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IN SITU AND SOIL DECONTAMINATION BY RADIO FREQUENCY HEATING
Citation:
Sresty, G., H. Dev, AND J. Houthoofd. IN SITU AND SOIL DECONTAMINATION BY RADIO FREQUENCY HEATING. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/A-93/273.
Description:
In situ radio frequency heating is performed by applying electromagnetic energy in the radio frequency band to an array of electrodes placed in bore holes drilled through the contaminated soil. he process removes organic contaminants from large volumes of soil by volatilization, boiling or steam stripping. nhanced vaporization results from the stripping action of steam and infiltrating air. ven high boiling contaminants can be removed at temperatures which are much below their normal boiling points. ystem of vacuum manifolds is utilized for the collection of gases and vapors formed upon heating of soil. hese gases are conveyed to an on site vent gas treatment system. he feasibility of the process for the treatment of fuel spills was proven in a field test. he soil was heated to a temperature range of 150 to 160 degrees C. It was shown that 94 to 99 percent of the volatile and semivolatile components of the fuel spill had been removed. ther feasibility studies performed in the laboratory have shown that the process can be used to decontaminate soils containing phenol, pentachlorophenol and various PAHS. he feasibility of removing PCBs from soil was demonstrated in the laboratory. oils spiked with 1000 ppm of Aroclor 1242 were heated. It was shown that the residual PCB concentration can be reduced to less than 4 ppm after treatment at 300 degrees C for a period of 24 hours. he in situ heating process has the following advantages: it is a true in situ process; the equipment can be trailer mounted and transported. he cost of the process is estimated to be in the range of $40 to $100/ton of soil depending upon the soil moisture content, and final treatment temperature.