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HIGH VOLTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL APPLICATIONS, INC.ELECTRON BEAM TECHNOLOGY - INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY EVALUATION REPORT
Citation:
Cooper, W. J., K. Topudurti, AND F R. Alvarez*. HIGH VOLTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL APPLICATIONS, INC.ELECTRON BEAM TECHNOLOGY - INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY EVALUATION REPORT. EPA/540/R-96/504, 1997.
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Description:
This report evaluates a high-voltage electron beam (E-beam) technology's ability to destroy volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other contaminants present in liquid wastes. Specifically, this report discusses performance and economic data from a Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) demonstration of the technology and one case study. The E-beam technology was developed by High Voltage Environmental Applications, Inc. (HVEA). The technology irradiates water with a beam of high-energy electrons, causing the formation of three primary transient reactive species: aqueous electrons, hydroxyl radicals, and hydrogen radicals. These reactive species undergo complex sequences of reactions with target organic compounds, which are either mineralized or broked down into low molecular weight compounds. The E-beam technology was demonstrated under the SITE program at the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site in Aiken, SC, during 3 wk in September and November 1994. A trailer-mounted E-beam system was used for the SITE demonstration. This system is housed in an 8- by 48-ft trailer and is rated for minimum and maximum flow rates of 15 and 50 gal/min, respectively. During the demonstration, the E-beam system treated about 70,000 gal of groundwater contaminated with VOCs. The principal groundwater contaminants were trichloroethene (TCE) and tetrachloroethene (PCE), which were present at concentrations of about 27,000 and 11,000 ug/L, respectively. The groundwater also contained low levels (40 ug/L) of cis-1,2-dichloroethene (1,2-DCE). During a portion of the demonstration, the influent was spiked with VOCs not present in the groundwater. The resultant influent concentrations were about 100 to 500 ug/L for the following compounds: 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA); 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCA); chloroform; carbon tetrachloride (CCI4); and aromatic VOCs including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX).