In situ groundwater remediation following an oil-tanker spill

Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes

Integrated chemical and biological approach rapidly remediates MTBE and petroleum hydrocarbons

Introduction

A fuel tanker truck over-turned on a small road in northern Italy, spilling over 36,000L of diesel and petrol. The fuel impacted a canal, flood defences, soils and groundwater in the immediate vicinity.

A site investigation was completed concurrently with an emergency oil-spill response, in order to identify the subsurface contamination, build an initial Conceptual Site Model (CSM) and develop plans for remediation. MTBE, petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and BTEX were found to be within the soil – concentrated within the capillary fringe. The groundwater was also found to be impacted and requiring remediation. A remedial options appraisal was completed, considering technical feasibility, sustainability, time and cost and a combined in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) and enhanced aerobic natural attenuation (ENA) approach was chosen.

 

Case Study Highlights

Read the case study to learn:

  • How BELFOR has  implemented the integrated remedial approach of In situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) and enhanced natural attenuation (ENA)

  • Monitoring results for MTBE over time

  • How site closure has been achieved two years after the oil spill event

  • The success factors of this project

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Remediation Products Applied

In this oil tanker spill  remediation project, two of REGENESIS’ range of injectable substrates were used in combination. Click the logos below for more information on these remediation technologies:

     

Redevelopment of former gas works unlocked by combining technologies

Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

Integrated remediation strategy provides rapid and cost-effective clean up

 

Fig. 1 – Remedial works at residential construction site
  • During the construction of multiple residential dwelling it became apparent that a historical gas works had previously occupied the site.
  • A targeted site investigation needed to be completed quickly to identify the areas requiring remedial action, enabling construction to continue in plots outside of the plume.
  • A combined remedial strategy was required to address soil, LNAPL, DNAPL and dissolved phase contamination.
  • The implementation of the treatment had to be completed around partially completed housing and live underground services.
  • The remedial works had to be completed quickly in a manner as to not impact the build program.
  • The strategy needed to provide appropriate protection to both human health and controlled waters.
  • The need to respond and act quickly required excellent communication and good working relationships to be established between the consultant, stakeholders, regulators and multiple specialist remediation contractors and suppliers.
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Remedial Approach

A wide range of remediation technologies were deployed sequentially and in parallel to provide the most rapid and cost effective clean up:

  • Ex situ bio-piling of hydrocarbon impacted soils
  • LNAPL skimming
  • Pump and treat (P&T) of dissolved phase contamination
  • DNAPL pumping and settlement/collection
  • Enhanced abstraction of contaminant mass using PetroCleanze
  • In Situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) using RegenOx, which is compatible with footings and services already in place
  • Accelerated aerobic natural attenuation using ORC Advanced slurry
  • Accelerated aerobic natural attenuation using a pelletised oxygen-release compound (ORC Advanced) placed in the backfill
  • PlumeStop Liquid Activated Carbon injection to install a subsurface activated carbon filter to adsorb and biologically degrade dissolved phase contamination
  • Gas vapour membrane installation

Ex situ treatment

The impacted materials within the unsaturated zones within Plume A and B were excavated and placed in a biopile for onsite treatment (Figure 1). Nutrients were added and the biopile was turned until remedial targets were achieved. The soils were then backfilled under the CL:AIRE Code of Practice. Prior to backfill with the remediated soils, ORC Advanced Pellets were added to the base of the excavation. This provided a source of dissolved oxygen for up to a year, stimulating the growth of an effective aerobic biomass and accelerating the degradation of the petroleum hydrocarbon contamination.

Fig. 2 – Details of Ex-Situ Treatment

In Situ Treatment

The southern part of Plume A was made inaccessible by footings and services; here in-situ treatment was completed accommodate these obstructions without compromising treatment efficacy. Within Plume B, where high levels of contamination had been encountered (Figure 2), several in situ remedial actions were taken as appropriate to concentration, location and sequence in the strategy:

  • REGENESIS injected PlumeStop, a micron-scale colloidal Liquid Activated Carbon substrate along the western margin of the site via direct push to protect the offsite surface water. PlumeStop creates a subsurface activated carbon filter which adsorbs the contaminant influx, which is then degraded by the microbial growth on the carbon biomatrix. Biological degradation was also accelerated through co-application of ORC Advanced and the presence of the pelletised ORC placed in the base of the excavation upgradient, providing a controlled release of oxygen.
  • Where LNAPL and high dissolved phase concentrations were observed, a network of injection boreholes were installed by Rake Remediation/REGENESIS. Many of the wells were installed by removing suspended floors and lifting in a mini-rig to complete the drilling beneath partially constructed dwellings. Through these wells, multiple applications of RegenOx were completed. This in situ chemical oxidant was chosen as it was safe to handle on this busy site and would not corrode services installed at the site, nor would it be detrimental to the concrete footings.
Fig. 3 (above) – Details of In Situ Treatment, Fig. 4 (below)- Bio piles, with in foreground the tubes of ORC Advanced Pellets, Fig.5 – ORC Advanced slurry being prepared prior to injection, Fig. 6- Geoprobe rig injecting reagents into the sub surface
  • Following the ISCO, ORC Advanced slurry was injected to enhance the natural attenuation (ENA) of the residual dissolved phase contamination to low levels.
  • In Plume B, high levels of contamination in the form of both L- and DNAPL were encountered. This was removed using a P&T system augmented with PetroCleanze, an inorganic surfactant that uses a high pH, carbonates, silicates and partial oxidation to remove contaminants from soils. The PetroCleanze was injected to produce a temporary desorption event, which once observed, allowed the P&T system to be switched back for a short period to remove the contamination. This process was repeated three times to maximise the efficacy of the P&T and shorten the treatment programme.
  • Once the NAPL was removed, multiple rounds of RegenOx were completed, followed by ORC Advanced via injection through wells.
  • Long term groundwater monitoring programme was put in place to monitor the effectiveness of the clean-up.

Results

The following graphs (Figures 7 and 8) show the variations in concentrations for selected priority contaminants of concern over the monitoring period for Plume A and B. These show a marked reduction in the hydrocarbon dissolved phase concentrations over time, with compliance achieved with the remedial criteria.

Fig. 7 – Plume A: Benzene concentrations over time. (red line = DQRA)
Fig. 8 – Plume B: Aromatic C8-C10 concentrations over time (red line = DQRA)

Conclusion

Complimentary remedial technologies were combined successfully to achieve:

  • Contaminant mass reduction to below remedial targets in the soil and groundwater within 6 months.
  • Protection of onsite and offsite receptors.
  • Written confirmation by the Environment Agency that they ‘agree with (the reports’) conclusions’ and that ‘development may proceed’.
  • Remediation completed on a tight budget – as remediation had not been foreseen by the developer.
  • Ex-Situ remediation of soils and their reuse on site under the CL:AIRE CoP avoided offsite disposal of ~800m3 to landfill.
  • In Situ enhancement of the P&T system, minimising the time, cost and volume of abstraction required.
  • By combining the technologies intelligently, both simultaneously and sequentially, the programme length was minimised – allowing construction to continue within only 6 months.
Integrated remediation at a motorway petrol station in Lombardia, Italy

Integrated remediation at a motorway petrol station in Lombardia, Italy

Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

Introduction

A large petrol station located along one of the busiest motorways in northern Italy was undergoing extensive reconstruction, including the demolition of existing buildings, removal of above- and below-ground structures; as well as remediation. The existing underground fuel tanks (USTs) were removed and the contaminated soil surrounding the USTs was excavated to a depth of 5m BGL.

The geology consists of a highly permeable soil comprising sand and gravel to approx. 40m BGL. The average groundwater level is at approximately 4m to 6m BGL, where an extensive contaminant smear zone was observed.

The main excavation was approx. 1,100m2 and 5m deep, with the extent and depth limited by the proximity of the motorway (as well as the presence of groundwater).

The soil at the bottom of the excavation was highly impacted with Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPHs) and BTEX compounds, with concentrations of up to 10,000mg/kg. The groundwater inside the excavation was highly contaminated, with evidence of Light Non Aqueous Phase Liquid (LNAPL) and average concentrations in the range of 500,000μg/L.

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Design Approach & Planning

For any treatment approach on this site, to be effective in improving the groundwater quality, it would have to be able to address this secondary source in addition to treating the residual dissolved contamination. The remedial approach also needed to be rapid and effective, in order to allow for immediate back filling. This was because a delay in the construction program would result in a loss of income if the petrol station was not opened on time.
REGENESIS and the Environmental Consultant created an intelligent treatment strategy that took these challenges on board. The remediation approach comprised:

Phase I: Removal of the main contaminant mass present in the saturated soil. This was achieved via Enhanced Chemical Desorption using PetroCleanze, followed by physical abstraction using a vacuum tanker;

Phase II: In Situ biodegradation of the residual dissolved contamination over a period of 9 to 12 months following back fill, via Enhanced Aerobic Biodegradation using ORC Advanced.

PetroCleanze has been developed by REGENESIS to enhance the desorption of contaminants from soil, so that these can be recovered by physical treatment systems. It provides a cost-effective solution for the in-situ treatment of saturated contamination and smear zones. This allows physical treatment systems to be more effective over a shorter period of time, lowering asymptotes and reducing rebound due to ongoing desorption from the smear zone.

When applied in excavation areas, application is quick and desorbed contaminants can be recovered really easily. Usually two to three application and abstraction rounds are required to remove the bulk of the contamination. PetroCleanze is an inorganic technology and therefore avoids introducing a large oxygen demand (as occurs with using surfactants) and promotes enhanced biological degradation of the residual contamination.

PetroCleanze has been developed by REGENESIS to enhance the desorption of contaminants from soil, so that these can be recovered by physical treatment systems. It provides a cost-effective solution for the in-situ treatment of saturated contamination and smear zones. This allows physical treatment systems to be more effective over a shorter period of time, lowering asymptotes and reducing rebound due to ongoing desorption from the smear zone.

When applied in excavation areas, application is quick and desorbed contaminants can be recovered really easily. Usually two to three application and abstraction rounds are required to remove the bulk of the contamination. PetroCleanze is an inorganic technology and therefore avoids introducing a large oxygen demand (as occurs with using surfactants) and promotes enhanced biological degradation of the residual contamination.

Phase I – Enhanced Desorption and Extraction

  • Before application, the excavation was divided in seven segments, leaving some pathways for excavator passage. For each segment, a specific PetroCleanze application dose was defined.
  • PetroCleanze was applied in each sub-area through the dig and mixed directly with the remaining impacted soil. Due to the high contaminant mass present in some of the areas, LNAPL appeared on the water in less than one hour after the first application (the photos shown overleaf were taken 30 minutes after application).
  • The LNAPL was subsequently removed by selective pumping using a vacuum tanker.
  • Repeated soil mixing and desorbed LNAPL removal took place over the following days across the whole area (for a maximum of 3 cycles in the most contaminated areas).
  • The repeated soil-mixing allowed for ongoing desorption and removal of the contamination without the need to add more PetroCleanze. This process was continued for all the sub-areas until no more recoverable free phase was present.
  • Finally, a short period of de-watering was completed to remove part of the residual dissolved phase contamination, with water samples taken before and after.

Phase II – Enhanced Aerobic Natural Attenuation

Following the initial excavation and enhanced desorption treatment, an ORC Advanced application was completed. This targeted the residual dissolved phase contamination. The ORC Advanced provided a controlled release of dissolved oxygen in order to stimulate and maintain enhanced aerobic biological degradation of the groundwater contamination for 9-12 months from the single application. This meant that the excavation could be immediately back filled and the construction continued. The remediation of the dissolved phase contamination therefore continued in situ, with no further operational costs and no disruption to the build programme.

To optimise the application process onsite, a pelletised version of ORC Advanced was chosen. This is because they can be applied directly in the excavation without the need for pre-mixing with water. The Pellets also minimise dust formation during application. The pit application was cost-effective, as it did not require additional equipment to be used on site and the application and mixing was safe, quick and straightforward.

Results

  • The remediation activities were completed in approximately 40 days on site, which included the product applications, soil mixing, selective pumping and final pump and treat.
  • During this period, more than 400L of petroleum hydrocarbon LNAPL was successfully recovered, as well as approx. 100m3 of highly contaminated groundwater with TPH concentrations in the 100,000-1,000,000μg/L range.
  • In addition, 280m3 of contaminated groundwater was removed during the final pump and treat activity (before the ORC Advanced application).
  • During desorption and removal, no increase in dissolved phase concentrations was seen in the wells immediately downgradient of the excavation, or on the site boundary. This showed that all desorbed contaminants were successfully extracted during the treatment process.
  • Subsequent groundwater monitoring shows a significant decrease in concentrations, avoiding any potential delay to the construction programme. The figure below shows the petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations for each sub-area at baseline (blue), during treatment (orange) and after pump and treat (grey).

Conclusion

  • The site was remediated on time without disruption to the construction program through the use of enhanced desorption and removal, followed by in situ enhanced aerobic biological degradation.
  • An integrated remedial approach was created to target each contaminant type/phase, through excavation of impacted soils, enhanced desorption and extraction of LNAPL and high levels of TPH in the groundwater contamination, to biological degradation of the residual dissolved phase contamination.
  • Treatment was limited to the target area with the remediation works producing no increase in downgradient contaminant concentrations.

Regenesis Remediation Services™ – TCE-Impacted Soil Treated with RegenOx®

Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes

In Situ Chemical Oxidation Significantly Reduces Contamination Concentrations at Former Manufacturing Facility Site

Regenesis Remediation Services (RRS) was contracted to design and perform in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) via soil mixing to remediate trichloroethylene (TCE) impacted soils at a former manufacturing site in Hamilton, Ohio. RegenOx® was selected as the primary remediation technology based on site conditions, and the treatment area focused on soilbound TCE contamination averaging 86 mg/kg in the sandy-silt to clay-rich unsaturated soils. The remediation objective was to reduce TCE levels in the soil to below the maximum concentration for Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) of 0.5 mg/L, to allow for subsequent off-site disposal.

The impacted soils were treated in-place by a hydraulic excavator with a specialized mixing attachment. RegenOx was evenly dispersed throughout the contaminated soil, then thoroughly mixed using the excavator attachment. Once mixing was complete, the soils were hydrated with a RegenOx solution, to maximize oxidant loading to achieve aggressive remediation goals. As a result of the soil mixing procedures, a 99% reduction in soil concentrations was achieved. RRS remediated approximately 670 cubic yards of TCE-impacted soil on this real estate redevelopment project. Soil mixing was performed primarily from 4 feet to 8 feet below ground surface (bgs) over an area of approximately 4,500 square feet. Construction activities were able to proceed on schedule due to RRS’s well managed application and proper use of the RegenOx chemistry.

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Regenesis Remediation Services™ – PCE Treated with RegenOx®

Estimated Reading Time: < 1 minute

Soil Mixing Using In Situ Chemical Oxidation Reduces Contamination Concentrations at Former Dry Cleaning Facility

Regenesis Remediation Services (RRS) was hired for this large-scale soil mixing project to treat tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in shallow surface soils. The application used in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) technology to oxidize residual chlorinated solvents at this former dry cleaner site. The goal was to reduce chlorinated volatile organic compounds (cVOCs), particularly PCE, from >20 ppm to less than 5 ppb. The design of the project was divided into a grid with twelve sections, each 25 feet (ft.) by 21.5 ft., and 5 ft. deep.

Using RegenOx® remediation chemistry and an excavator to complete the soil mixing, the impacted soils were removed by an excavator and a proportional amount of RegenOx was evenly dispersed throughout the excavated soil, then thoroughly mixed using the excavator.

Once mixing was complete, the soils were placed back into the treatment cell while being hydrated with a RegenOx solution made up of RegenOx, water and hydrogen peroxide. By optimizing the contact between the soil, contaminants, and RegenOx, powerful desorption effects strip PCE off of the soil matrix and onto the RegenOx catalytic surface. This catalytic surface contributes to localized free-radical generation, leading to focused and efficient contaminant destruction via soil mixing. After eight days of the completion of the project, 98-100% reductions were achieved in the twelve sections of the grid.

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