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APPLICATION OF THERMAL DESORPTION TECHNOLOGIES TO HAZARDOUS WASTE SITES
Citation:
de Percin*, P R. APPLICATION OF THERMAL DESORPTION TECHNOLOGIES TO HAZARDOUS WASTE SITES. W. Choi, M. F. Fingas, J. Gardea-Torresdey, G. Lyberatos, J. H. Tay (ed.), JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 40(2):203-209, (1995).
Impact/Purpose:
These SITE field demonstrations were designed to answer three questions about thermal desorption: (1) what is the treatment effectiveness for non-volatile organics, (2) are there products of incomplete combustion, e.g., dioxins/furans, and (3) what are the air emissions?
Description:
Thermal desorption is a separation process frequently used to remediate many Superfund sites. Thermal desorption technologies are recommended and used because of (1) the wide range of organic contaminants effectively treated, (2) availability and mobility of commercial systems, and (3) the public acceptance of the treatment approach. Thermal desorption is applicable to many organic wastes and generally not used for treating inorganics and metals. Commercial systems are now in operation remediating Superfund sites, and more are under construction. The public has shown a preference for this technology over incineration because, as a separation process, it seems less likely to create dioxins and other oxidation products. The US EPA SITE program has evaluated the major thermal desorption vendors to answer several questions about the technology; what is the treatment effectiveness, are there products of incomplete combustion, and what are the air emissions?
