At a manufacturing site, a fire led to the rupture of a supply pipe connected to above ground storage tanks containing Phthalates, resulting in the infiltration of an unknown quantity of DEPH (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate) into the soil. The contamination source is spread out under production buildings, close to above ground storage tanks and has formed a free-phase product on top of the groundwater, a formula for complex challenges.
Information about the remediation of DEPH is scarce, so before the implementation phase Greensoil conducted a thorough feasibility study focusing on emulsification, biodegradation potential, and LNAPL transmissivity. The remediation approach for this site consists of a combination of different methods:
· Maximal removal of the pure phase product by means of bioslurping, including an aboveground (biological) groundwater treatment
· Stimulation of the in-situ aerobic biodegradation using a biosparging system.
Biosparging
Installation of 20 airsparging wells (7 m-bgl) in and outside buildings (pneumatic hammering). It injects compressed air with a relative low flow and pressure, to prevent massive stripping of the contaminants from the groundwater, as it aims at creating aerobic conditions in the soil.
Bioslurping and groundwater treatment
An underground in situ floating layer extraction system consisting of 40 intersecting wells to 5 m-bgl which also acts as infiltration of cleaned groundwater enriched with nutrients and oxygen. The above groundwater treatment installation exists of O/W separator, bioreactor and buffer-nutrient mixture tank.
After three years of active treatment, the treatment targets have been successfully met and the in situ system could be completely removed from the site.
Do you want to see if Bioremediation is the right approach for your project?
Schedule a meeting or request our free brochure today.
