United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of
Research and Development
Washington DC 20460
EPA/600/M-91/043
July 1991
Vol.6
E P A ORD ENGINEERING
HIGHLIGHTS
A bi-monthly compilation of EPA's Office of Research and Development engineering research activities
and results and related research activities in pollution prevention and mitigation. To discuss any of these
activities, contact the ORD lead person listed below. For general information, contact Darlene Williams of
the Office of Technology Transfer and Regulatory Support, Phone : FTS 382-7891.
Hazardous Waste
SITE Demonstration ofSoilTech Remediation
RREL performed a SITE Demonstration of the SoilTech
"TACIUK" process being used to remediate the PCB
contaminated soils at Wide Beach, New York, on May 21,
1991. Wide Beach became contaminated when contaminated
oil was used on the roads to keep the dust down. A combined
treatment system of thermal desorption and dechlorination is
being used to volatilize and destroy the PCBs. The SITE
Demonstration objectives were to measure the effectiveness of
the combined processes; identify any toxic chemicals created
by the process, e.g., dioxin; and determine the importance of
the treatment mechanisms, e.g., volatilization, dechlorination,
and coking. Beginning in November 1991, the "TACIUK"
thermal desorber will be used to remediate the Waukegan
Harbor, Illinois, PCB site, without the dechlorination step. A
SITE Demonstration will be scheduled to allow further
comparison of the treatment mechanisms. (Paul R. de Percin,
RREL, FTS 684-7797)
Characterization and Treatment of Metal Finishing Wastes
A technical report was recently completed by RREL which
describes activities associated with characterizing and treating
metal-finishing wastes to support the EPA's development of
treatment standards for regulations restricting land disposal of
hazardous wastes. It includes information on the waste
generators' manufacturing and wastewater treatment plant
operations, chemical composition of the untreated wastes, and
performance data generated during bench and pilot-scale
testing.
The treatment technologies tested were alkaline chlorina-
tion, wet-air oxidation (WAO), ultraviolet light/ozonation
(UV/O3), electrolytic oxidation, stabilization/solidification (S/
S), and metals precipitation. WAO bench-scale and pilot-scale
tests indicated significant cyanide destruction; whereas, UV/
O3 provided partial cyanide destruction but essentially no iron
cyanide destruction. Cement proved to be the most effective S/
S binder for metals. (Ronald Turner, RREL, FTS 684-7775)
On-Site Waste Minimization Opportunity Assessment
The on-site assessment phase of a Waste Minimization
Opportunity Assessment (WMOA) of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC)
in Beltsville, Maryland, was conducted on May 7-10, 1991.
Process and facility data were collected on specific analytical
and sample preparation waste streams in the laboratories. Two
potential R&D laboratory opportunities for waste reduction
are the Kjeldahl reactors and High Pressure Liquid
Chromatography analytical equipment. The WMOA team
sought to identify source reduction options and techniques,
and is reviewing specific procedures used, range and number
of samples requiring analysis, and the procedural and
equipment changes that might result in source reduction.
Source reduction alternatives (i.e., acids, bases, and solvents)
of laboratory wastes are being studied relative to prescribed
laboratory safety and disposal procedures. It is also necessary
to consider waste reduction from procurement, management,
and general operating procedural changes at BARC. A draft
WMOA report and project summary will be available by
September 1, 1991, for review and comment. It is anticipated
that the final report will find broad application to USDA,
EPA, Department of Energy, and other similar research
facilities. (James S. Bridges, RREL, FTS 684-7683)
Steam Injection/Vacuum Extraction Demonstration
EPA and the Air Force are cooperating in steam
injection/vacuum extraction (SIVE) research by having EPA
evaluate a pilot-scale SIVE system installed by the Air Force
at the McClellan Air Force Base, in Sacramento, California.
On May 21,1991, a meeting was held between representatives
from RREL, EPA Region IX, McClellan Air Force Base,
California Department of Health Services, and EPA
contractors to: 1) finalize the sampling and analysis strategy
for collecting needed data, 2) define the extent of site
contamination and develop the SIVE process design, 3)
review the Phase I treatability results, and agree on the Phase
II treatability study objectives, and 4) obtain regulatory
agency agreement to the research plan. In early July, a SITE
Demonstration will begin the preliminary sampling with
solvent contaminated soil and fill material at the base. Further
pretreatment samples will be collected before the SIVE
process begins remediation. Because this process is in-situ, it
will be more than a year before samples can be collected to
determine the treatment effectiveness. (Paul R. de Percin,
RREL, FTS 684-7797)
Waste Reduction Testing at Printed Circuits Manufacturer
A technology evaluation under the EPA/Minnesota Waste
Reduction Innovative Technology Evaluation (WRITE)
Program was recently conducted in the Minneapolis area by a
flexible printed circuit manufacturer to determine the source
waste reducing potential of two technologies. The first
technology is an innovative polyvinyl alcohol sponge roller
Printed on Recycled Paper
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system used as replacement for standard hard rubber squeegee
rollers to reduce chromium drag out of a horizontal cleaning
unit; the second is a conductivity activated flow controller
installed on a tin lead plating line to reduce the rinsewater
waste stream. Samples will be analyzed and a report will be
available by December 1991. (Teresa Harten, RREL, FTS
684-7565)
EPA Mobile Laboratory Exchange
RREL and the Office of Emergency and Remedial
Response's Environmental Response Team (ERT) are
exchanging mobile laboratory facilities from June to
September 1991. ERT will use RREL's High Hazard Sample
Preparation Laboratory at a Superfund site in Louisiana to
analyze samples suspected of containing dioxin. ERT needed
to use the laboratory's special capabilities, which include a
personnel decontamination area with showers, lockers, and
toilet facilities; a sample preparation area with an
interconnected glove box-fume hood combination equipped
with safety alarms; and a single pass HVAC system that far
exceeds the ventilation performance criteria specified in 29
CFR Part 1910. The exhaust vent from the fume hood also
contains appropriate air pollution control devices, and operates
under a permit issued by the NJ Department of Environmental
Protection.
In exchange, RREL will use the ERT mobile laboratory
which wilt provide greater bench space to conduct treatability
tests and other small-scale extraction studies, a larger fume
hood and chemical storage area, and a fully equipped gas
chromatograph capable of analyzing a wide range of organic
compounds. A major future cooperative activity will be a
shared 6,500-square-foot treatability laboratory that is to be
constructed by the ERT. (Ray Frederick, RREL, FTS
340-6627)
Pilot-Scale Treatability Study on PCBs
Three incineration tests on sediments containing 500-20,000
ppm of PCBs were run successfully at the Incineration
Research Facility Rotary Kiln System in Jefferson, Arkansas.
The treatability study was planned to determine the
effectiveness of incineration for remediation of both solid and
liquid PCB-contaminated materials. In addition to the PCBs,
significant quantities of metals were also present in the
sediment. The fate of the metals and the destruction of the
organic material were the goals of this incineration test.
(Marta K. Richard, RREL, FTS 684-7783)
Emerging Technologies Proposals Selected
Thirteen technologies were chosen for development as
emerging technologies in the Superfund Innovative Technolo-
gy Evaluation (SITE) program. The selected technologies are
in the areas of thermal destruction, solidification/stabilization,
materials handling and mining, chemical, physical, and biolog-
ical treatment. The Department of Energy and the Air Force
will co-fund some of the projects. (Randy Parker, RREL, FTS
684-7271)
Ash Exposure Document Released
A pre-publication version of the ash exposure document
titled, "Methodology for Assessing Environmental Releases of
and Exposure to Municipal Solid Waste Combustor
Residuals", (i.e., ash) has been released. The purpose of the
document is to provide users with a methodology to assess the
potential exposure to ash from municipal solid waste
combustor (MSWC) facilities. Ash can be released to the
environment at any time from the point it is generated within
the facility to when it is disposed of in a landfill. This
document identifies and provides methods to quantify all such
releases. A comprehensive example is provided to
demonstrate this methodology on an organic and an inorganic
contaminant common in MSWC ash. This document also
provides citations and general guidance on how to assess the
subsequent exposure to these releases and their health impact.
(Michael Callahan, OHEA, FTS 475-8909)
Air
Joint Oil Field Emissions Testing
ORD and Office of Air and Radiation have identified the
need for methods for estimating VOC emissions from crude
oil and natural gas production fields. The American
Petroleum Institute (API) is interested in determining the level
of toxic emissions from these sources. AEERL is joining API's
test program by sponsoring tests for total VOC emissions and
for additional emission sources not covered by API. EPA and
API will share the emissions measurements data from the
entire program. (Larry G. Jones, AEERL, FTS 629-7716)
Savings by Replacing Petroleum with Hydrocarb Methanol
The Hydrocarb process under development by AEERL can
produce methanol using biomass or coal plus natural gas as
the reactants. Recent cost analyses indicate this new process
may eliminate the cost of volatile organic compounds and
ozone control in the transportation sector. Results indicate that
it is feasible that methanol can be produced for 19 cents/gallon
less than the equivalent gasoline price. If control of C02
emissions should become part of a national strategy to
mitigate global warming, the Hydrocarb process should be
capable of eliminating net C02 emissions from the
transportation sector at an incremental cost of about 14 cents
per gallon of gasoline displaced by methanol. The equivalent
cost per ton of C02 emission reduction is $15.4 which is
substantially less than the cost of most alternative C02 control
options. The external costs to society of petroleum use are not
currently accounted for in the price of those fuels. In 1989, the
minimum estimate of those external costs was $0.29 per
gallon of gasoline (the maximum estimate is ten times that
amount). An equally important aspect of this process is the
fact that it can utilize abundant domestic coal to produce clean
fuels for the transportation and utility sectors without a net
C02 emission to the atmosphere. (Robert Borgwardt, AEERL,
FTS 629-2336)
Support for Field Tests to Develop Refrigerant Recycling
Standard
The standard for recycled refrigerant from stationary
refrigeration systems now accepted by industry is the Air
Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) 700-88
standard. This standard is too stringent to allow pn-site
recycling of refrigerant. ARI is undertaking a project to
determine the contaminant types and levels in equipment of 3
to 6 years of age which has not required recharging of
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refrigerant in order to determine acceptable levels of
contaminants in operating systems. This effort will provide
information to base a relaxed standard that will permit on-site
recycling. AEERL will provide sampling and analysis from
ten categories of stationary refrigeration equipment to provide
data for a recycled refrigerant standard. AEERL's Quality
Assurance support to the project will ensure that the data
developed have a sound scientific basis and will make it more
useful for setting standards as required by the Clean Air Act
Amendments. (Dale L. Harmon, AEERL, FTS 629-2429)
Imtnunoaffinity Techniques Applied to Personal Exposure
Monitoring
Scientists at EMSL-LV have developed immunoaffinity
personal exposure monitors (PEMs) that can alert an
individual within minutes of potentially harmful exposures to
a pesticide or other chemical. The utility of immunoaffinity
based PEMs to detect pentachlorophenol (PCP) vapors at 1
ppb within IS minutes of exposure has been demonstrated.
This constitutes the first application of an immunochemical
technique to direct vapor sampling. The antibody-based
sampling device has the advantage of being compound
specific, thus will provide superior protection against
exposures to compounds of concern. EMSL plans to
undertake a rigorous series of field evaluations of these PEMs.
(Jeanette M. Van Emon, EMSL-LV, FTS 545-2154)
Improved Chamber for Estimating Biogenic Emissions
AEERL, in cooperation with Duke University, has initiated
an effort to develop improved emission estimates of
hydrocarbons from vegetation. An open top exposure chamber
is being modified to regulate air flow and monitor isoprene
and terpene emissions. Initial tests of emissions from loblolly
pine will determine if it is necessary to remove background
hydrocarbons from ambient air via carbon filtration. AEERL
will also evaluate multisorbent cartridge systems as opposed
to traditional measurement techniques. Natural hydrocarbons
are an important consideration in developing effective control
strategies for urban ozone. Results of this research could be a
factor in developing standards for volatile organic compound
emissions. In addition, the chamber will allow ORD to
develop more environmentally realistic emissions equations.
(Christopher D. Geron, AEERL, FTS 629-4639)
FIT A Agreement Signed for Research ofSOx/NOx Reduction
in Boilers
Through the Federal Technology Transfer Act, a
Cooperative Research and Development Agreement has been
signed between AEERL and Nalco Fuel Tech to investigate
combined technologies for S02/NOx reduction in utility and
industry boilers. AEERL and Nalco Fuel Tech will co-fund
research at the AEERL flue gas cleaning facilities that
investigate injection of a slurry containing a Ca-based sorbent
and NOx OUT, a urea-based solution. This combined
technology would be applicable to both new and retrofit
boilers and could have a significant role in meeting the
standards of the Clean Air Act Amendments. NOxOUT,
although appropriate as a low cost, stand-alone technology,
can be combined with burner and combustion modifications to
achieve NOx reductions similar to those of selective catalytic
reduction, yet several times more inexpensively. Sorbent
slurry injection is a low capital cost technology shown to
achieve 70 to 80% S02 removal at the pilot scale. (Brian K.
Gullett, AEERL, FTS 629-1534).
Soviet Wet-Bottom Utility Boiler Reburn
Plans are final for the demonstration of natural gas reburn
technology on a wet-bottom, coal-fired, 300 MW utility boiler.
A U.S. delegation, headed by Robert E. Hall, of AEERL,
spent four days at the Ladyzhin plant in the Soviet Union
where they inspected the No. 4 boiler, installed a TECO NOx
analyzer, and reviewed final drawings and plans for the boiler
modification. The Soviets agreed to add valves to reburn gas
lines for enhanced control of the rebum system and will
consider a request to increase the duct size in the superheater
area to improve boiler operation capability. The NOx analyzer
will be used to obtain baseline NOx data while firing coal,
natural gas, and combination of the two fuels. Once the boiler
is modified in late 1991 or early 1992 the analyzer will be
used to collect data while applying reburn technology for NOx
control. Data collected from this boiler will be useful for
regulation of NOx from U.S. wet-bottom boilers. The
technology may be applied to other boilers in the Soviet
Union. (Robert E. Hall, AEERL, FTS 629-2477)
Control of Indoor Radon Through Natural Ventilation
Natural ventilation studies in two New Jersey houses during
both the summer and winter seasons have demonstrated an
impressive potential for reducing indoor radon levels.
Simultaneous measurements of radon concentrations and
tracer gases concentrations allowed the effects of dilution by
infiltration and reduction in the rate of entry of radon into the
basements to be distinguished. While natural ventilation
increased the air exchange rate by about a factor of 2, the
radon concentration was reduced by a factor of five or six.
This approach could yield mitigation systems much lower in
purchase costs than active subslab depressurization (ASD).
However, the estimated increase in annual heating cost was
$225 which compares to a typical annual operating cost for an
ASD mitigation system of $150. (Ron Mosley, AEERL, FTS
629-7865)
ADVACATE Capable of Effective SO2 Control at Low Costs
The ADVACATE process is capable of greater than 90%
SO2 control at costs projected at less than half that of
conventional scrubber technology. Suitable for both new and
retrofited coal-fired utility/industrial boiler applications,
ADVACATE could play a significant role in meeting the
Phase II requirements of the Acid Rain Title included in the
1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. The Tennessee Valley
Authority (TVA), the nation's largest public utility, will
provide a host site and the major funding for a 10 megawatt
pilot evaluation of the process at their Shawnee Station in
Paducah, Kentucky, with testing scheduled to begin in
late-1991. Cost-sharing partners in this $4 million pilot
project are EPA, the Electric Power Research Institute, and
ABB Environmental Systems (an international supplier of air
pollution control systems which will license and market the
ADVACATE technology). TVA and ABB are preparing a
Clean Coal IV proposal to demonstrate the ADVACATE
process at the full commercial scale following the pilot testing.
If selected by DOE, demonstration results could be available
as early as mid-1995. In-house research supporting the pilot
testing and demonstration will continue at AEERL. (Michael
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A. Maxwell, AEERL, FTS 629-3091)
Radon Mitigation Testing Achieved in Difficult-to-Mitigate
Houses
Testing in six difficult-to-mitigate slab-on-grade houses in
New Mexico has demonstrated the ability to achieve indoor
radon levels below the current guideline of 4 pCi/L in such
houses using one to three-pipe sub-slab depressurization
systems. Four of these houses have consistently been reduced
to below 1 to 2 pCi/L, consistent with the ambient radon levels
required in the Indoor Radon Abatement ACL Researchers
believe the use of a developmental diagnostic technique,
"radon entry potential" approach, during sub-slab
depressurization system design, might have contributed to the
system's success. The results of these tests suggest effective
mitigation of these houses will not be significantly more
expensive than costs of mitigation for similar houses. (Bruce
Henschel, AEERL, FTS 629-4112)
EPA Recommends Ways for DOD to Minimize
Ozone-Depleting Chemicals
EPA is required by Congress to participate on an Advisory
Committee with the Department of Defense (DOD) and
industry to define ways in which DOD can eliminate its use of
ozone depleting compounds. AEERL assisted in writing the
proposed final draft of the report to Congress. The final report
will recommend specific actions that DOD can take. These
include administrative actions, a review of existing technology
alternatives that could be used, technology that may be
available in the near term, research and development
recommendations for mission critical uses, and technology
transfer from EPA and industry to DOD as well as within
DOD. (William J. Rhodes, AEERL, FTS 629-2853)
Woodstove Technology Achieves Reduction of Paniculate
Emissions
AEERL demonstrated a woodstove technology which
achieves a 100-fold reduction in paniculate emissions
compared to conventional stoves. This technology, directly
applied to a popular stove on the market, uses a small natural
gas or propane fueled pilot flame to sustain secondary
combustion under typical low bum conditions. As marketed,
the stove is certified to EPA's 1 paniculate emission standard.
The EPA-modified stove has an emission rate of only 0.15
g/hr as compared to conventional stove emissions of 24.3 g/hr.
At the same time, carbon monoxide emissions are reduced by
over 50%, from over lOOg/hr to less than 50 g/hr. When fully
developed, this technology is estimated to add approximately
5% to the purchase price of the stove. Gas to fuel the pilot is
estimated at around $0.3 per hour, or $2.25 per month for
natural gas and $4.50 per month for propane if used 100% of
the time. These costs would be partially offset by the
reduction in wood use due to (1) the increased efficiency of
the stove and (2) the heat output from the gas pilot This
technology offers communities across the country that are
heavily impacted by woodsmoke better than a 99% reduction
in woodsmoke and a 50% reduction in carbon monoxide.
(Robert C.McCrillis, AEERL, FTS 629-2733)
New Technology Destroys VOCs at Low Concentrations
AEERL researchers have designed and built a semi-pilot
scale corona reactor capable of handling 10 to 50 cfm to
evaluate the packed bed corona process. This process allows
for destruction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) even
at low concentrations. The destruction of VOC laden air is
characterized using barium titanate as the packing material
and an AC power supply. The performance of the semi-pilot
packed bed corona reactor will be evaluated on a wide range
of air toxics. These tests will support the development of
predictive mathematical models. The operation of the system
is computer automated. Electrical performance testing has
begun and initial tests have been successful. The semi-pilot
packed bed corona reactor will test destruction of low
concentration VOCs/HAPs. (Carlos M. Nunez, AEERL, FTS
629-1156)
Small-Chamber Testing Guide Developed by AEERL
The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
recently published the "Standard Guide for Small-Scale
Environmental Chamber Measurements of Organic
Emissions from Indoor Materials/Products" (ASTM Standard
D 5116-90). The guide describes the methods and
procedures for determining organic emissions rates from
indoor materials and products using small environmental test
chambers. The methods in the guide are based on procedures
developed by AEERL's Indoor Air Branch. Publication of
the guide by ASTM provides a common basis for testing
indoor sources. This will promote source testing by a broad
spectrum of IAQ interests, including manufacturers, builders,
architects, and researchers. The testing procedures provided
in the guide will encourage the production of low emitting
products and enhance the opportunities for consumers to
select products that will reduce their exposure to indoor air
pollutants. (Bruce A. Tichenor, AEERL, FTS 629-2991)
Water
EPA Develops Improved Anaerobic/Aerobic Process
RREL has developed an anaerobic/aerobic bioprocess for
improved treatment of CERCLA/RCRA leachates and listed
"RCRA industrial wastes" in industrial or municipal
wastewater treatment plants. The process has the potential of
serving as a basis for upgrading these plants to control most
specific toxicants (priority pollutants, etc.) and bioassay
toxicity. The two-sludge process includes an anaerobic,
contact-stabilization process followed by aerobic-activated
sludge for increased removal and degradation of organic
wastes including toxic organics. The anaerobic process uses
carbon-assisted, anaerobic treatment to remove 40-50% of
conventional organic wastes and most of the toxics before
aerobic treatment. The process is ready for pilot-scale testing
to evaluate the replacement requirements for the support
media (granular, activated carbon) used in the anaerobic stage
of the process. The process controls VOC emissions in the
aerobic (aeration) stage without installation of systems for
VOC capture and destruction. The combined
anaerobic/aerobic system can be installed into the existing
tankage space in activated sludge wastewater treatment plants
and potentially has operating costs similar to conventional
aerobic treatment. (Dolloff F. Bishop, RREL, FTS
684-7629)
•&U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: IWI - S48-028/400S7
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