Introduction. A massive explosion and fire at a chemical storage terminal destroyed many tanks, which allowed volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds to enter the soil. The purpose of this project was to remove these soil-bound contaminants and to recover them as a liquid fuel for recycling.
Steam and Hot Air Injection with Active Soil Mixing. Evangelista managed and oversaw a 22-person crew that injected steam and hot air through an in-situ mixing blade. Steam evaporated the soil pollutants, while hot air pushed the toxic vapors to the surface.
At the surface, a cowling under vacuum captured and transported the chemical vapors, steam, and hot air to an attached mobile treatment process. The treatment process contained scrubbers, heat exchangers, chillers, and coalescers to filter, cool and condense the chemical vapors and steam into separate liquids. The steam condensate (water) and the air were cleaned by separate activated carbon systems, reheated, and reinjected into the soil.
The overlapping blocks of “steam cleaned” soil proved Steam and Hot Air Injection with Active Soil Mixing technology could meet California treatment standards and produce a liquid fuel.
Technology Achievments
- No untreated "pockets" of contaminants
- No harmful air emissions during operations
- Recycle of air and steam condensate
- Recovery of contaminants as a liquid fuel
More Information. Draft Report of the Pretreatment Soil Sampling and Analyses, the Evaluation of the Extent of the Chemicals of Concern in Pretreatment Soil, and the Proposed Areas (Blocks) that do not Require Remediation for the GATX Annex Terminal, San Pedro, CA. R. Evangelista, Prepared for the GATX Terminals Corporation.
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