&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
April 1982
El nvironmental
E
R
U
Capability
mergency
esponse
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SEFA
E
E
R
U
nvironmental
mergency
esponse
nit
Capability
April 1982
Top photo - Mobile Physical-Chemical Treatment Trailer, nicknamed the "Blue Magoo",
see page 12 for further information.
Bottom photo - Mobile Incineration System, see page 18 for further information.
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Disclaimer
Mention of trade names or commercial products in
this brochure does not constitute endorsement or
recommendation for use by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency.
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Contents
Introduction iv
Currently Available Equiprnent
Acoustic Emission Monitoring Device 1
Carbon Adsorption Pilot Plant : 2
Cyclic Colorimeter 3
Foam Dike System 4
Hazardous Material Detection Kit 5
Hazardous Material Identification Kit 6
Hazardous Materials Spill Warning System 7
Mobile Decontamination Station for Field Personnel 8
Mobile Field Office 9
Mobile Flocculation-Sedimentation System 10
Mobile Laboratory 11
Mobile Physical-Chemical Treatment Trailers 12
Mobile Stream Diversion System 13
Multipurpose Gelling Agent 14
Pesticide Detection Apparatus 15
Portable Collection Bag System 16
Equipment Under Development
In-Situ Containment/Treatment System 17
Mobile Incineration System 18
Mobile Independent Physical-Chemical (IPC)
Wastewater Treatment System 19
Mobile Reverse Osmosis Treatment System 20
Mobile System for Detoxification/Regeneration of
Spent Activated Carbon 21
Mobile System for Extracting Spilled Hazardous
Materials from Soil 22
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Introduction
The Environmental Emergency Response Unit
(EERU) is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's
(EPA) hazardous material spill response and control
organization for situations where the use of complex
cleanup equipment and techniques are required.
EERU is engaged in the shakedown and field
demonstration of prototypical equipment and
techniques that have been developed under the
direction and sponsorship of EPA's Municipal
Environmental Research Laboratory (MERL).
The concept of EERU involves a cooperative
effort among spill response research personnel at
MERL's Oil and Hazardous Materials Spills Branch in
Edison, NJ, EPA's Environmental Response Team
and operational personnel (of the Hazardous
Response Support Division, Washington, DC), and
contractor personnel, to provide the most effective
use of the technologies under development. EPA
efforts through EERU include the use of government
owned equipment during emergency response and
hazardous waste site cleanup activities, as well as
the operation of a pilot plant facility and a mobile
analytical chemical laboratory.
During the past several years, the Environmental
Emergency Response Unit has supported EPA
Regional and Headquarters personnel at a variety of
emergency incidents involving contamination of
groundwater, surface waters, and potable water
supplies by spills of hazardous materials and oils, as
well as at emergency responses to uncontrolled
chemical waste sites.
The cooperative effort between EPA and
contractor personnel enables EERU to bridge the gap
between "research" and "commercially usable"
equipment. This effort is intended to inspire
enterprising commercial development and
application of spill control and cleanup technology.
For further information on EERU activities and
capabilities, contact:
James J. Yezzi, Jr.
Oil & Hazardous Materials Spills Branch
Municipal Environmental Research Laboratory-Ci
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Edison, NJ 08837
or:
Telephone: (201) 321-6703 FTS: 340-6703
J. Stephen Dorrler, Chief
Environmental Response Team
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Edison, NJ 08837
Telephone: (201) 321-6740 FTS: 340-6740
IV
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CURRENTLY AVAILABLE EQUIPMENT
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Acoustic Emission
Monitoring Device
Recently, Federal, state and local government
agencies have become concerned by the existence of
hundreds of thousands of diked areas containing
hazardous materials. Earthen-dam waste ponds in the
U.S. can be found at numerous industrial facilities and
chemical waste disposal sites. Many of these
impoundments are unstable and, with slight over
stressing (such as from heavy rains), may collapse and
spill their contents into the environment with potentially
drastic consequences. In order to prevent such
occurrences, simple monitoring/warning techniques
are needed to evaluate the stability of earthen dams,
locate the site of instability, and detect/locate seepage.
An Acoustic Emission Monitoring Device has been
developed to provide early warning of potential failure of
earthen dams containing hazardous materials (EPA
Grant No. R-802511). The technique is based on the
detection of noises that are generated by interparticle
movement. The intensity and frequency of these sounds
- acoustic emissions — has been correlated with stress
level for many soils and, therefore, can be used to
indicate stability of dam structures.
The components of the monitoring device include
metal wave guides, an accelerometer, an amplifier, and a
display system counter. The electronic components are
battery operated. Acoustical emissions are transmitted
to the surface through waveguides driven into the
impoundment walls. These sounds are converted to
electrical analogues, amplified, and recorded for
analysis. The counter responds to those signals above a
preset threshold level and records the rate of signal
generation.
The portable, easy-to-use Acoustic Emission
Monitoring Device can be operated periodically or
continuously. The system is inexpensive and requires
little maintenance because only the wave guides must
be left at the site for periodic monitoring. Commercially
available acoustic emission systems are being used to
ascertain and monitor the structural integrity of
numerous surface impoundments. On a number of
occasions, these monitoring devices have provided
adequate warning of earthen dam collapse. Acoustic
emission monitoring has been used for industrial waste
impoundments and dams that range in size from 1.8m (6
ft) to 45.7m (150ft) high and 6.1 m (20 ft) to 10 km (6 mi)
long Further discussions of acoustic emissions
monitoring may be found in an EPA Technology
'transfer report. EPA-625/2-79-024.
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Carbon Adsorption
Pilot Plant
Granular activated carbon (GAC) can be used to
remove most organic chemicals from water to generally
acceptable levels at a reasonable cost. Prior to initiating
full-scale granular carbon treatment in the field, pilot-
scale column tests may be performed to evaluate
feasibility and cost effectiveness. Pilot-scale tests are
also useful for establishing optimum operating
conditions in a timely manner.
Several GAC pilot-scale systems and a testing area
have been constructed at the Edison facility by EERU;
portable as well as fixed based systems are available.
Treatability studies are conducted on contaminated
samples from spill sites and uncontrolled hazardous
waste dumps. During these studies, the following
parameters may be evaluated in order to establish
specific operating conditions: flow rate, contact time,
pressure drop, bed depth, pH, temperature, and
backwash requirements.
One pilot-scale unit consists of 4 glass columns
(7.62 cm [3 in] i.d., 122 cm [4 ft] high) mounted on a
portable rack. Influent and effluent solutions are stored
in sealed 2,270 I (600 gal) tanks. Influent flows through a
closed system to final disposal. An automatic system is
used for unattended sampling for periods as long as 24
hours. Sampling is controlled by a microcomputer, and
samples are collected/stored in a nitrogen-blanketed
refrigerator. Prior to discharge, all effluent is passed
through a 475-cm (15-ft) carbon column.
The pilot-scale test area is constructed to ensure
safety of operating personnel. Individual safety
equipment—disposable splash-resistant coveralls,
rubber boots, gloves, full-face respirators—is used. Fire
extinguishers, an emergency shower, and eye-wash
equipment are available in the pilot-plant area.
Pilot-scale systems have been used to assess the
treatability of chemical waste solutions and
contaminated leachate from uncontrolled hazardous
dumpsites at Niagara Falls and Oswego, New York. The
pilot system has also been used to evaluate full-scale
carbon treatment for cleanup of gasoline and mixed
chemical spills. In addition, detailed adsorption studies
have been conducted on phenol, m-cresol, and
quinoline.
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Cyclic Colorimeter
When a spill of hazardous materials occurs, rapid
detection and identification of the amount and extent of
contamination is imperative. Prompt sensing not only
permits cost-effective treatment of concentrated
materials, but also enables prompt response to the
incident, which reduces the length of exposure of plants
and animals, including humans, to spilled hazardous
substances.
Often, the reporting of a spill depends on
notification either by persons responsible for the
situation or by untrained observers who, by chance,
notice changes in the environment. In areas with a high
probability of spillage, such as harbors and rivers in
industrial locations, the use of an automatic spill
detection alarm system for heavy metals may be an
effective monitoring approach. In order to minimize the
costs of the system, it should be capable of reacting to a
wide spectrum of heavy metal, pollutants. The system
should require little maintenance and should be
resistant to the variable and hostile environments in
which it may be located (e.g., sewers, contaminated
waterways). The field monitoring equipment should
provide both qualitative and semi-quantitative
information about the spilled materials.
The Cyclic Colorimeter (developed under EPA
Contract Nos. 68-03-0110 and 68-03-0287) may be
useful for field monitoring of heavy metal spills. It
incorporates hydraulic, optical, and electronic
components that are designed for the automatic
detection of most heavy metal pollutants. When an
indicator, sodium sulfide, is injected dropwise into a
sample stream, the presence of a heavy metal
contaminant causes cyclic variations in optical
transmittance at the indicator injection frequency.
These variations are detected by a lamp and photocell,
coupled to an electronic subsystem, which produces
either a quantitative indication of the pollutant or an
alarm when a threshold level is exceeded.
The Cyclic Colorimeter is capable of detecting low
levels of many heavy metals in water of widely varying
temperatures. The detector maintains adequate
sensitivity for a period of about two weeks without
maintenance. Scale buildup and stream turbidity do not
affect its performance.
The Cyclic Colorimeter is now commercially
available. Instrument design specifications and
descriptions of laboratory and field tests are included in
the final report, EPA-600/2-79-064.
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Foam Dike System
When a spill occurs during the transportation of
hazardous substances by land vehicles, the immediate
problem is to prevent the materials from entering
adjacent land and water systems. Unless spills can be
controlled at their source, damage to the water
ecosystem may be extensive.
Frequently, spilled hazardous chemicals can be
controlled at the site of the accident by the construction
of dikes or diversionary barriers until complete cleanup
can be accomplished. Although natural barriers and
depressions can be used to divert spills, not all surface
materials are amenable to the formation of dikes. In the
latter case, structures made from synthetic materials
can be used to envelop or divert the flow of spilled
liquids. Such diking materials should be resistant to
chemical attack, nontoxic, disposable, and
nonflammable or fire retardant. Under EPA Contract
Nos. 68-01-0100 and 68-03-0206, two materials were
identified as possessing the aforementioned
requirements: polymer foam and foamed inorganic
materials.
The polymer Foam Dike System, incorporating
polyurethanes and a portable dispensing unit, provides
a rapid response method for enveloping or diverting the
flow of many spilled hazardous chemicals. The
commercially available portable unit weighs less than
18 kg (40 Ib) and has two pressurized tanks that can
deliver approximately 0.3 m3 (10 ft3) of foam (with an
expansion of 25:1) at a rate of approximately 0.03
mVmin (1 cfm). The rigid foam can effectively contain or
divert chemical spills, including: water-based liquids
except strong acids, nonpolar organics, chlorine, and
ammonia. Polyurethane foam is effective on dry hard
surfaces (concrete or asphalt), but provides only limited
control on dirt, gravel, or vegetated ground.
Larger-sized, commercially available units are
capable of generating approximately 2 m3 (65 ft3)
of foam, which provides sufficient material to construct
a barrierO.3 m (1 ft) high byO.Sm (1 ft) wide by 6m (20ft)
in diameter, which would impound approximately 7,600
I (2,000 gal). The foam is also effective in sealing sewer
openings and storm drains.
An alternate diking system, utilizing foamed, fast
setting (2-3 sec) concrete is available. Mixtures of
foamed concrete (approximate density 640 kg/m3 [40
Ib/ft3]) and sodium silicate can be used to form a gelled
structure with sufficient strength to build a dike in
excess of 0.6 m (2 ft) high. Barrier strength is a function
of water/cement ratio, temperature, and type of cement.
The foamed concrete can be applied over large
areas on most surfaces. On-site use of foamed concrete
typically requires the following: a mixer for blending a
cement-water slurry, a slurry pump, a foam generator, a
storage tank, a nozzle, and a sodium silicate solution.
The portable polymer Foam Dike System is
frequently used by firefighters and other first-on-scene
personnel to control the flow of spilled hazardous
substances. Additional information on foam diking
systems is contained in the EPA final reports, EPA-R2-
73-185 and EPA-600/2-77-162.
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Hazardous Materials
Detection Kit
Over 3,000 spills of hazardous polluting materials
(other than oil) enter the waterways of the United States
each year. These spills often result from accidental
releases of hazardous materials during in-plant
operations and storage, as well as from accidents that
occur during transport by barge, tank truck, railway tank
car, and pipeline. Additionally, large amounts of
pollutants reach rivers, streams, and lakes from
agricultural use of chemicals.
Effective response to a spill frequently requires the
ability to detect hazardous materials in waterways. In
order to facilitate rapid detection, a Hazardous Materials
Spills Detection Kit for performing non-specific tests
with a broad response to many contaminants has been
developed (IAG-D4-0546). The kit is designed for use at
spills when the identity of thecontaminant isknownand
the important consideration is tracing the spill plume
until countermeasures can be taken.
The Hazardous Materials Detection Kit can be
carried by one person and is versatile enough to be
modified for special applications. 11 contains a pH meter,
conductivity meter, spectrophotometer, filter assembly,
effervescent jar, miniature chromatographic columns,
enzyme "tickets", and data sheets. The instrument
components are battery-powered forfield use, although
the spectrophotometer and conductivity meter can be
modified for 120- or 240-V a.c. operation using the
adapter and cable that are provided. The kit has all the
necessary instrumentation, equipment, and reagents
that may be needed by a field investigator to detect and
trace contaminants in waterways.
Hazardous Materials Detection Kits, which are
commercially available, have been used during
emergency responses to hazardous materials spills.
Additional information about the kits may be found in
the EPA report, EPA-600/2-78-055.
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Hazardous Materials
Identification Kit
During the response to hazardous chemical spills
and uncontrolled hazardous waste sites, the identity of
contaminants is often unknown. Compact, portable
analytical equipment for rapid pollutant identification
is critical to effect efficient emergency response
activities. However, nearly 300 materials are classified
as hazardous substances by EPA (Federal Register, 16
February 1979), and a field kit capable of rapidly and
accurately identifying each of these substances would
be too unwieldly to be practical. Thus, thirty-six
representative hazardous materials (toxic metals,
anions, organic compounds) were selected and a field
kit was designed to identify these and related
substances (IAG-D6-0096).
The identification (ID) kit consists of two major
components: (1) an inverter/shortwave UV lamp unit for
photochemical and thermal reactions and (2) a package
with reagents and auxiliary equipment, including test
papers, detector tubes, spray reagents, spot test
supplies, and thin-layer chromatography apparatus.
Equipment to facilitate the recovery of contaminants
from water and soil is also included. The field
identification kit contains detailed operating
instructions and data cards for each of the 36
representative hazardous substances.
Identification of groups of contaminants, rather
than quantification of specific substances, is the
intended use of the identification kit. The ID kit can be
used in conjunction with the Hazardous Materials
Detection Kit, which contains a pH meter,
spectrophotometer, conductivity meter, and other
analytical equipment. Utilization of both kits can
improve identification capability, particularly for
inorganic materials. For example, cyanide and fluoride
cannot be distinguished by the ID kit alone; however,
when the kits are used concurrently, identification
becomes possible.
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Hazardous Materials
Spill Warning System
When natural and energy resources are extracted,
processed, converted, and used, accidental discharges
occur that impact our environment and may threaten the
public health and welfare. EPA's OHMS Branch is
committed to spill prevention and the development of
methods to rapidly detect accidental discharges of
hazardous substances in waterways before extensive
damage occurs. Rapid detection of spillsand immediate
notification of response personnel will facilitate
initiation of appropriate pollution abatement measures.
An in-stream system capable of detecting a variety
of spilled hazardous materials has been developed
(EPA Contract No. 68-03-2080). The integrated,
operational components of the spill alarm system are
housed in an air-conditioned 8.2-m (27-ft) automotive
trailer for increased mobility. The system operates
continuously at an unattended station, without
maintenance, for a period of 14 days. A submersible
pump in the watercourse supplies uninterrupted water
samples to three instrument consoles in the trailer.
The instrument consoles contain the following: (1)
pH, electrical conductivity, and oxidation-reduction
potential sensors for the detection of acids and bases,
ionic compounds, and oxidizing and reducing
substances, respectively, (2) a total organic carbon
analyzer with a built-in recorder for the detection of
organic compounds, (3) a differential ultraviolet
absorptimeter for the detection of aromatic compounds,
and (4) a control console with strip chart recorders.
The strip chart recorder channel for each detection
component has a built-in alarm circuit, the response
level of which can be pre-set. When an alarm condition is
detected, several automatic and simultaneous events
occur: (1) the chart recorders, which run at a rate of 1.3
cm/h (0.5 in/h) under normal conditions, speed up to 15
cm/h (6 in/h) to record additional detail, (2) a grab
sample is collected in a 3.8-I (1-gal) sample bottle, and
(3) if the system is in an untended state, a telephone
dialer is activated and will transmit a recorded message
to any pre-selected telephone station.
The spill warning system has been successfully
demonstrated in the laboratory and in the field.
Recently, it has been used to monitor discharges from
uncontrolled hazardous waste disposal sites.
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Mobile
Decontamination Station
For Field Personnel
To prevent undesirable spreading of
contamination from hazardous chemical site
operations, a mobile decontamination trailer has
been developed.
This 12.2-m (40-ft) trailer has been outfitted to
provide on-site safety support for emergency
response personnel. The unit is placed at the
boundary of a cleanup site and all personnel are
required to pass through it when entering and leaving
the site. The trailer is divided into three
compartments: (1) a "clean room" with 12 lockers for
street clothing, (2) a 3-stall shower room, and (3) a
"dirty room" with 12 lockers for work clothing. The
dirty room includes a container for soiled garments,
and a clothes washer and dryer.
The decontamination station has an on-board
water system, a hot water heater, and a holding tank
for used water. Fittings have been provided to enable
connection to commercial water and sewer systems.
Contaminated water is processed before discharge.
Heat, ventilation, lighting, and air conditioning are
provided in the mobile station. However, power must
be obtained from outside sources.
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Mobile Field Office
In accordance with provisions of the National
Contingency Plan, a Federal On-Scene Coordinator
(OSC) is designated by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency or U.S. Coast Guard to direct Federal
cleanup operations during the response to accidental
releases of hazardous materials, as well as oil spills. The
OSC has final responsibility for all activities at the site,
including: (1) assessing the environmental damage, (2)
determining the most suitable cleanup techniques, and
(3) ensuring the safety of those living near the impacted
areas, as well as of those participating in the cleanup.
The OSC maintains close contact with primary and
advisory agencies, local agencies, and elected officials.
He issues bulletins on a regular basis to the public
through the media and keeps complete records for
subsequent evaluation by Federal and state agencies.
In order to carry out these activities, the OSC
requires a base of operations convenient to the
impacted site. Accordingly, a 10.7-m (35-ft) trailer,
which can be transported by either a pickup truck or
tractor, has been outfitted by EERU. The mobile office
contains communications and support facilities
including: telephone, electric power, water lines,
running water, sanitary facilities, a shower for
emergency decontamination of personnel, heat, air
conditioning, and safety equipment.
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Mobile
Flocculation-Sedimentation
System
When contaminated wastewater contains high
levels of suspended solids, single stage treatment
techniques, such as carbon contact processes, are
not practical because the suspended solids may
interfere with efficient utilization of the adsorption
medium. Therefore, a system that can remove the
bulk of the suspended solids should be used to
pretreat the wastewater. A physical-chemical
treatment system capable of flocculation,
sedimentation, and filtration of suspended solids
from wastewater prior to the removal of hazardous
materials has been developed.
This mobile system is completely enclosed in a
12.2-m (40-ft) long van-type trailer. The major
components of the system are a pipe reactor,
chemical addition equipment, flocculation chambers,
an inclined tube settler, and a tri-media filter.
Chemicals, including powdered carbon, lime,
aluminum salts, iron salts, clays, polyelectrolytes,
acids, and bases can be introduced into the 170-m
(560-ft) long, looped pipe reactor at various locations.
Adsorbents, coagulants, and polyelectrolytes may be
added at the end of the pipe reactor, while pH-
adjusting chemicals may be introduced midway in the
system. Three positive displacement pumps are
provided to feed chemicals into the reactor, and
static mixers are located at each chemical addition
point to assure rapid and effective mixing.
After the wastewater is chemically treated in the
pipe reactor, it flows through gently agitated
flocculation chambers. Floe collects in a tube settler
and is discharged to a sludge collector. The final
treatment phase of the system is the tri-media filter,
which insures effective solids removal at the design
flow rate of 265 Ipm (70 gpm).
The original system, designed as a field
demonstration pilot plant, was used to evaluate the
efficiency of treating combined sewage and raw
municipal wastewater. The system was shown to be
highly effective for treating this wastewater.
Subsequent controlled field studies demonstrated
that the flocculation/sedimentation system is highly
effective for pretreating wastewater that is
contaminated with hazardous materials. Additional
information on the system is contained in the EPA
report, EPA-R2-73-149.
10
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Mobile Laboratory
As part of a continuing effort to provide prompt
emergency response to the uncontrolled release of oil
and hazardous materials, a Mobile Laboratory has
been developed. The Mobile Laboratory was designed
to provide analytical services during the cleanup of
hazardous materials at spill sites and uncontrolled
waste dumpsites. Decisions concernng cleanup
efforts are based upon identification of the
pollutants, their concentrations, and the physical
extent of contamination. Having analytical capability
at the site avoids delays inherent in shipping samples
to a central laboratory facility.
The Mobile Laboratory is constructed within a
10.7-m (35-ft) semitrailer equipped with a heating,
ventilating, and air conditioning system designed for
once-through air handling. In order to provide
optimum analytical services during environmental
emergency response episodes, and to assure an
analytical capability for virtually all organic and
inorganic hazardous substances (e.g., pesticides,
RGB's, heavy metals), the Mobile Laboratory contains
a broad range of instruments. These include: a gas
chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GS/MS), two gas
chromatographs equipped with flame ionization and
electron capture detectors, automatic samplers that
permit overnight operation, an atomic absorption
spectrometer with graphite furnace, infrared and
fluorescence spectrometers, an argon-plasma
emission spectrometer, and a total organic carbon
(TOC) analyzer. In order to permit two-way
communication with a central laboratory, the Mobile
Laboratory is equipped with an automated
telefascimile. Additionally, the laboratory has a
15-kW electric generator, running water, and all
necessary glassware, solvents, reagents, and
supporting equipment to allow fully independent
operation at remote field locations.
For reasons of safety, the laboratory is fitted with
a fume hood, vented solvent locker, explosion-proof
refrigerator, safety shower, eye wash station, fire
alarm, and fire extinguishers. Vented glove boxes are
available to permit safe handling of concentrated
hazardous waste samples. Protective equipment for
personnel includes full face mask respirators, self-
contained breathing apparatus, safety goggles,
gloves and disposable coveralls. Geiger counters are
used to detect the presence of nuclear radiation in
samples.
Since August 1977, the Mobile Laboratory has
been used to perform several thousand sample
analyses in a variety of emergency response
situations, including: pentachlorophenol in
groundwater and polychlorinated biphenyls, oil,
phenol, hexachlorocyclohexane, dichlorobenzene,
dichlorotoluene, and various pesticides at
uncontrolled hazardous waste disposal sites.
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Mobile
Physical-Chemical
Treatment Trailers
One effective approach to on-site cleanup of
hazardous material spills is the highly flexible, Mobile
Physical-Chemical Treatment Trailers developed
under EPA Contract No. 68-01-0099. Treatment units
are provided for flocculation, sedimentation,
filtration, and carbon adsorption. Contaminated
water is pumped into a settling tank where
flocculation and sedimentation occur. The clarified
fluid is passed through mixed-media filters before
entering the carbon adsorption columns. Sludge is
removed from the sedimentation tank and stored for
ultimate disposal. Treatment schemes can be varied
(i.e., each step in the process may be bypassed) to
facilitate the recovery of spilled materials. If required,
additional storage tanks are provided for filter
backwashing or temporary storage of unprocessed
materials.
Two Mobile Physical-Chemical Treatment
Trailers are maintained by EERU for operation at
hazardous materials spill sites. One system, mounted
on a 13.7-m (45-ft) trailer, incorporates three mixed-
media filters, three pressure carbon columns (which
may be used in parallel or in series), pumps, piping,
controls, and a 100-kW diesel generator. A support
trailer is equipped with additional pumps, fittings,
and several collapsible rubber tanks, which permit
the treatment trailer to be located up to 150-m (500-ft)
from the spill site. Contaminated water can be
processed at flow rates between 380 and 2,270 Ipm
(100 to 600 gpm).
A smaller unit is equipped with one mixed-media
filter and one pressure carbon column. This system is
mounted on a small trailer, which is transported by a
stake truck. Additional equipment, such as
collapsible tanks and gasoline engine pumps, is
carried on the truck. Contaminated water can be
processed at flow rates of 110 Ipm (30 gpm).
The Mobile Physical-Chemical Treatment
Trailers have been used by EERU during the past
several years. They have facilitated cleanup
operations at hazardous materials spill and
uncontrolled waste disposal sites. Response to these
situations included the treatment of complex
mixtures of industrial wastes. Development of the
physical-chemical treatment systems is described in
the EPA report, EPA-600/2-76-109.
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Mobile Stream
Diversion System
When small waterways are contaminated by
sudden discharges of insoluble sinking hazardous
materials, several pollution abatement options
exist—dredging, vacuuming, and isolation of the
impacted area. Dredging and vacuuming techniques
often lead to downstream spread of the contaminant
as a result of resuspension of bottom muds and silts.
Further, there are significant problems associated
with treatment of the water-sediment slurry produced
by the dredging.
Isolation is accomplished by damming the
stream above the impacted area and bypassing the
normal stream flow. This stream diversion technique
will permit the spill-impacted segment to dry, thus
facilitating cleanup (manually or with mechanical
earthmoving equipment). The problems of sediment
resuspension and treatment of large volumes of
contaminated dredge water are exchanged for the
requirements of pumping and piping to achieve the
bypass.
The decision to design and develop a Mobile
Stream Diversion System (MSDS), EPA Contract No.
68-03-2458, was predicated upon the following: (1)
considerable quantities of hazardous materials are
often spilled into inland waterbodies, (2)
approximately 85% of the stream miles in the U.S.
have moderate flow rates (i.e., roughly 0.28-m3/sec
[4,400-gpm]), and (3) nearly one-half of the EPA-
designated hazardous substances are either
insoluble sinkers or form insoluble precipitates on
contact with water.
The MSDS is a completely self-contained,
independent system that can maintain flow
continuity around an area undergoing
decontamination processing. The system was
designed to use standardized, readily
available/replaceable components and is easily
maintained. The major components of the system are
booster pumps, submersible pumps, generators, a
crane, and aluminum irrigation pipe with ancillary
fittings. Over level terrain the system is capable of
pumping 0.35-m3/sec (5,600-gpm) a distance of 0.3-km
(1,000-ft) and, if supplemental piping is provided,
0.09-m3/sec (1,425-gpm) for a distance of
approximately 11-km (36,000-ft).
To provide flexibility and reliability, the system
has been assembled as two totally independent units
mounted on trailers so that spills will be readily
accessible via state or interstate highways.
Components are fastened on the trailers so they can
be quickly unloaded for air shipment to more distant
locations. Once on site, the system can be assembled
and placed in operation by a crew of five in a matter of
hours. The MSDS has been recently used during an
emergency response to a spill episode that adversly
impacted a public water supply; use of the system
insured uninterrupted service to the affected
communities.
Additional information about the stream
diversion system may be found in the EPA report,
EPA-600/2-81-219.
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Multipurpose
Gelling Agent
Limiting the spread of hazardous liquid materials
after a spill is an important countermeasure that can
prevent chemical contaminants from further damaging
the environment. Immobilization of hazardous liquid
materials in order to (1) reduce the size of the affected
land area, (2) retard the percolation of toxic materials
through the subsoil and into the groundwater, and (3)
prevent chemicals from entering adjacent waterways is
a critical concern during an emergency spill response.
One method of preventing the spread of spilled
hazardous liquid materials is immobilization by means
of a gelling agent. Ideally, the gelling agent will
transform the liquids into a semi-solid material that can
be easily removed by mechanical means.
Multipurpose Gelling Agent (MGA), developed
under EPA Contract Nos. 68-01-0110 and 68-01-2093,
can immobilize many spilled hazardous liquids within
minutes. An optimum formulation—four organic
polymers and a fumed silica—requires a minimal
amount of gelling agent in order to immobilize a wide
variety of hazardous materials.
The system used to distribute the MGA is mounted
on a 4-m (13-ft) long utility trailer that can be
transported to a spill site. The auger-fed/pneumatic
conveyor system is driven by an air-cooled gasoline
engine and consists of a hopper that introduces the
MGA into a 5-cm (2-in) hose, through which it is
transported up to distances of 60 m (200 ft). The MGA
then flows through delivery nozzles at a rate of 5.4 kg
(12 lb)/min. The nozzles accurately direct the agent an
additional 6 m (20 ft). Approximately 1 kg (2 Ib) of MGA
can gel 10 I (2.6 gal) of spilled liquid.
Additional information about the gelling agent and
dispensing system may be found in the EPA final
reports, EPA-600/2-78-145 and EPA-600/2-77-151.
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Pesticide Detection
Apparatus
Spills or discharges of toxic pesticides in waterways
pose a serious threat to the aquatic environment and
municipal water supplies. With the increased use of
organophosphate pesticides, which are toxic at very low
levels, precautions are needed to reduce this threat.
Because of the stability of toxic organophosphate
pesticides under "normal" environmental conditions, it
is imperative to rapidly detect these hazardous
compounds.
Automatic systems have been developed to monitor
water for the presence of organophosphate and
carbamate insecticides. The principle used fordetecting
these cholinesterase-inhibiting toxic substances is
based upon: (1) the collection of enzyme inhibitors on
immobilized cholinesterase, (2) the chemical reaction of
immobilized cholinesterase with a substrate,
butyrlthiocholine esterase, in the presence of enzyme
inhibitors, and (3) the electrochemical monitoring of
substrate hydrolysis products.
CAM-1
The Cholinesterase Antagonist Monitor (CAM-1),
developed under EPA Contract No. 68-01-0038, is an
automatic pesticide detection instrument. CAM-1 is
intended to be used in a laboratory environment for
monitoring potable water supplies and effluents from
pesticide manufacturing facilities. An alarm signal is
produced when cholinesterase antagonists are detected
above a pre-set level.
CAM-4
The Cholinesterase Antagonist Monitor (CAM-4),
developed under EPA Contract No. 68-03-0299, is a
more rugged instrument that is designed for rapid
detection of toxic materials in a river, stream, or pond.
The portable apparatus can be used from alongside the
banks of a stream or from a boat. An operator is needed
to note the presence of enzyme inhibitors when the
baseline voltage increases 10 or more millivolts in one
sampling cycle, as indicated on the printout of a strip
chart recorder. The CAM-4 can operate
continuously—with little maintenance—for an 8-hour
period when using a 12-V automobile battery or a 110-V
a.c. power source.
A complete description of the pesticide detection
apparatus, including design specifications as well as
results of laboratory and field tests, may be found in the
following EPA reports: EPA-R2-72-010, EPA-600/2-77-
219, and EPA-600/2-80-033.
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Portable Collection
Bag System
Frequently, a first step in a hazardous material spill
response is containment of the spilled material (e.g., by
foam dikes or gelling agents). Emergency collection and
temporary storage of spilled hazardous materials is vital
for hazardous liquids that are temporarily impounded in
a diked area or sumped pool, or are leaking from a
damaged transportation vehicle.
A pre-packaged system for collection, containment,
and temporary storage of spilled hazardous materials in
a group of large, interconnected, flexible plastic bags
has been developed (EPA Contract No. 68-03-0206).
The system is mounted on a 1.2 - by 1.2-m (4 - by 4-ft)
reinforced plastic pallet fortransporting by pickuptruck
or van. Components include: a self-priming centrifugal
pump, two 15-m (50-ft) lengths of 5-cm (2-in) hose, and
four furled, self deploying plastic bags (a header with
three fingers) with a total capacity of 26,5001 (7,000 gal).
The collection bags are made of a puncture-resistant
plastic material that has sufficient mechanical strength
to be minimally affected by most hazardous substances
during short-term storage periods.
Two models of the Portable Collection Bag System
are currently available. One model is powered by an
explosion-resistant, gasoline engine and has a nominal
pumping rate of 300 Ipm (80 gpm). A single tank of fuel
provides 2 hours of pumping time, which is generally
sufficient to fill the bags. The other model, which is
explosion-proof, is battery-powered. It has a nominal
pumping rate of 200 Ipm (50 gpm) and will operate for 2
to 2'/2 hours without requiring a battery recharge.
An 8 - by 6-m (25 - by 20-ft) area is needed to
assemble the system. The collection bags must be
placed on level surfaces, or on inclines no greater than
30°, in order to prevent sliding as they are filled. Where
static electricity may build up, as with low conductivity
fluids, a cable should be used to ground the pump
chassis.
The Portable Collection Bag System has been
successfully used to contain materials from leaking tank
trucks. Details of the system, including operating
manuals for the battery-powered and gasoline-powered
models, are contained in EPA-600/2-77-162.
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EQUIPMENT UNDER DEVELOPMENT
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In-Situ
Containment/Treatment
System
When spills of hazardous materials contaminate
soils and threaten nearby surface water or underlying
groundwater, an effective method of preventing
percolation through the soil is needed. Excavation
and hauling of soil contaminated by hazardous
materials to a secure landfill is one solution.
However, this approach is not feasible for those spills
where a large volume of contaminated soil is
involved. An alternate approach is to flush the
contaminated soil with water; however, this
procedure generally requires large volumes of water,
which become contaminated and, subsequently,
must be contained and treated. An innovative,
alternative method for treating contaminated soils is
in-situ detoxification by chemical reaction.
A mobile In-Situ Containment/Treatment System
capable of containing a 40-m3 (10,000-gal) spill has
been developed under EPA Contract No. 68-03-2508.
The system is mounted on a 13.1-m (43-ft) drop deck
trailer and includes: a diesel electric generator, an air
compressor, mixing tanks, hoses, a solids feed
conveyor, pipe injectors, soil testing apparatus, and
accessory items. In-situ containment and treatment
is accomplished by direct injection of grouting
material into the soil around the contaminated area in
order to isolate the spill. The hazardous materials are
then treated in place by oxidation/reduction,
neutralization, or precipitation. When necessary,
contaminated water can be withdrawn from wet wells
and treated by other means.
A decision matrix has been prepared to
determine if in-situ grouting and chemical injection is
the most time and cost effective treatment for a
particular land spill. Several critical variables must be
considered: type of hazardous materials spilled,
interaction with soil, "groutability" of the soil
(permeability), void loading, geometry, water table
level, volume of contaminated soil, feasibility of an
alternate treatment method (such as excavation), and
availability of treatment material and equipment.
Grouting is limited to the relatively coarsed-grained
soils (sand and gravel) through which contaminants
can rapidly permeate. Where small-grained soils (silts
and clay) preclude the use of grouting techniques,
surface treatment of contaminated soil may be
effective.
Some chemicals are not amenable to in-place
detoxification. For example, long chain organics,
many pesticides, and heavy metals are relatively
insoluble in water and could not be treated using in-
situ, inorganic treatment techniques. However, they
may be contained by a grout curtain until alternate
pollution abatement measures are initiated.
The mobile In-Situ Containment/Treatment
System is currently undergoing shakedown by EERU.
Additional information is contained in the EPA
report, EPA-600/2-81-085.
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Mobile
Incineration System
Surveys by Federal, state, and local agencies
have revealed the presence of thousands of
abandoned or uncontrolled industrial waste dumpsite
throughout the country. Some sites contain
hazardous chemicals that present a severe threat to
public health and safety. Leachates containing toxic
chemicals threaten contamination of adjacent water
supplies, while noxious vapors released from these
sites often comprise the air quality surrounding
communities.
Many methods are being investigated to deal
with the problem of hazardous wastes. Several
include: incineration, deep well injection,
solidification, biological degradation, and disposal in
secured landfills. The OHMS Branch, of EPA's
Municipal Environmental Research Laboratory, is
currently evaluating the operating characteristics of a
15 million BTU per hour Mobile Incineration System
with fuel oil alone prior to undertaking an exhaustive
test plan with specific hazardous substances. The
unit will be capable of on-site thermal detoxification
of many hazardous materials, such as RGB's, kepone,
malathion, and TCDD. The basic system was
designed and the major parts fabricated and mounted
on three over-the-road trailers under EPA Contract No.
68-03-2515. Under EPA Contract No. 68-03-2647, much
of the basic piping and instrumentation was laid out
and installed at the OHMS Branch facility.
Subsequently, under EPA Contract No. 68-03-3069,
the system was shaken down, suitably modified and
operated with fuel oil.
The system is mounted on three over-the-road
semitrailers. The first trailer carries a refractory-lined
rotary kiln incinerator that provides long dwell times,
high temperature, and a choice of operating modes
(controlled atmosphere and excess air). Solid wastes
are fed to the incinerator by a hydraulic ram feed,
while pumpable sludges and liquids are injected
directly into the incinerator. Residual ash, consisting
of inert materials and metal residues, are collected
for disposal at an appropriate landfill facility. Exhaust
gases carry vaproized and partially combusted toxic
components into the excess air secondary
combustion chamber (SCC) that is mounted on a
second trailer. Off-gases from the SCC are water-
quenched in a ground-level venturi scrubber before
passing to the third trailer on which are mounted a
wetted fiber glass filter to remove residual
particulates including phosphorus pentoxide, a
caustic sprayed packed mass transfer unit to remove
acid gases (HCI and SO2 for example), a demister, an
induced draft fan, a sound attenuator, and the stack.
The system is maintained under negative pressure to
prevent out-leakage. Sophisticated instrumentation
for monitoring temperature, flow, and the levels of
process gases and vapors are mounted in a fourth
trailer. A complex system of automatic interlocks and
alarms is provided to ensure that the system shuts
down should it fail to meet permit requirements.
Permitting requirements further mandate that
detailed analysis of all waste streams—stack gas,
processing fluids, and ash—be carried out on a
scheduled basis.
Design processing rates, with 20% excess air,
are 284-I (75-gal) of contaminated fuel oil per hour, or
4,050-kg (9,000-lb) of contaminated dry sand per hour,
or 675-kg (1,500-lb) of water per hour. (An additional
90.8-I [24-gal]) per hour of "clean" fuel is required for
the SCC). Nomographs are available for estimating
the throughput of mixtures; these depend on fuel
value, bulk and gas volume of the combustion
products, and inert N2.
The incineration system will require several
support trailers to supply fuel and water, as well as
physical-chemical treatment equipment for spent
process water. Separate systems are needed for site
preparation, feed stock handling, and ash removal.
Analytical facilities are essential to identify waste
materials, prepare feed stock, and monitor all
discharges from the system. Additional trailers
provide office space and clothes change/shower
facilities. A PCB trial burn of the incinerator by EERU
is scheduled during 1982.
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Mobile Independent
Physical-Chemical (IPC)
Wastewater Treatment
System
Emergency response personnel at hazardous
materials spills and uncontrolled waste-site cleanups
are frequently faced with the problem of selecting
effective treatment methods for large volumes of
complex wastes. When the cleanup is expected to last
over an extended time period, wastewater treatment can
be both cost and labor intensive. Treatment of the
contaminated wastewater in a timely and cost effective
manner can be facilitated by a flexible, automated
system that is capable of providing several types of
treatment (e.g., clarification, filtration, adsorption,
neutralization, disinfection).
The Mobile Independent Physical-Chemical (IPC)
Wastewater Treatment System utilizes standard
equipment and conventional process flow schemes.
Wastewater is pumped at a rate of 130 Ipm (35 gpm) from
the wastewater source to a flash mix tank where
coagulant is added. Chemically treated wastewater and
recycled sludge (from the clarifier) are then mixed in a
flocculation tank and settleable floe is formed. The
wastewater then flows to a clarifier, where precipitation
and skimming of solids are accomplished. Removal of
settled sludge from the clarifier is aided by a slowly
rotating rake. A timer-controlled valve regulates the
recycling and/or wasting of sludge. Clarified
wastewater flows over V-notched weirs to a
neutralization mix tank, where it is treated with acid or
caustic to adjust the pH. The wastewater then enters a
two stage — upflow and downflow — granular carbon
contact system for removal of organic materials. Next,
the flow enters a pressure sand filter priorto disinfection
in a chlorine contact tank.
After the neutralization mix tank, the IPC system is
designed to enable flexible treatment schemes. For
example, (1) flow can be directed to the sand filter prior
to the granular carbon contact system or (2) additional
treatment stages can be added between the
neutralization mix tank and the chlorine contact tank.
The Mobile Independent Physical-Chemical (IPC)
Wastewater Treatment System has been developed and
is currently undergoing modification by EERU. This
system is ideally suited for long term cleanup activities
that may require several months of effort. Once it has
been set up, the IPC system requires only minimal
operator time for chemical replenishment, sludge
disposal, and periodic maintenance.
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Mobile Reverse Osmosis
Treatment System
Conventional physical-chemical treatment systems
(e.g., activated carbon, ion exchange) for hazardous
materials can accommodate dilute aqueous solutions
(several hundred to several thousand ppm). However,
when a solution of hazardous material approaches a
concentration range greater than 1%, many of these
physical-chemical treatment systems are not as
effective. An existing technology that can be used to
efficiently separate some constituents of concentrated
solutions (> 10,000 ppm) is reverse osmosis.
Osmosis, a natural phenomenon, results when a
dilute liquid and a concentrated liquid are separated by
a semipermeable, selective membrane. For example,
fresh, pure water will diffuse through such a membrane
into a salt water solution. When pressure is applied to
the salt water, water molecules from the saline solution
will be forced through the membrane into the fresh
water—reverse osmosis (RO). The "selective"
permeability of the membrane will act as a barrier to the
passage of salt molecules.
The heart of the reverse osmosis process is the
membrane. Although many membrane materials have
been studied, cellulose acetate—one of the earliest
materials considered—is the most commonly used.
Commercially available membranes can hold back all
but a few percent of the salt molecules in water. In
addition, these membranes have been found to retain
other impurities, including various organic materials,
high molecular weight substances, bacteria, and
viruses. More specifically, experimental work has shown
that RO is capable of removing from dilute solution
better than 99% of most pesticides and chlorinated
hydrocarbons and is also effective for removing
relatively low molecular weight, polar organic
compounds.
A Mobile Reverse Osmosis Treatment System is
currently under construction for EERU. This system,
which was originally designed as a pilot plant to test the
feasibility of treating acid mine wastewater, is being
modified for field use at incidents involving
concentrated solutions of hazardous materials (e.g.,
leachate from uncontrolled hazardous waste sites).
The reverse osmosis treatment process under
development will separate the influent waste into two
streams: (1) a "purified" stream that can be further
treated, if necessary, or directly discharged to the
environment, and (2) a concentrated waste stream that
will be greatly reduced in volume, thereby facilitating
further processing and/or ultimate disposal.
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Mobile System For
Detoxification/Regeneration
of Spent
Activated Carbon
A commonly used and generally effective method
for removing many dissolved hazardous organic
substances from aqueous solutions is adsorption by
activated carbon. During the treatment process the
activated carbon can become contaminated with
relatively high concentrations of hazardous organic
material. When the carbon reaches its adsorptive limit, it
must be disposed in an approved manner or thermally
regenerated. However, in some instances, toxicity of the
pollutant is such that transportation of the exhausted
carbon to a secure landfill or to a commercial
detoxification/regeneration facility is not acceptable.
In order to provide a safe and effective method for
Tandling contaminated carbon, the OHMS Branch has
developed a mobile unit for detoxifying/regenerating
contaminated carbon at the cleanup site. The mobile
detoxification/regeneration system, mounted on a
13.7-m (45-ft) long semitrailer, is equipped with a rotary
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Mobile System For
Extracting Spilled
Hazardous Materials
From Soil
Landborne spills of hazardous materials that
percolate through the soil pose a serious threat to
groundwater. Effective response to such incidents
should include the means for removing the
contaminants and restoring the soil to its original
condition. Currently practiced techniques, such as
excavation with transfer to a landfill or flushing with
water in-situ are beset with difficulties — large land
area and volume of materials involved. An innovative
In-Situ Containment/Treatment System, previously
described, has been developed to treat contaminated
soils. However, it is not suitable for all soils and/or all
chemicals. Another novel treatment system is
currently under development (EPA Contract No.
68-03-2696).
A mobile treatment system has been designed
for water extracation of a broad range of hazardous
materials from spill-contaminated soils. The system
will: (1) treat excavated contaminated soils, (2) return
the treated soil to the site, (3) separate the extracted
hazardous materials from the washing fluid for
further processing and/or disposal, and (4)
decontaminate process fluids before recirculation, or
final disposal. A demonstration model will be
developed utilizing conventional equipment for
screening, size reduction, washing, and dewatering of
the soil. The washing fluid — water — may contain
additives, such as acids, alkalies, detergents, and
selected organic solvents to enhance soil
decontamination. The nominal processing rate will be
3.2-m3 (4-yd3) of contaminated soil per hour when the
soil particles are primarily less than 2-mm in size and
up to 14.4-m3 (18-yd3) per hour for soil of larger average
particle size.
The soil scrubbing system, currently undergoing
laboratory evaluation, is expected to be available in
1982.
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