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Advanced Oxidation Assisted Groundwater Treatment System: A Field Evaluation
Citation:
Namboodiri, V., D. Cutt, I. Katz, D. Gwisdalla, F. Alvarez, AND M. Pensak. Advanced Oxidation Assisted Groundwater Treatment System: A Field Evaluation. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-25/125, 2025.
Impact/Purpose:
1,4-dioxane is a high priority chemical in EPA Region 2 due to its widespread occurrence throughout the region and the low regulatory limits established by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). As of 2014, there were 544 detections of TCA (a common co-contaminant of 1,4-dioxane) in groundwater throughout New Jersey; however, these numbers likely underestimate the occurrence of 1,4-dioxane in groundwater across the state. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) is also working with EPA Region 2 to sample for 1,4-dioxane in groundwater at 725 remedial program sites across the state of New York. The preliminary data indicate that exceedances above the proposed MCL of 1 µg/L occurred at 174, or 24%, of the sites. NYSDEC is currently evaluating a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) recommendation of 1 µg/L for 1,4-dioxane from the New York Drinking Water Quality Council. If adopted, it would be the nation's most stringent drinking water standard for 1,4-dioxane. The objective of this project was to demonstrate the Office of Research and Developments in-house developed cost-effective small-scale Point of Entry (POET) advanced oxidation treatment technology at the Williams Property Superfund site in New Jersey with the help of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). This advanced oxidation technology approach will not only be useful for treating 1,4 dioxane in water but also will find applications for the remediation of various other organic chemicals in water. This field demonstration report will support/guide various EPA regions, states, municipalities, homeland security/FEMA, and the US Army for selecting technologies to treat their water/wastewaters.
Description:
Advanced oxidation processes are currently being looked at as potentially better methods for treating organic contaminants found in waters due to industrial accidents, natural, and man-made incidents. Hydrogen peroxide and ozone devices are fairly well-known and guidance is needed for combining these technologies (Hipox). Bench to field-scale studies utilizing Hipox followed by UV treatment will be conducted to determine performance efficiency, cost, practical field applications, and the need for post-treatment. Comparisons will be made to accepted treatment technologies like GAC. Recalcitrant organic contaminantsand select homeland security contaminant surrogates will be used. Selected treatment trains may be integrated into the WOW Cart mobile emergency water treatment system.