Technology:
Ex Situ Bioremediation - Composting
- Petroleum-contaminated soils were placed in a 10 cubic yard biocell, constructed using a commercial roll-off dumpster; container covered with an impermeable liner to prevent the release of VOCs and soil and to protect the system from precipitation and wind
- Blower used to draw air through perforated pipes installed under the soil
- Leachate collection system used to capture excess moisture
- Off-gas treated using granular activated carbon; blower used to create a slight vacuum in the system to reduce VOC emissions
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Cleanup Authority:
Not identified
Contacts:
U.S. Navy
Mr. Dharam Pal
Phone: (805) 982-1671
E-mail: pald@nfesc.navy.mil
Mr. Jeff Heath
Phone: (805) 982-1600
E-mail: heathjc@nfesc.navy.mil |
Contaminants:
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH)
- Concentrations up to 736 mg/kg in soil |
Waste Source:
Spills and leaks from fuel storage and vehicle maintenance |
Type/Quantity of Media Treated:
Soil
- 10 cubic yards of soil treated |
Purpose/Significance of Application:
Field demonstration of an ex-situ bioremediation technology to treat small quantities of petroleum-contaminated soils |
Regulatory Requirements/Cleanup Goals:
- The objectives of the demonstration included evaluating the effectiveness of a biocell for treating petroleum-contaminated soils
- No specific cleanup goals were identified for the demonstration |
Results:
- After 105 days of biocell operation, TPH concentrations were reduced from 736 mg/kg to 147 mg/kg |
Cost Factors:
- Units costs were estimated for operating a 40 cubic yard biocell. The estimated cost per cubic yard of soil treated, amortized over 5 years with three operations per year, were $40.83 for one biocell, $36.75 for two biocells, and $35.56 for 3 biocells |
Description:
Navy installations generate petroleum-contaminated soils from a variety of operations including fuel storage, vehicle maintenance and repair, and training areas where fuel has been spilled on the ground. For small quantities of petroleum-contaminated soil, off-site disposal can be expensive. The biocell technology, an ex situ bioremediation system, provides a potential alternative to off-site disposal for treating small quantities of soil contaminated with low to intermediate concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons.
The Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center conducted a demonstration of the biocell technology for petroleum-contaminated soils at the Naval Construction Batallion Center's (NCBC) Hydrocarbon National Test Site in Port Hueneme, California. The system used for the demonstration was a 10 cubic yard biocell built using a commercially available roll-off container. After 105 days of operation, TPH concentrations in the soil were reduced from 736 mg/kg to 147 mg/kg. The estimated unit costs for operating a 40 cubic yard biocell ranged from about $35 to $40 per cubic yard of soil treated, depending on the number of biocells. Several benefits were identified for biocell technology including relatively easy design and construction, potential applicability to a wide range of site conditions, and biocells may be cost-competitive with off-site disposal. |
