Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
Treatment Technologies
- Overview
- Policy and Guidance
- Chemistry and Behavior
- Environmental Occurrence
- Toxicology
- Detection and Site Characterization
- Treatment Technologies
- Conferences and Seminars
- Additional Resources
Because 40 CFR 761 specifies incineration for materials containing over 500 ppm PCBs, incineration is one of the most used remediation technologies; however, from a handling perspective, it is often better to use onsite ex situ thermal desorption of contaminated soils/sediments with the PCBs in the offgases being captured for offsite treatment. In situ thermal desorption/destruction of PCBs has been demonstrated
but the method has not been commonly employed.
Excavation and disposal in an offsite TSCA permitted landfill is another commonly used option as was demonstrated for dredged PCB contaminated sediments at the Ashtabula River cleanup.
The Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC) in their Technical and Regulatory Guidance for In Situ Chemical Oxidation of Contaminated Soil and Groundwater, Second Edition (2005) did not find in situ chemical oxidants to be very effective in treating PCBs. This may be because these chemicals are most effective when the target chemicals are dissolved.
While anaerobic biodegradation of PCBs has been demonstrated, it is usually congener specific, and for the more chlorinated biphenyls, it is slow. Evidence to date does not support degradation of all congeners nor does it show that one microbe may be capable of degrading most of them (e.g., Pieper 2008 and Bedard 2007).
A full scale PCB cleanup using in situ vitrification was performed at the General Electric, Inc., Spokane Shop in the 1990s; however, in situ vitrification is not a commonly used technology.
Destruction Technologies for Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBS)
M.S.M. Mujeebur Rahuman (ICS-UNIDO); Luigi Pistone (SiiRTEC NIGI S.p.A., Milan, Italy);
Ferruccio Trifir (Univ. of Bologna, Italy); Stanislav Miertus (ICS-UNIDO).
International Centre for Science and High Technology, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (ICS-UNIDO), Trieste, Italy. 55 pp, 2000.
The emerging and innovative technologies being tested or implemented for PCB cleanup form a lengthy list: supercritical oxidation, electrochemical oxidation, solvated electron technology, chemical reduction reaction, dehalogenation processes (base catalyzed decomposition and apeg plus), molten metal pyrolysis, molten salt oxidation, plasma arc, catalytic hydrogenation, ultrasonic technology, the advanced oxidative process, solvent extraction/chemical dehalogenation/radiolytic degradation, solar detoxification/photochemical degradation, thermal desorption integrated technologies (thermal desorption/catalysed dehalogenation, thermal desorption/pyrolysis, thermal desorption/retort system, and vitrification), and biological technologies (bioslurry and enhanced bioremediation).
Engineering Issue: Technology Alternatives for the Remediation of PCB-Contaminated Soil and Sediment
Davila, B., K.W. Whitford, and E.S. Saylor.
EPA 540-S-93-506, 26 pp, 1993.
Reference Guide to Non-Combustion Technologies for Remediation of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Stockpile and Soil
U.S. EPA, EPA-542-R-05-006, 70 pp, 2005.
Review of Emerging, Innovative Technologies for the Destruction and Decontamination of POPs and the Identification of Promising Technologies for Use in Developing Countries
Univ. of Auckland, New Zealand. United Nations Environment Programme, Global Environmental Facility, Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel. GF/8000-02-02-2205, 138 pp., 2004.
This report reviews existing non-combustion technologies and identifies those that are emerging, innovative, and promising for the destruction of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) stockpiles. POPs include many of the first generation organochlorine insecticides (DDT, aldrin), industrial chemical products (PCBs), and unwanted byproducts such as dioxins and furans. The report identifies 5 emerging and promising technologies and encourages their rapid commercialization: ball milling, the GeoMeltTM process, mediated electrochemical oxidation via CerOx, mediated electrochemical oxidation via the AEA Silver II Process, and catalytic hydrogenation.
Substitution Reactions for the Detoxification of Hazardous Chemicals. Literature Research Report
Kawahara, F.K., National Risk Management Research Lab., Cincinnati, OH.
EPA 600-R-98-124. NTIS: PB98-177876. 44 pp, Sep 1998.
Literature findings on the destruction of compounds such as PCBs with polyethlene glycol are examined. In addition, a reaction mechanism for the EPA's base-catalyzed decomposition (BCD) process is given, effects of reaction parameters are noted, and various processes are assessed.
Survey of Currently Available Non-Incineration PCB Destruction Technologies
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). UNEP Chemicals, Geneva, Switzerland. 70 pp, 2000.
The methods primarily used on contaminated oils are solvent extraction, cement kilns, and vitrification.
Bacterial Metabolism of Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Pieper, Dietmar H. and Michael Seeger
J Mol Microbiol Biotechnol 2008;15:121-138
The Dehalococcoides Population in Sediment-Free Mixed Cultures Metabolically Dechlorinates the Commercial Polychlorinated Biphenyl Mixture Aroclor 1260
Bedard, D.L., K.M. Ritalahti, and F.E. Löffler
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, April 2007, p. 2513-2521, Vol. 73, No. 8
Enhancing PCB Bioremediation
Talley, J.W., et al. (eds)
Federal Integrated Biotreatment Research Consortium (FIBRC): Flask to Field Initiative, ERDC/EL TR-02-37,Appendix D, 507 p, October 2002
Treatability Study Report of Green Mountain Laboratories, Inc.'s Bioremediation Process Treatment of PCB Contaminated Soils at Beede Waste Oil/Cash Energy Superfund Site, Plaistow, New Hampshire
Science Applications International Corporation, Hackensack, NJ.
EPA 540-R-05-006, 44 pp, 2005.
The Use of Enhanced Bioremediation at the Savannah River Site to Remediate Pesticides and PCBs
Beul, R.R. C. Lewis, and S. Baladi.
WSRC-MS-2003-00659, 25 pp, 2003.
A Mass-Balance Approach for Assessing PCB Movement During Remediation of a PCB-Contaminated Deposit on the Fox River, Wisconsin
USGS
Water-Resources Investigations Report 00-4245, 8pp, 2000
Pilot-Scale Land Treatment Study at the Saginaw, MI, Confined Disposal Facility
Myers, T.E. and P. Horner, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS.
ERDC TN-DOER-C35, 10 pp., 2004.
Contact: Tommy Myers, tommy.e.myers@erdc.usace.army.mil, or Pam Horner, Pam.Horner@lre02.usace.army.mil
A pilot-scale study evaluated the technical feasibility of using land treatment technology to remediate dredged material contaminated with hydrophobic organic chemicals. Results from this study and a bench-scale study of the same dredged material both indicated that PCBs in Saginaw River sediment can be reduced via land treatment, though the study showed differences in the extent of reaction (percent PCB removed), with less contaminant reduction shown in the bench-scale data than in the pilot-scale data.
Engineering Issue Paper: In Situ Chemical Oxidation
EPA 600-R-06-072, 2006
This issue paper was produced by the EPA Risk Management Research Laboratory and the Engineering Forum. It provides an up-to-date overview of ISCO remediation technology and fundamentals, and is developed based on peer-reviewed literature, EPA reports, web sources, current research, conference proceedings, and other pertinent information.
Evaluation of Lime and Persulfate Treatment for Mixed Contaminant Soil from Plum Brook Ordnance Works (Sandusky, OH)
Medina, V.F., S.A. Waisner, A.B. Morrow, C.C. Nestler, and M. Jones.
ERDC/EL TR-07-19, 116 pp, 2007
Soil contaminated with TNT, DNT, a PCB (Araclor 1260), PAHs, and lead was addressed with a series of chemical-based treatments, i.e., application of lime to treat the explosives, advanced oxidation (persulfate and Fenton's reagent) for treatment of PCBs and PAHs, and use of phosphate for stabilizing lead. Lime treatment degraded 98% of TNT, 75% of DNT, and 80% of PCBs, with minimal removal (41%) of PAHs. Similar removal levels were found for persulfate treatment and lime followed by persulfate. Treatments of the most contaminated soil did not meet preliminary remediation goals for explosives or PCBs.
The Application of Geotextile and Granular Filters for PCB Remediation
I. Kalinovich, A. Rutter, R.K. Rowe, R. McWatters, and J.S. Poland.
Geosynthetics International 15(3):173-183(2008)
A surface PRB was installed at a remote site in the Canadian Arctic to address runoff contaminated with PCBs. The initial barrier system was installed in July 2003. The stainless steel filter box, or gate, consists of four pairs of slots into which filters or cassettes containing absorbing material are placed. This paper presents the results of lab and field work used in the design of the barrier system. See also Science of the Total Environment 407(1):53-66(2008)
This document was prepared by Alex Mikszewski, a National Network of Environmental Management studies grantee, under a fellowship from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This report reviews emerging technologies for the in situ remediation of PCB-contaminated sediments and soils to assess their viability for future employment. This report was not subject to EPA peer review or technical review. EPA makes no warranties, expressed or implied, including without limitation, warranty for completeness, accuracy, or usefulness of the information.
Phytoremediation Field Studies Database for Chlorinated Solvents, Pesticides, Explosives, and Metals
2004
This document was prepared by Ana Hoffnagle and Cynthia Green, two undergraduate students under internships with EPA. The paper briefly explains the concept of phytoremediation, details phytoremediation site considerations, and summarizes the successes and failures of field-scale sites where phytotechnologies have been applied or proposed. The report includes process descriptions, site requirements, performance, process residuals, innovative systems, and EPA contacts for incineration, thermal desorption, chemical dehalogenation, solvent extraction, soil washing, solidification/stabilization, bioremediation, and vitrification.
This report was not subject to EPA peer review or technical review. EPA makes no warranties, expressed or implied, including without limitation, warranty for completeness, accuracy, or usefulness of the information.
The Use and Effectiveness of Phytoremediation to Treat Persistent Organic Pollutants
49 pp, Aug 2005
This document was prepared by Kristi Russell during an internship with the U.S. EPA, sponsored by the Environmental Careers Organization. This report is intended to provide an overview of phytoremediation uses to treat media contaminated by persistent organic pollutants and demonstrate the potential for use of phytoremediation in developing and transitional economies.
This report was not subject to EPA peer review or technical review. EPA makes no warranties, expressed or implied, including without limitation, warranty for completeness, accuracy, or usefulness of the information.
CF Systems Organics Extraction Process, New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts. Applications Analysis Report
U.S. EPA, Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) Program.
EPA 540-A5-90-002, 73 pp, 1990.
Removal of PCBs from Contaminated Soil Using the CF Systems™ Solvent Extraction Process: A Treatability Study
Tillman, J., L. Drees, and E. Saylor.
U.S. EPA, Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) Program. EPA 540-SR-95-505, 8 pp, 1995.
Terra-Kleen Response Group, Inc., Solvent Extraction Technology, Innovative Technology Evaluation Report
U.S. EPA, Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) Program. EPA 540-R-94-521, 62 pp, 1998.
Field Testing of Activated Carbon Mixing and In Situ Stabilization of PCBs in Sediment
ESTCP Project ER-0510, 288 pp, 2009
A field-scale project was conducted to demonstrate that activated carbon (AC) sorbent mixed with sediment is a cost-effective, nonremoval, in situ management strategy for reducing risk and the bioavailability of PCBs in offshore sediments at the Hunters Point Shipyard site. The demonstration also compared the effectiveness, in terms of AC application and ease of use, of two available large-scale mixing technologies. Uptake studies showed 50 to 66% reductions in PCB uptakes in AC-amended areas, depending on AC dose. Field-exposed AC retained a strong stabilization capability to reduce aqueous equilibrium PCB concentrations by as much as 95%, depending on AC dose, effective up to at least 18 months. See also the ESTCP Cost and Performance Report.
Demonstration of the Aquablok® Sediment Capping Technology: Innovative Technology Evaluation Report
U.S. EPA, National Risk Management Research Laboratory.
EPA 540-R-07-008, 145 pp, 2007
AquaBlok® is an innovative, proprietary clay polymer composite that generally comprises a mixture of bentonite clay with polymer additives covering a small aggregate core. Other specific formulations of AquaBlok® are available, including varieties that function in saline environments, incorporate treatment reagents to actively treat or sequester sediment contaminants, or contain plant seeds to promote the establishment or regrowth of vegetated habitat. The effectiveness of the product was evaluated over a 3-year period under EPA's SITE Program on sediments in the Anacostia River (Washington, DC), which is contaminated with PAHs, PCBs, and heavy metals. Overall results indicate that the material likely is more stable, more impermeable, and potentially more effective at controlling contaminant flux than traditional sand capping material, with similar impacts to benthos and benthic habitat.
Minergy Corporation Glass Furnace Technology Evaluation
U.S. EPA, Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) Program, Washington, DC.
EPA 540-R-03-500, 137 pp, Mar 2004.
Contact: Marta Richards, richards.marta@epa.gov
Demonstration of In-Situ Thermal Desorption-Destruction of PCB's in Contaminated Soils at Mare Island Shipyard. Technical Data Sheet
Lonie, C., J. Reed, G. Brown, and A. Evan, NFESC, Port Hueneme, CA.
NFESC-TDS-2051-ENV, NTIS: ADA361264, 5 pp, 1998.
The U.S. EPA's Great Lakes Legacy Act Ashtabula River Clean-Up
Cieniawski, S.
U. S. EPA, Great Lakes Program Office, 46 pp (PPT), 2008
This is a PowerPoint presentation given to the U.S. EPA Technical Support Program's National Sediment Forum. It contains a novel treatment system for handling PCB contaminated hydraulic dredge produced sediments.
CLU-IN Site Profile Databases contain information on thousands of projects where innovative approaches have been used to deal with contamination problems.
Completed North America Innovative Technology Demonstration Projects
Lists field demonstrations of innovative remediation technologies sponsored by government agencies working in partnership with private technology developers.
Federal Remediation Technology Roundtable Technology Cost and Performance Reports
FRTR makes available over 20 reports of cleanup technologies for PCB-contaminated sites.
Technology Innovation News Survey Archives
The Technology Innovation News Survey archive contains resources gathered from published material and gray literature relevant to the research, development, testing, and application of innovative technologies for the remediation of hazardous waste sites. The collected abstracts date from 1998 to the present, and the archive is updated twice each month.
