scale Decontamination Facilities
Lower Contamination
Low Temperature
Higher Contamination
High Temperature
Manufactured
Soil
Start
Sediment
Washing
Rotary Kiln
Plasma Torch
FY96
Bench-Scale
Tests
1
Pilot
Demonstration
__._.!
1
500-30,000 yd3
Demonstration
Bench-Scale
Tests
Bench-Scale
Tests
1
Pilot
Demonstration
1
Bench-Scale
Tests
I
Pilot
Demonstration
L
^
To
" " 1 r
500-20,000 yd3
Demonstration
10,000 ydVyear
Demonstration
at Existing Facility
100 ton
Blass Manufacturing
Demonstration
Fu
r
•iay
we
FY97
FY98
FY99
FYOO
Finish
FY01
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Bioremediation of
Michigan PCB-
Contaminated Soils via
Composting
by Frederick C. Michel, Jr., Ph.D.,
and C.A. Reddy, Ph.D., Department
of Microbiology and NSF-Center
forMicrobial Ecology, Michigan
State University
The Michigan Department of Environ-
mental Quality sponsored a project at the
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Center for Microbial Ecology at Michigan
State University (MSU) to evaluate
composting strategies that could be used
for the effective large-scale
bioremediation of soils contaminated with
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in
Michigan. The site selected for the work
is the former Consolidated Packaging
Corporation (CPC) facility near Monroe,
MI. Paper sludge covers much of this 97-
acre site, and PCB (Arochlor 1242,
average = 4.1 Cl/biphenyl) concentrations
range from 10 to 290 ppm.
The use of composting for the
bioremediation of organic contaminants
such as TNT, pesticides, petroleum, and
other pollutants is growing rapidly in the
U.S. Composting often is less costly than
incineration, and may generate top-soil
for site restoration. Few investigations on
the effectiveness of composting in
degrading recalcitrant pollutants such as
PCBs, however, have been reported.
A treatment pad was constructed at the
CPC site and approximately 100 yd3 of
the PCB-contaminated paper sludge was
excavated for use as a feedstock in
composting experiments. [Aerial and
process photos are shown in the Internet
version of this newsletter.] The soil has a
PCB concentration of 51± 21 ppm
(Arochlor 1242), a moisture content of
65%, bulk density of 1,380 lbs/yd3,
carbon content of 26%, carbonmitrogen
ratio of 50, and pH of 6.7.
The contaminated soil was mixed with an
amendment composed of various levels of
yard trimmings (1:1:1 leaves:grass:brush)
and a shredder was used to mix the ;
composts. The effect of amendment level
on PCB degradation was determined;
Environmental parameters such as
temperature, oxygen content, and organic
matter loss were used to monitor micro-
bial activity involved in the PCB '•
degradation. These experiments showed
that as little as 10% amendment (by \
weight) led to the generation of
composting temperatures greater than 50°
C (an increase of 30° C from starting1
temperature). Little temperature change
or oxygen uptake was observed in control
piles containing soil alone.
PCBs exist in the environment as mix-
tures of congeners (single chemical :
compounds), with each congener contain-
ing different numbers of chlorine ;
substituents on the biphenyl molecule.
Direct organic extraction and congener-
specific analysis were used to measure the
relative rate and degradability of PCB
congeners in the composted soil. Initial
results indicated that PCB degradation
can be accelerated by composting. A
significant correlation between the level
of amendment added to the contaminated
soil and the overall PCB loss during
composting was observed (Figure 2)..
Congener analysis indicated that less'
chlorinated PCB congeners (1-3 , . ,
chlorines) were readily degraded, while
more highly chlorinated congeners :
appeared to be less degradable. Overall,
the extent of PCB degradation was less
than that observed for pesticides (such as
2,4-D and Diazinon) and TNT in previous
studies of soil bioremediation via
composting.
To improve the extent of PCB !
degradation, a number of strategies are
being examined. Terpene compounds,
recently have been shown to activate
microbiatl metabolic pathways involved
in PCB biodegradation. In one set qf
experiments, the effect of terpene-rich
amendments (pine needles and mint
leaves) on PCB biodegradation is being
tested. Another approach being tested at
Figure 2. Effect of Amendment Addition
on the Extent of PCB Degradation during
Composting, (r—correlation coefficient)
MSU is inoculation of the contaminated
soil with the white-rot fungus
Phanerochaete chrysosporium and other
ligninolytic basidiomycetes (wood-
degrading fungi), including two novel
soil basidiomycetes. Laboratory studies
indicate that P. chrysosporium non-
specifically degrades even highly
chlorinated PCBs such as Aroclor 1260.
MSU scientists also are studying the
relative degradability of aged versus
freshly-added PCBs, and the effect of
multiple composting cycles.
For further information, contact Frederick
C. Michel, Jr., Ph.D., (MSU) at 517-353-
8534 or e-mail michel@pilot.msu.edu, or
C.A. Reddy, Ph.D., (MSU) at 517-355-
6499 or e-mail reddy@pilot.msu.edu.
International Cleanup Pilot
Studies
Proceedings of a North Atlantic Treaty
Organization Committee on the
Challenges of Modern Society (NATO/
CCMS) conference held February 22-23,
1998, are now available. NATO/CCMS
Pilot Study on Evaluation of
Demonstrated and Emerging
Technologies for the Treatment of
Contaminated Land and Groundwater
(Phase III) 1998 Annual Report (EPA
542-R-98-002) contains national status
reports from 18 countries on hazardous
waste remediation, abstracts of 15
demonstration pilots accepted for Phase
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Ill, and contacts for participating
countries. Also available is a compan-
ion document entitled Treatment Walls
and Permeable Reactive Barriers,
which summarizes a special session
held during the February conference on
the construction of permeable reactive
barriers, reactive media, and related
case studies (EPA 542-R-98-003).
During the NATO/CCMS conference,
four case studies nominated by the U.S.
were accepted for the Phase in pilot
study:
• Treatability of enhanced in situ
anaerobic dechlorination sponsored
by the U.S. Air Force at five locations
across the country;
• Permeable reactive barriers for in
situ treatment of chlorinated solvents
constructed by the U.S. Air Force at
Dover Air Force Base, DE;
• Dynamic underground stripping by
the U.S. Department of Energy at a
pole yard in Visalia, CA [for more
Information, see the June 1998 issue
of Ground Water Currents on the
World Wide Web at www.clu-
in.com]; and
• Phytoremediation of chlorinated
solvents conducted jointly by the
EPA and the U.S. Air Force at three
Superfund sites.
A final report on Phase H of the NATO/
CCMS pilot studies providing a short
description of each of the more than 50
projects involved in the NATO/CCMS
study, characterization of the projects,
and related recommendations was issued
in three volumes in June 1998 (EPA 542-
R-98-001). The Phas** nr ""^eedings,
special session, an!""* "torts may
be viewed or dowm .1 the World
Wide Web at www.clu-i, om/intup.htm,
or obtained from EPA's National Center
for Environmental Publications and
Information at 513-489-8190.
Permeable Reactive
Barrier Installation
Profiles Now Available
Profiles on permeable reactive barriers
(PRBs) were recently compiled to
develop a comprehensive reference source
on completed and ongoing pilot- and full-
scale PRB demonstrations, as well as
full-scale PRB installations. The
Permeable Reactive Barriers Action Team
of the interagency Remediation
Tech Trends is on the NET!
View or download it from CLU-IN at:
WWW site: http://clu-in.com
ftp site: ftp://clu-in.com
Tech Trends welcomes readers' comments and
contributions. Address correspondence to:
Tech Trends,
8601 Georgia Avenue, Suite 500
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Fax: 301-589-8487
Technologies Development Forum
(RTDF) sponsored development of the
initial profiles, which are located on the
World Wide Web at www.rtdf.org/
barriers.htm, and will be updating and
adding new profiles as information
becomes available! Intended to provide
potential users of PRB technology with
information for making more informed
decisions, the profiles contain data such
as site name, location, and characteristics;
PRB reactive media, construction types,
and costs; and points of contacts for
further information.
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5102G)
EPA 542-N-98-007
August 1998
Issue No. 30
EPA TECH TRENDS
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