Fundació CTM - Manresa BCN, Spain [email protected]
LA152 SRL - Bologna, Italy, [email protected]
SMART STRIPPING®
Emission-free Groundwater Remediation TechnologySMART STRIPPING®
Emission-free Groundwater Remediation Technology
DESCRIPTION OF THE TECHNOLOGY
The groundwater remediation technology called Smart Stripping is
a new process for groundwater on-site remediation that reduces
concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and semi-
VOC which are produced by chlorinated compounds
(Tetrachloroethylene, triclhoroethylene, dichloroethylene, Viniyl
Chloride) and petroleum fractions (Benzene, Ethylbenzene, Styrene,
Toluene and Xylene: BESTX, and Methyl tert-butyl ether: MTBE),
which are adsorbed into the unsaturated zone and dissolved in
groundwater at industrial and civil sites and especially at sites with
underground storage tanks.
OPERATION PRINCIPLES
The process can be defined as an innovative combination of Air
Sparging (AS) and Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE): groundwater
remediation occurs by enabling a transfer of contaminants from a
saturated zone (groundwater) to an unsaturated zone (vadose) by
blowing heated air from existing wells, which then enables
groundwater stripping from the aquifer. The stripping allows the
separation of VOC and sVOC from groundwater that vent up to the
unsaturated zone which is under a continuous vacuum status,
whereby the soil vapour is extracted. Vapours are treated with
granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption filters before being re-
injected into the groundwater to start the stripping process again,
through a continuous closed air-cycle system.
ADVANTAGES
The process differs from other technologies (Pump & Treat, Air
Sparging, Soil Vapor Extraction/Air Sparging) as it is a green
remediation process without any contaminant emission to the
atmosphere, surface water or sewage networks and in addition the
remediation results are achieved quickly. During remediation,
groundwater is not extracted from the aquifer and no substances
(air or water) are released to the environment.
STANDARDISATION
The technology is under a process of standardisation and simulation
through on-site (LA152 SRL) and lab scale demonstration (Fundació
CTM Centre Tecnològic Manresa) to replicate the proposed solution
and to clarify the limitations of the stripping process. The optimisation
of the technology started in December 2011 through funding received
from the European Commission under the program Eco Innovation.
TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS
The technology effectiveness was observed in some on-site pilot
plants operating in Italy mainly contaminated by petroleum fractions.
Case studies allow to outlined important issues, problems
encountered, lessons learned, solutions identified and remediation
results.
CASE STUDY 1
Period: February 2008 - June 2009;
Duration: 1 year 5 months;
Number of Smart stripping wells: 6;
Number of monitoring wells: 6, number of gas probes: 3;
Distance remediation wells / monitoring piezometers: 2.5 - 5.5 m
Average groundwater depth: 10 m;
Aquifer thickness: 5 m;
Contaminants concentration at START: 6.000 ug/l Benzene, 10.000
ug/l Tot hydrocarbons;
Contaminants concentration June 2009: <1 ug/l Benzene, <350
ug/l Tot hydrocarbons.
NICOLE ROAD MAP FOR SUSTAINABLE REMEDIATION
The NICOLE’s Road Map can be applied to remediations with
Smart Stripping technology to incorporate sustainability principles
(encompassing environmental, social and economic elements)
alongside effective risk management in the remediation projects
including a process of review and feedback.
SM ART STR IPP ING HOR IZO NTA L EM BOD IME NT
To remediate areas with widespread contamination with fast-moving
groundwater we set up the Smart Stripping horizontal embodiment.
The transfer of VOC compounds from the saturated to the vadose
zone is caused by the blowing of air into the groundwater through
a sub-horizontal slotted line. This generated groundwater stripping,
and the separation of the pollutants from the water. VOC move
vertically up to the interface between the saturated and unsaturated
zone and are extracted by an horizontal suction line as a barrier
for VOCs migration.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
The following diagram shows the schematic direct impacts of the
technology to the environment: for each 300 Kg of extracted
contaminant 30.000,00 cm of groundwater are cleaned and not
extracted from groundwater and not released to superficial water
or sewage.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TECHNOLOGY
The groundwater remediation technology called Smart Stripping is
a new process for groundwater on-site remediation that reduces
concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and semi-
VOC which are produced by chlorinated compounds
(Tetrachloroethylene, triclhoroethylene, dichloroethylene, Viniyl
Chloride) and petroleum fractions (Benzene, Ethylbenzene, Styrene,
Toluene and Xylene: BESTX, and Methyl tert-butyl ether: MTBE),
which are adsorbed into the unsaturated zone and dissolved in
groundwater at industrial and civil sites and especially at sites with
underground storage tanks.
EASY INSTALLATION, MINIMAL DISTURBANCETO SITE OPERATIONS
WATER TREATMENT (PHREATIC ZONE)
SOIL TREATMENT (VADOSE ZONE)
TREATED WATER IS NOT DISCHARGED TOSURFACE WATER OR INTO SEWERS
THE VOC ESTRACTED ARE NOT RELEASEDINTO THE ATMOSPHERE AFTER TREATMENT
LOW COST MAINTENANCE
LOW PRODUCTION OF WASTE
NO NEED FOR AUTHORISATIONS FOR WATERDISCHARGE AFTER TREATMENT
NO NEEF FOR AUTHORISATION FOR GASDISCHARGE AFTER TREATMENT
COSTS COMPETITIVE: $10-40/TON OFCONTAMINATED SOIL
CAN BE APPLYED TO SITES WITH FREEPRODUCT
VENTILATION OF UNDERGROUND IMPROVENATURAL DEGRADATION OF CONTAMINANTS
USE OF EXISTING WELLS FOR REMEDIATION
SHORT TREATMENT TIMES
Description SmartStripping P&T AS SVE/AS
No.a. No.a.
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Fundació CTM - Manresa BCN, Spain [email protected]
LA152 SRL - Bologna, Italy, [email protected]
SMART STRIPPING®
Emission-free Groundwater Remediation TechnologySMART STRIPPING®
Emission-free Groundwater Remediation Technology
phreatic zone
vadose zone
contaminated air
clean air
groundwater level
ACTIVATED
CARBONS
FILTER
(CAG)
DIRECTIMPACTS(ON SITE)
air flow OUT
air flow IN
contaminats concentration ingroundwater: 10.000 !g/l
600 Kg ActivatedCarbon absortioncapacity of 50%
One 600 Kg CAG retain300 Kg of contaminatstherefore 30.000 mc ofg r o u n d w a t e r a r et r e a t e d w i t h o u treleases to superficialwater or sewage.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TECHNOLOGY
The groundwater remediation technology called Smart Stripping is
a new process for groundwater on-site remediation that reduces
concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and semi-
VOC which are produced by chlorinated compounds
(Tetrachloroethylene, triclhoroethylene, dichloroethylene, Viniyl
Chloride) and petroleum fractions (Benzene, Ethylbenzene, Styrene,
Toluene and Xylene: BESTX, and Methyl tert-butyl ether: MTBE),
which are adsorbed into the unsaturated zone and dissolved in
groundwater at industrial and civil sites and especially at sites with
underground storage tanks.
OPERATION PRINCIPLES
The process can be defined as an innovative combination of Air
Sparging (AS) and Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE): groundwater
remediation occurs by enabling a transfer of contaminants from a
saturated zone (groundwater) to an unsaturated zone (vadose) by
blowing heated air from exist ing well s, which then enabl es
groundwater stripping from the aquifer. The stripping allows the
separation of VOC and sVOC from groundwater that vent up to the
unsaturated zone which is under a continuous vacuum status,
whereby the soil vapour is extracted. Vapours are treated with
granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption filters before being re-
injected into the groundwater to start the stripping process again,
through a continuous closed air-cycle system.
ADVANTAGES
The process differs from other technologies (Pump & Treat, Air
Sparging, Soil Vapor Extraction/Air Sparging) as it is a green
remediation process without any contaminant emission to the
atmosphere, surface water or sewage networks and in addition the
remediation results are achieved quickly. During remediation,
groundwater is not extracted from the aquifer and no substances
(air or water) are released to the environment.
STANDARDISATION
The technology is under a process of standardisation and simulation
through on-site (LA152 SRL) and lab scale demonstration (Fundació
CTM Centre Tecnològic Manresa) to replicate the proposed solution
and to clarify the limitations of the stripping process. The optimisation
of the technology started in December 2011 through funding received
from the European Commission under the program Eco Innovation.
TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS
The technology effectiveness was observed in some on-site pilot
plants operating in Italy mainly contaminated by petroleum fractions.
Case studies allow to outlined important issues, problems
encountered, lessons learned, solutions identified and remediation
results.
CASE STUDY 1
Period: February 2008 - June 2009;
Duration: 1 year 5 months;
Number of Smart stripping wells: 6;
Number of monitoring wells: 6, number of gas probes: 3;
Distance remediation wells / monitoring piezometers: 2.5 - 5.5 m
Average groundwater depth: 10 m;
Aquifer thickness: 5 m;
Contaminants concentration at START: 6.000 ug/l Benzene, 10.000
ug/l Tot hydrocarbons;
Contaminants concentration June 2009: <1 ug/l Benzene, <350
ug/l Tot hydrocarbons.
NICOLE ROAD MAP FOR SUSTAINABLE REMEDIATION
The NICOLE’s Road Map can be applied to remediations with
Smart Stripping technology to incorporate sustainability principles
(encompassing environmental, social and economic elements)
alongside effective risk management in the remediation projects
including a process of review and feedback.
SM ART STR IPP ING HOR IZO NTA L EM BOD IME NT
To remediate areas with widespread contamination with fast-moving
groundwater we set up the Smart Stripping horizontal embodiment.
The transfer of VOC compounds from the saturated to the vadose
zone is caused by the blowing of air into the groundwater through
a sub-horizontal slotted line. This generated groundwater stripping,
and the separation of the pollutants from the water. VOC move
vertically up to the interface between the saturated and unsaturated
zone and are extracted by an horizontal suction line as a barrier
for VOCs migration.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
The following diagram shows the schematic direct impacts of the
technology to the environment: for each 300 Kg of extracted
contaminant 30.000,00 cm of groundwater are cleaned and not
extracted from groundwater and not released to superficial water
or sewage.
NICOLE ROAD MAP FOR SUSTAINABLE REMEDIATION
The NICOLE’s Road Map can be applied to remediations with
Smart Stripping technology to incorporate sustainability principles
(encompassing environmental, social and economic elements)
alongside effective risk management in the remediation projects
including a process of review and feedback.
SM ART STR IPP ING HOR IZO NTA L EM BOD IME NT
To remediate areas with widespread contamination with fast-moving
groundwater we set up the Smart Stripping horizontal embodiment.
The transfer of VOC compounds from the saturated to the vadose
zone is caused by the blowing of air into the groundwater through
a sub-horizontal slotted line. This generated groundwater stripping,
and the separation of the pollutants from the water. VOC move
vertically up to the interface between the saturated and unsaturated
zone and are extracted by an horizontal suction line as a barrier
for VOCs migration.
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