CMP Pits Receive Shocking Treatment

Soil and Groundwater Closure Projects (SGCP) began operations of the electrical resistance heating (ERH) system in mid-March at the Chemicals, Metals and Pesticides Pits (CMP Pits), located north of L-Area.

Since around-the-clock operation of the ERH system began, approximately 100 pounds of solvents have been removed from the area.

ERH is a soil treatment technology used to remediate solvent contamination in the vadose zone. Electrodes inserted into the subsurface heat the soil to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, transforming the liquid solvents into a gas phase.

The contaminants are removed from the soil using soil vapor extraction. The rate of removal has proven to be over 80 percent faster than conventional soil vapor alone.

“ERH was selected because soil heating effectively mobilizes Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid (DNAPL) and is compatible with the existing SVE system,” said Chris Bergren, Project Manager. “ERH is more effective than injection / extraction technologies because injection / extraction near the source area is difficult to implement due to low permeability soils while soil heating is accomplished via conduction.”

In 2006, a deployment of ERH all but eliminated the source of groundwater contamination in soil at the SRS’ C-Reactor Area. About 99 percent of the original solvent, trichloroethylene (TCE) was removed within the three months of operation.

This technology has proven to be outstanding in the removal of solvents and meeting regulatory stipulated cleanup goals.

The ERH system facilitates quick and easy capture and destruction of solvent contamination, not only expediting SRS cleanup, but also preventing further impact to the groundwater aquifers.

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