The radio frequency (RF) heating process can be used to volumetrically heat and thus decontaminate uncontrolled landfills and hazardous substances from spills. After the landfills are heated, decontamination of the hazardous substances occurs due to thermal decomposition, vaporization and distillation assisted with steam in a temperature range of 300 to 400C in a residence time of 14 days. Heating is achieved by laying a row of horizontal conductors above the ground surface of the landfill and exciting them with an RF generator through a matching, network. This method is particularly attractive for uncontrolled landfills since it does not require mining excavation, drilling, or boring in the contaminated volume. Preliminary design and cost estimates were made for a mobile RF in situ decontamination process. Comparative cost studies indicate that the RF decontamination process is two to four times cheaper than excavation of the landfill and incineration of the contaminated volume in a nearby incinerator. The economic attractiveness of the process warrants laboratory verification of the decontamination mechanisms and field studies.

"EPA-600/D-84-077." Project Officer: Hugh E. Masters. Contract number 68-03-3014. Also distributed by National Technical Information Service (NTIS) as PB84-167642.