Technology:
Photocatalytic oxidation
- The contaminated air stream flows into the reactor where VOCs are adsorbed onto the surface of a proprietary catalyst that is continuously illuminated with UV light, oxidizing the VOCs.
- The unit operated at flow rates ranging from 490 to 600 scfm.
- The average power consumption was 15 kilowatts.
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Cleanup Authority:
Superfund Remedial Action
EPA Contact:
Mr. Vince Gallardo, Project Manager
U.S. EPA
National Risk Managment Research Laboratory (NRMRL)
26 West Martin Luther King Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45268
Phone: (513) 569-7176
Fax:: (513) 569-7620
E-mail: gellardo.vincente@epa.gov |
Contaminants:
Chlorinated VOCs
- 94% of the contaminant mass in off-gas was TCE |
Waste Source:
Off-gas from SVE and MPE |
Type/Quantity of Media Treated:
Off-gas |
Purpose/Significance of Application:
Field demonstration of a photocatalytic reactor to treat off-gas from soil vapor extraction (SVE) and multi-phase extraction (MPE) |
Regulatory Requirements/Cleanup Goals:
- Contaminant removal efficiency (CRE) of 95% or higher for TCE.
- Demonstrate effective TCE removal over an extended operational period (numerical goal not specified).
- State emissions standards for VOC emissions from the water scrubber following the photocatalytic reactor below the Rhode Island emissions standard for TCE and chloroform of 0.02 and 0.002 pounds per hour, respectively. |
Results:
- The observed CRE for TCE was 99.6%
- TCE emissions rom the water scrubber following the photocatalytic reactor ranged from 0.00039 to 0.0023 pounds per hour. TCE concentrations ranged from 0.038 to 0.19 ppmv.
- Chloroform emissions from the water scrubber following the photocatalytic reactor ranged from 0.00041 to 0.0050 pounds per hour |
Cost Factors:
- No information about costs was provided |
Description:
The Stamina Mills Superfund site is a former textile manufacturing facility. Spills of solvents used to clean fabrics manufactured at the plant resulted in contamination of soil and groundwater. SVE and MPE systems are currently operating at the site to clean up the contamination.
A demonstration test of a photocatalytic oxidation system was conducted under the U.S. EPA Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation Program (SITE). Off-gas from the SVE and MPE systems was treated using the photocatalytic oxidation system from August to October, 1999. Treatment goals for TCE were met. The vendor indicated that chloroform emissions from the scrubber could be reduced through the use of alternative photocatalysts or reactor |
