&EPA United States Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response Environmental Protection Office of Research and Development Agency Washington, DC 20460 August 1994 PROGRAM FACT SHEET Demonstration of the High Voltage Environmental Applications, Inc. High Voltage Electron Beam Technology THIS FACT SHEET TELLS YOU ABOUT I EPA's Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) Program I An EPA SITE Program demonstration of an innovative electron beam technology I A Technology Demonstration Day on September 23, 1994, at 10:00 a.m. at the Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina Introduction The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies new methods for hazardous waste cleanup through its Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) Program. Created in 1986, this program evaluates innovative treatment technologies that may significantly reduce the toxicity, mobility, or volume of hazardous waste. The SITE Program also generates performance, cost, and reliability information on the technologies that may be used to evaluate cleanup alternatives for similar sites. A technology to be demonstrated under EPA's SITE Program is the High Voltage Electron Beam (E-beam) technology, developed by High Voltage Environmental Applications, Inc. (HVEA), of Miami, Florida. One of the main objectives of the demonstration is to determine the technology's effectiveness in destroying volatile organic compounds (VOC) in groundwater at the Department of Energy (DOE) Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina. EPA's SITE Program Each year, EPA solicits proposals from private technology developers to demonstrate innovative technologies under he SITE Program. For each technology selected, EPA performs the following tasks, often with input from state and regional environmental protection agencies: Identifies a site with wastes suitable for demonstration of the technology Prepares a quality assurance project plan (QAPP) and a health and safety plan Prepares a fact sheet for the public Conducts the demonstration Organizes a Technology Demonstration Day for the public to view the technology Conducts and audits field sampling and laboratory analyses Evaluates technology performance and costs Summarizes demonstration results in an innovative technology evaluation report, a technology capsule, a demonstration bulletin, and a videotape Technology Description The E-beam technology has been in use commercially since the 1950s. Some applications of the technology include sterilization of medical supplies, rubber vulcanization, disinfection of wastewater, and food preservation. Recently, HVEA began applying this technology to environmental problems. The HVEA E-beam technology involves exposing liquids containing dissolved organic contaminants to a stream of high energy electrons. Within milliseconds, the electrons slow down, lose energy, and react with the liquids, forming three primary reactive species that include aqueous electrons, hydroxyl radicals, and hydrogen radicals. These reactive species are responsible for destroying dissolved organic 1 ------- Figure 1. HVEA E-beam Treatment System contaminants in the liquid to nondetectable concentrations in most cases. The E-beam system (model M25W-48S) is shown in Figure 1. The system includes the following components: a strainer basket, an influent pump, the E-beam unit, a cooling air processor, a turbo blower, and a control console (not shown in Figure 1). These components are located in three separate rooms. The pump room contains the water and cooling air- handling equipment. The process room contains the E-beam unit. This room is radiation shielded and inaccessible during system operation. The control room contains the control console where system operating conditions are monitored and adjusted. The amount of E-beam energy absorbed by the liquid per unit mass is called dose. Dose is the principal operating parameter affecting the E-beam technology's performance. During the demonstration, dose will be varied to observe its effect on VOC removal efficiency. The HVEA E-beam technology does not generate residuals, sludge, or spent media that require further processing, handling, or disposal. Target organic compounds are either mineralized or broken down into low molecular weight compounds. At high E-beam doses, contaminants are ultimately oxidized to carbon dioxide, water, and salts. Site Description The Savannah River Site is a 300-square mile complex located along the Savannah River about 22 miles south of Aiken, South Carolina. It supports national security through production of nuclear materials. The E-beam technology will be demonstrated in a portion of the Savannah River Site known as M-Area. M-Area is located within 3/700 Area (see Figure 2). From the 1950s to the early 1980s, effluent containing primarily chlorinated solvents from fuel and target manufacturing operations was discharged to an unlined basin at M-Area. Monitoring wells installed in 1981 showed that a significant portion of these 2 ------- chemicals had seeped into the water table, contaminating the groundwater in M-Area. Technology Demonstration EPA will evaluate the E-beam technology's performance during a 2-week demonstration. EPA has prepared a detailed QAPP outlining the methods and procedures for testing and evaluating the technology. The purpose of the demonstration is to obtain performance, cost, and reliability data about the E-beam technology so that potential users can judge the technology's applicability to other sites. Specific objectives of the demonstration are to determine the following: The technology's effectiveness based on an assessment of sample analytical results The potential need for pre- and posttreatment processing of raw and treated materials • The wastes and media to which the technology can be applied • Any potential site-specific system operating problems and their possible resolutions The approximate capital and short-term operating and maintenance costs • The projected long-term operating and maintenance costs After the demonstration is complete, EPA will publish the results in several reports. Preliminary information on the E- beam system's performance, cost, and reliability will be summarized in a demonstration bulletin. A more detailed account of the technology's performance and applicability will be presented in a technology capsule, an innovative technology evaluation report, and a demonstration videotape. 3 ------- Technology Demonstration Day EPA and DOE will host a Technology Demonstration Day on Friday, September23,1994. The Technology Demonstration Day will include presentations about the EPA SITE Program, the Savannah River Site M-Area, the HVEA E-beam technology, and the demonstration. Visitors will also be able to view the technology demonstration activities at M-Area. Those interested in attending the Technology Demonstration Day should complete and return the enclosed preregistration form or call Cynthia Loney at (513) 241-0149. All forms must be received by Tuesday, September 13, 1994. Additional Information Questions or comments about the SITE Program or the demonstration should be directed to: Mr. Franklin Alvarez Technical Project Manager Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 26 W. Martin Luther King Drive Cincinnati, Ohio 45268 Phone: (513) 569-7631 Specific questions about the Savannah River Site or M-Area should be directed to: Mr. Gene Turner Department of Energy Savannah River Operation Office P.O. Box A Aiken, South Carolina 29802 Phone: (803) 725-3648 Mr. Ahmet Suer or Mr. Jim Jordan Westinghouse Savannah River Company 1995 South Centenniel Avenue Aiken, South Carolina 29803 Phone: (803) 644-6900 Specific questions about the HVEA E-beam technology should be directed to: Dr. William Cooper High Voltage Environmental -Applications, Inc. 9562 Doral Boulevard Miami, Florida 33178 Phojflf: (305) 593-5330 & EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 26 West Martin Luther King Drive, MS-445 Cincinnati, Ohio 45268 Attention: Franklin Alvarez l III! illllilllllllllilllllllllilliullltllillllllllllllllllllllllli ------- |