United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Research and Development
EPA/600/SR-92/124 December 1992
EPA Project Summary
Air Emissions from the
Treatment of Soils Contaminated
with Petroleum Fuels and Other
Substances
Bart Eklund, Patrick Thompson, Adrienne Inglis, and Whitney Dulaney
This document summarizes available
information on air emissions from the
treatment of soils contaminated with
fuels. It is intended to guide state and
local air pollution control agencies in
the evaluation of the air emission po-
tential of treatment of contaminated soil
and the cost-effectiveness of applicable
emission control technologies. The
scope was limited to the emissions of
volatile organic compounds (VOCs);
however, due to the limited data that
were available, information was also
included for the emissions of other or-
ganic compounds. This additional in-
formation is primarily from the treat-
ment of soils contaminated with haz-
ardous wastes.
This Project Summary was developed
by EPA's Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory, Research Tri-
angle Park, NC, to announce key find-
ings of the research project that is fully
documented in a separate report of the
same title (see Project Report ordering
information at back).
Introduction
' Seven general approaches for the dis-
posal or treatment of soils contaminated
with gasoline, oil, or diesel fuel were iden-
tified:
Excavation and removal;
Thermal desorption;
Soil vapor extraction (SVE);
In-Situ biotreatment (e.g., land treat-
ment);
Ex-Situ (batch) biotreatment;
On-site incineration; and
Soil washing/solvent extraction.
Each general approach may include sev-
eral options. For example, thermal des-
orption may be performed in portable units
designed for soil treatment or in rotary
drum aggregate dryers that are part of
asphalt plants or other industrial facilities.
Literature pertaining to the emissions of
VOCs for each remediation approach was
identified and reviewed. The summarized
information was organized into the same
ten-part format for each approach:
Process description;
Identification of air emission points;
Identification of typical air emission
species of concern;
Summary of published air emissions
data;
Identification of applicable control
technologies;
Cost data for the overall remediation
approach;
Cost data for the emission controls;
Equations and models for estimating
VOC emissions;
Case study of the use of the
remediation approach; and
References.
For most of the technologies examined,
VOC emission estimates or measured data
were found. Emission factors, in grams
per hour, were identified or developed that
are based on available data as well as
assumed "typical" operating conditions for
Printed on Recycled Paper
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the remediation of relatively large sites.
Cost data, in dollars per ton or cubic yard
of soil treated, were obtained from a vari-
ety of sources, but data from prior to 1986
were generally avoided due to changes in
remediation technology, standard operat-
ing practices, and regulations in recent
years. All cost data were converted to
1991 dollars using a 5% annual escala-
tion factor.
Certain limitations of the data presented
in this document should be considered
before extrapolations are made to a spe-
cific site. Any generalized guidance has
inherent limitations due to the variety of
she- and process-specific factors that may
be encountered. Many of the cleanup
processes are emerging technologies and
have short operating histories. For these
technologies, data on air emissionsrtreat-
ment effectiveness, and costs are very
limited. Furthermore, each site has its
own unique obstacles to cleanup that may
force modifications to the cleanup hard-
ware or operating conditions. The devel-
opment of typical air emission rates and
emission factors applicable to the maxi-
mum number of site conditions and site
locations required assumptions regarding
the rate and scope of the cleanup effort,
the type of fuel being treated, the number
and nature of emission release points,
etc. The more a specific site differs from
the assumed conditions, the less likely
that the generalized air emissions data
will be applicable.
Data gaps were identified and future
research topics were suggested. In gen-
eral, only limited information was found
-for air-emissions-from-the-treatmant-of
contaminated soil. The need for more
data is greatest for emerging technologies
and those that are area sources of VOC
emissions. The general needs are for
more emissions data, more control cost
and effectiveness data, and accurate emis-
sion models. The most important research
needs that were identified during this study
were:
VOC emission rate data for excava-
tion;
Theoretical models to estimate VOC
emissions from excavation;
Cost and effectiveness'data of area
source emission controls; and
Fate studies for VOCs in biotreatment
systems.
B. Eklund, P. Thompson, A. Inglis, and W. Dulaneyare with Radian Corp. Austin,
TX 78720-1088.
Susan A. Thorneloe is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
The complete report, entitled "Air Emissions from the Treatment of Soils Contami-
nated with Petroleum Fuels and other Substances," (Order No. PB92- 212 976/
AS; Cost: $35.00; subject to change) will be available only from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
United States
Environmental Protection Agency
Center for Environmental Research Information
Cincinnati, OH 45268
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use
$300
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EPA
PERMIT No. G-35
EPA/600/SR-92/124
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