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Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
26 West Martin Luther King Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45268
Phone (513)569-7601
FAX (513)569-7787
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 5, Librerv 'pl " ''']
77 VYr-tf J'.c!., • ",2th Floor
Orf- ;, ll. '••' .'•-
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RREL
Risk Reduction
Engineering
Laboratory
Mission
Advance the understanding,
development, and application of
engineering solutions for the
prevention and, reduction of
risks from environmental con-
tamination
WHWTRD
Division Description:
The Water and Hazardous Waste
Treatment Research Division
(WHWTRD) is one of four operat-
ing Divisions within the Risk
Reduction Engineering Laboratory
(RREL). Through its three
Branches, WHWTRD conducts a
program of multimedia research,
development, and demonstration
of treatment technologies and
related waste management
strategies to control hazardous,
toxic, and other pollutants. The
WHWTRD program is carried out
through a variety of mechanisms
including: in-house research;
cooperative agreements with
Printed on Recycled Paper
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colleges, universities, and not-for-
profit organizations; contracts with
environmental consultants and
profit-making companies and
Interagency agreements with other
federal entities (e.g., USDA, DOE,
Bureau of Mines). More recently,
WHWTRD has been negotiating
Cooperative Research and
Development Agreements
(CRDAs) with the private sector
under the Federal Technology
Transfer Act of 1986.
Division Director:
Subhas K. Sikdar, Ph.D.
(513)569-7528
Technical Assistant:
Jonathan G. Herrmann
(513)569-7839
RREL/WHWTRD
Biosystems Branch:
The Biosystems Branch is
responsible for research, develop-
ment, testing, and evaluation of
biological treatment systems for
controlling pollutants in air
emissions, wastewaters, sludges,
sediments, and soils. The
Biosystems program stresses the
scientific understanding of
biotreatment for organically-
contaminated soils at Superfund
sites. It also includes research on
bioremediation of oil spills, and
biotreatment of hazardous wastes.
Future research activities will be
oriented toward improving
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engineered systems for delivery of
biotreatment materials and
biologically separating and
recycling metals contained in
contaminated water, soil, and
sediments. The ultimate aim of this
work will be the practical, large-
scale application of biological
treatment systems in the field.
Branch Chief:
Dolloff (Fred) Bishop
(513) 569-7629
Section Chiefs:
Richard Brenner
(513) 569-7657
Richard Dobbs, Ph.D.
(513) 569-7649
RREL/WHWTRD
Physical/Chemical Systems
Branch:
The Physical/Chemical Systems
Branch is responsible for re-
search, development, testing, and
evaluation of physical and
chemical treatment systems for air
emissions, wastewaters (both
municipal and hazardous),
sludges, sediments and soils. The
Physical/Chemical program
currently stresses development
and testing of innovative technolo-
gies for treating pollutants from all
of the above waste streams
Future research activities will be
oriented toward the fundamental
understanding and development of
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improved systems for the manage-
ment of municipal wastewaters,
urban stormwater, and particularly
difficult-to-treat wastes (e.g.,
mercury, arsenic, complex
mixtures of organics and
inorganics) Of particular interest
are large volume wastes (e.g.,
contaminated sediments, mining
wastes). The ultimate aim of this
work will be the practical, large-
scale application of innovative
physical/chemical management
and treatment systems in the field.
Branch Chief:
Carl Brunner, Ph.D.
(513) 569-7655
Section Chiefs:
James Heidman, Ph.D.
(513) 569-7632
Guy Simes (Acting)
(513) 569-7845
RREL/WHWTRD
Toxics Control Branch:
The Toxics Control Branch is
responsible for research, develop-
ment, testing, and evaluation of
treatment systems and control
options for pesticides, industrial
wastewaters, asbestos, and lead.
The Toxics Control program
currently stresses development
and testing of innovative technolo-
gies for managing asbestos and
lead in urban areas. Future
research activities will be oriented
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toward the fundamental under-
standing and development of
improved systems for the manage-
ment of both concentrated and
dilute industrial waste streams.
The ultimate aim of this work will
be the practical, large-scale
application of innovative manage-
ment and treatment systems in the
field.
Branch Chief:
Roger Wilmoth
(513) 569-7509
Section Chiefs:
Glenn Shaul
(513)569-7408
Bruce Hollett
(513)569-7654
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WHWTRD
Key Research Areas
Oil Spills - Following the Exxon Valdez
oil spill in Prince William Sound in
1989, staff from WHWTRD tested
a number of nutrients and nutrient
combinations to evaluate their
effectiveness in facilitating the
degradation of oil that had washed
ashore. Since then, researchers from
the Biosystems Branch have been
investigating the ability of various
commercially-available bioremediation
products for controlling acutely toxic
components and the efficacy of these
products in various spill scenarios. The
fate of the longer term toxic components
during the bioremediation process is
also being evaluated.
Toxicity Reduction Evaluations (TREs) -
The Toxicity Reduction Evaluation
(TRE) Protocol for municipal wastewater
treatment plants was developed by the
Biosystems Branch staff in the 1980s,
The TRE Protocol provides a systematic
framework for conducting TREs using
bioassay endpoints and has been field-
tested at a number of publicly-owned
treatment works. Currently, work is
underway to evaluate long-term, chronic
bioassays for identifying specific
toxicants and assessing their carcino-
genic effects in fish.
Biosystems for Aqueous Hazardous
Wastes - Many aqueous industrial
wastes and leachates from contami-
nated sites contain hazardous compo-
nents that vary widely in composition
and strength. Biosystems to destroy
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these hazardous components include
granular-activated-carbon (GAG)
assisted anaerobic treatment, GAG
assisted aerobic treatment, and anaero-
bic/aerobic biotreatment. The
Biosystems Branch is stressing novel
reactor configurations to biodegrade
these hazardous and often recalcitrant
aqueous wastes and innovative ap-
proaches to control or eliminate inhibi-
tory effects of the hazardous wastes on
microbial activity.
Fungal Treatment i Researchers with the
Biosystems Branch and the U. S.
Department of Agriculture are investigat-
ing the abilities of lignin-degrading fungi
to detoxify organic hazardous wastes.
Efforts have focused on the treatment of
pentachlorophencl and other organic
chemicals associated with the wood
preserving industry. The development
of this technology has proceeded
through a methodical investigation
of growth requirements of the fungi
and the pilot-scale testing of fungal
treatment in soil to determine the
conversion of pollutants to non-toxic
end products. A field-scale
evaluation of the technology is
underway.
Engineered Biosystems for Soils and
Sediments - The practical engi-
neering problems associated with
field-scale implementation of
bioremediation technologies are
being evaluated. Biological
treatment systems of interest
include, bioslurry reactors,
composting, and land treatment
applications. In situ biological
treatment techniques such as
bioventing are also under evalua-
tion. WHWTRD is working with
another RREL Branch, and other
organizations to test various
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delivery systems for in situ biological
treatment
Air Biof ilter Treatment - The emission
of volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) from various industrial and
municipal sources poses a risk to
human health. The Biosystems
Branch, in cooperation with the
University of Cincinnati, has
developed improved gas-phase
biofilters that rapidly and efficiently
remove VOCs from air streams.
Research on ways to improve the
operation and reliability of these
biofilters is ongoing at RREL
facilities. Technology transfer will
be undertaken with the private
sector and other government
agencies to accelerate the use of
the technology.
Constructed Wetlands - Constructed
wetlands offer several potential
advantages for the treatment of a
wide variety of wastewaters.
However, many questions concern-
ing their design, operation, and
performance remain. The con-
structed wetlands research
program involves three
activities: (1) performance
monitoring at operating full-
scale constructed wetlands, (2)
pilot-scale investigations
constructed wetlands at
Tennessee Technological
University, and (3) performance
evaluations of small subsurface
flow wetlands for individual
homes.
Contaminated Sediments - A
research program was initiated
in 1991 by the Physical/
Chemical Systems Branch to
investigate and evaluate cost-
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70
effective techniques for
managing contaminated
sediments. Preliminary efforts
are aimed at in situ techniques
for isolating or treating the
contaminated sediments.
Separation techniques that
reduce the volume of sediment
to be treated, and biological
treatment of contaminated
sediments in Confined Disposal
Facilities are also being
investigated. A large-scale
engineering investigation using
ore mining and beneficiation
techniques is being monitored
by Physical/Chemical Systems
Branch staff, and talks are
underway with the U. S.
Department of Interior's Bureau
of Mines (BOM) to cooperate
on research where BOM
mineral processing techniques
might be employed to mitigate
the problems of contaminated
sediments.
Base-Catalyzed Dehalogenation -
Many chlorinated organic
products of commerce are
toxic, and because of past
practices, these products are
found at high concentrations in
the environment. In response
to this problem, Physical/
Chemical Systems Branch
researchers have developed
and patented a treatment
technology called base-
catalyzed dehalogenation
(BCD). BCD removes chlorine
from chlorinated organic
wastes such as polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs) and pesti-
cides, thereby eliminating the
waste's persistence and
toxicity. Applications include
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treatment of contaminated
soils, contaminated oils from
the electrical industry, and
obsolete stocks of chlorinated
chemicals
Urban Runoff - Included in urban
runoff are stormwater and
combined sewer overflows.
Past research has focused
primarily on end-of-the-pipe
control. Some of the remaining
questions include the value of
pollution prevention or best
management practices (BMPs)
for control of urban runoff,
possibilities for combined flood
and pollution control, and the
impact of these discharges on
receiving waters. An effort was
begun in 1991 to identify and
provide a methodology for
controlling improper cross
connections to separate storm
sewers. Another effort has
been recently undertaken to
characterize the runoff from
specific land uses such as
industrial sites, roads, parking
lots, and homes.
Difficult-to-Treat Wastes - Over
the past five years, the
Physical/Chemical Systems
Branch has supported the
Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(OSWER) with technical
performance data on various
Best Demonstrated Available
Technologies (BOAT) for
treating RCRA hazardous and
Superfund wastes. The bulk of
this regulatory support effort is
completed. However, wastes that
are difficult-to-treat are still being
produced by various industries,
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and are also present at Supertund
sites due to past disposal prac-
tices. In response to this need for
effective technologies for difficult-
to-treat wastes, Physical/Chemical
Systems Branch staff have
initiated a research program to
identify existing techniques; or
develop, test, and evaluate new
techniques for such pollutants as
lead, mercury, and arsenic. The
first phase of this effort was
experts' workshops on mercury
and arsenic to identify effective
waste managementtechniques;
from pollution prevention, through
recovery, recycle, reuse, treat-
ment, and containment.
Electee-kinetic Processes - Contami-
nated soils and industrial wastewa-
ters often contain charged
contaminants such as dissolved
heavy metals. A research
program' has been initiated in the
Physical/Chemical Systems
Branch to study the use of
electrokinetic processes in the
remediation of contaminated soils
and the recovery of charged
pollutants from aqueous waste
streams. Electrokinetics is
composed of three phenomena
(i.e., electroosmosis, electrophore-
sis, and electrolysis) related to the
response of charged molecules or
particles to an applied voltage
gradient. Among these phenom-
ena, electoosmosis and electroly-
sis are of particular interest.
Electroosmosis, the movement of
soil pore fluid from one electrode
to another, can be utilized to
remediate contaminated soils in
situ by flushing out the pore fluid
and contaminants and can be
applied to soils containing charged
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as well as uncharged contami-
nants. Electrolysis, the movement
of aqueous ions and ion-com-
plexes, can be used to recover
contaminants from soil as well as
to separate heavy metals from
wastewater.
TRI Estimation Improvement - The
Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) is a
unique resource, envisioned from
the outset as a way to provide
publicly available data that could
be used as a catalyst for pollution
prevention activities at the
community, state, and federal
levels. A significant portion of the
TRI data is based on estimations
rather than measurements;
therefore, it is critical that the
estimates be as accurate as
possible. Research to improve
estimation techniques for difficult-
to-estimate processes is the focus
of activity in this area. This
research effort will stress coopera-
tion with industry and industrial
trade associations to: (1) identify
processes and operations needing
estimation-accuracy improvement,
and (2) develop the improved
estimation techniques.
Separations for Wastes - Separation
technologies (e.g., membranes,
adsorption/absorption, stripping,
extraction) have been receiving
increased research and develop-
ment funding from both industry
and government. The application
of separation technologies as end-
of-pipe treatment is being replaced
by the application of these
technologies at up-stream
process points to segregate
pollutants before treatment and
final discharge. New and innova-
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tive applications of separation
technologies are being researched
by the Toxics Control Branch in
cooperation with industry. Current
projects include determining the
use of separation technologies
within key industrial classifications,
investigating membrane processes
for treatment of oil and gas
production waters, and evaluating
sorption, membrane, and oxidation
processes for treatment of
pesticide wastewaters.
Lead Paint Abatement - Lead from
peeling house paint is a harmful
toxicant, particularly to children. In
response to this ever increasing
concern about lead in the home,
the Toxics Control Branch
researchers have initiated a
program to reduce children's
exposure to lead. Although
resources for this effort are quite
limited, TCB staff are developing a
Cooperative Research and
Development Agreement (CRDA)
with a company that uses dry ice
(i.e., frozen CO2) particle blasting
to remove paint from aircraft.
Modifications to the existing
equipment are being developed in
order to address various situations
not encountered in aircraft paint
stripping. Also, efforts are
underway to locate a site for a field
test of the modified technology.
Asbestos - Asbestos has been used
for decades as a preferred, even
mandatory, insulation and fire
protection material in structures.
Serious health effects may result
from inhalation of fine, micro-
scopic, durable asbestos fibers.
The Toxics Control Branch has
been working for a number of
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years to reduce the risk to the
public from asbestos exposure.
Current research is emphasizing
management-m-place and controls
during operation and maintenance
activities to minimize exposure.
Research in the future will be
focused on the conversion of
asbestos wastes to less toxic
forms and the evaluation of man-
made fibers, which are increas-
ingly being called into question.
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WHWTRD
Key Research Area
Contacts
Biosystems Branch
Oil Spills
Albert Venosa
(513)569-7668
Toxicity Reduction Evaluations
(TREs)
Richard Dobbs
(513)569-7649
Biosystems for Aqueous Hazardous
Wastes
Richard Brenner
(513)569-7657
Fungal Treatment
John Glaser
(513)569-7568
Engineered Biosystems for Soils
and Sediments
Gregory Sayles
(513)569-7607
Air Biotliter Treatment
Fred Bishop
(513)569-7629
Physical/Chemical Systems
Branch
Constructed Wetlands
Donald Brown
(513)569-7630 17
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Contaminated Sediments
Dennis Timberiake
(513/)569-7547
Base-Catalyzed Dehalogenation
Charles Rogers
(513)569-7626
Urban Runoff
Richard Field
(908)321-6674
Difficult-to-Treat Wastes
Ronald Turner
(513)569-7775
Electrokinetic Processes
Leland Vane
(513) 569-7799
T&E Facility
Frank Evans
(513)684-2621
Toxics Control Branch
TRI Estimation Improvement
Glenn Shaul
(513)569-7408
Separations for Wastes
Thomas Holdsworth
(513)569-7675
Lead Paint Abatement
John Burckle
(513)569-7506
Asbestos
Bruce Hollett
(513)569-7654
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RREL Treatability Database
Thomas Holdsworth
(513)569-7675
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WHWTRD
Research Facilities
Andrew W. Breidenbach
Environmental Research Center
(AWBERC): AWBERC houses
several research organizations
reporting to EPA's Office of
Research and Development. The
Risk Reduction Engineering
Laboratory (RREL), of which
WHWTRD is one division, is
headquartered at AWBERC.
WHWTRD operates 30 laboratory
modules in AWBERC investigating
proof-of-concept, bench-scale, and
small pilot-scale technologies for
treating various wastes of interest.
The Electron Microscopy Labora-
tory, operated by the Toxics
Control Branch, but offering
services to all of AWBERC, is
located on the third floor. Labora-
tories for investigating biological,
physical, and chemical technolo-
gies are located on the fourth and
seventh floors.
Test & Evaluation Facility (T&E
Facility): The T&E Facility is a
RCRA-permitted, research and
development pilot plant in which
new technologies for treating
hazardous, municipal and indus-
trial wastes are evaluated. The
T&E Facility is a two-story building
containing 24,000 square feet of
high-bay space. It is located on
the grounds of the Metropolitan
Sewer District of Cincinnati and is
designed to allow testing and
evaluation of a broad spectrum of
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technology for waste treatment
at the bench and pilot scale. The
T&E Facility is available to non-
EPA organizations if the research
proposed supports the mission of
RREL.
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WHWTRD
Products
RREL Treatability Database:
The RREL Treatability Data Base
was designed to provide a
thorough review of the effective-
ness of proven treatment technolo-
gies in the removal and/or
destruction of chemicals in various
media such as municipal and
industrial wastewater, drinking
water, groundwater, soil, debris,
sludge, and sediments. Version
4.0 of the data base was released
in February 1992, and contains
1166 chemical compounds and
over 9200 sets of treatability data.
The data base has been devel-
oped using Dbase III Plus and
compiled using Clipper. It is
designed to operate on an IBM or
IBM compatible (MS DOS)
personal computer and is menu
driven. The data base has the
following hard- and software
requirements:
• 8 megabyte hard disk
storage
• 640 K RAM memory
• DOS Version 2.0 and 3.3 or
higher
• 12 pitch printer
The data base is currently
available free of charge. Copies
can be obtained by mailing or
faxing your request to the address
that appears below. Please
specify the type of program
diskette required for your computer
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(i.e., 3.5" high density or 5.25" high
density).
WHWTRD Fact Sheets: Fact Sheets
on all of the aforementioned Key
Research Areas can be obtained
by faxing a written request to the
attention of the Division Director -
WHWTRD, or by writing to the
following address:
Division Director - WHWTRD
(MS-497)
Risk Reduction Engineering
Laboratory
26 W. Martin Luther King Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45268
FAX NO. (513)569-7787
•fr US.GP.O.: 1992-750-002/6007
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