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Somerworth biopolymer trenching

Data provider

Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Department of Applied Biotechnology and Food Science, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology Group

Organisation/Data provider's nameBudapest University of Technology and Economics, Department of Applied Biotechnology and Food Science, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology Group
Name of contact
Dr. Molnár Mónika, Dr. Feigl Viktória
Contact details
Telephone/fax
+36-1-4632347
Compulsory sheet of the technology
Technology Hungarian nameSomerworth biopolymer trenching
Technology name
Somerworth biopolymer trenching
Country of origin
USA
Stage of development
after application
Start of the development
1999
End of the development
2000
Financing of the project
Application sphere
Contaminant group|Contaminant typically treated
  • Halogenated aliphatic organic compounds
  • trichloroethylene
Other contaminants
dichloro- trichloro-, tetrachloro- and perchloroethylene
Description of environmental risk
Typical initial value
120 µg/l
Maximum initial value
220 µg/l
Typical final value
20 µg/l
Maximum final value
150 ug/kg
Information on the technology
Environmental element/phase the method may be applied to
Subsurface water
Technology type
combined
Basis of the technology
Physical
Chemical
Technology description

In the construction of a 7.6 m long, 0.8 m wide and 10.4 m deep experimental permeable reactive barrier (PRB), 90/10% iron/sand mixture was placed into the trench using a tremie pipe (Sivavec et al., 2002). Sand and granular iron (Conelly-GPM, -8+50 mesh) were mixed at the site using concrete-mixing trucks. The reactive material was placed in the trench using tremie pipes. Care was taken to minimize segregation and contact between the iron/sand mixture and the biopolymer. Following placement high pH enzyme breaker (Rantec LEB-H, 3.81) was added to the fluid to break the remaining biopolymer in the trench and clay was placed on the barrier to prevent contact with air.

Description of the novelty of the technology

Biopolymers were first used as additives to stabilise trench walls during excavation. Through the advancements achieved by their use, the additive application has been developed into a new technology. The procedure exhibits similar features to traditional slurry trenching, the main difference being that biopolymer (e. g. guar gum) is added to the stabilising suspension and enzyme breaker used to break the remaining biopolymer.

Technology classification
Remediation technology type
  • subsurface permeable reactive soil zone
  • subsurface Permeable Reactive Barrier (PRB) (simple)
Other remediation technology
with biopolimer application
Remediation technology from contaminant point of view
immobilisation
Remediation technology from execution point of view
in situ
Technology-monitoring
Technological parameters
Water flux
Monitored environmental element
Subsurface water
Duration of post monitoring
1 - 2 év
Costs of the technology
Capital costs
40.000 - 200.000 Euro
Specific total costs
no estimation
SWOT (evalaution based on scores)
Costs
4-low
Time requirement
3-medium
Space requirement
5-very low
Workload requirement
4-low
Equipment, apparata requirement
3-medium
Qualified labour
2-high
Environmental risk and workplace risks
4-low
Ability to meet the target value
5-very high
Environmental efficiency
4-high
Cost efficiency
4-good
Generation of any recyclable byproduct
no
Generation of any byproduct to be treated
no
Automation/remote control
no
Feasibility
5-excellent
Availability
4-good
Well known
4-good
SWOT (evaluation in words)
Strengths

Improved slurry trenching technology for PRB which uses biopolymer to enhance trench stabilisation during excavation and enzyme breaker following placement of the reactive material.

Weaknesses

Potential segregation of sand and iron during placement.

Possibilities

Technology enhancement for PRB construction.

Threats

None.

Completed applications
Site name
Somerworth Sanitary Landfill Superfund Site
Location of the application, country
New Hampshire, USA
Location of the application, town
Somerworth
Start date of the application
1999
Alkalmazás befejező időpontja
2000
Application stages
Demonstration
Landuse
Other
Other landuse
Landfill
Origin of the pollution
Landfill
Summary of the charasteristic parameters of application

The affected area was 0.26 ha. Sand and gravel having a hydraulic conductivity of 2 x 10-4 m/s. Hydraulic gradient varied from 0.003 to 0.0012 m/m. The top of the water table varied from 0.6 m to 6.1 m below ground surface. 10 5 of the waste in the landfill was located below the water table. The aquifer is 9-12 m thick.

Publications, references
Publications

Sivavec, T., Krug, T, Berry-Spark, K. and Focht, R. (2002) Performance monitoring of a permeable reactive barrier at the Somerworth Sanitary Landfill Superfund Site. In: Simon, F.G., Meggyes, T., McDonald, C. (eds) Advanced groundwater remediation. Thomas Telford Publishing. London. 87 - 100.

References

Sivavec, T.M. (2001) Long-Term Performance Monitoring of Permeable Reactive Barriers, Prepr. Paper ACS Natl. Meeting, Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Environ. Chem. 41(1), 1181-1184.

Pictures
Properties of the datasheet
Datasheet id (original)
288
Creator
Meggyes Tamas
Status
Verified
Adatlap típusaSoil remediation technology
Létrehozás
Módosítás