Complex Thermal Remediation
Real-Time Solutions to Unexpected Challenges Encountered During Thermal Remedy Implementation
An in situ thermal remediation (ISTR) design may look good on paper, but how will it perform in the field?
Thermal Conduction Heating (TCH), Electrical Resistance Heating (ERH) and Steam Enhanced Extraction (SEE) are widely used thermal technologies capable of effectively remediating a variety of chemicals in various varying subsurface settings, yet sometimes operations do not perform as planned. Due to the aggressive nature of thermal remediation in parallel with pro-active monitoring, operational challenges must be addressed immediately, typically within days rather than weeks. Lessons learned from more than 100 full-scale TCH, ERH and SEE projects will be discussed, focusing on common operational challenges that arise during full-scale thermal projects.
Thermal Remediation of High Mass Hydrocarbon Sites: When NAPL Capture Governs the Mass Recovery
On sites with contaminant masses counted in the hundred-thousand to million pound range, it’s imperative you choose the right technology for your remedy.
Thermal Technologies are widely used to target high mass contaminated sites where non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) are known to be present. While the geology and hydrogeology of a site typically is a driving factor for technology selection, the mass distribution, chemical composition and thermal behavior for the site contaminants are often the key drivers in determining in which phase the mass is mobilized, and thus the extraction strategy. For VOCs, mobilization in the vapor phase typically fully governs the mass removal. However, for more complex mixtures of high boiling point hydrocarbons, that may not be the case.
In this webinar, Technology Director Steffen Griepke explains what to consider when selecting and designing your thermal remedy for optimized mass removal. He shares best practices and examples drawn from the two decades he worked in thermal remediation.
ISTR in Complex Geologic Settings with Highly Variable Permeabilities and High Groundwater Flux Zones
Complex geologies with highly permeable zones can cause significant challenges while heating the subsurface during in situ thermal treatment and those challenges pose a serious threat to your project’s success. It is critical to have a detailed conceptual site model (CSM) and a proper understanding of the site’s lithology before choosing the technologies and designing the remedy that will best address the contaminant(s), the site’s unique complexities, and the outcomes demanded by state and federal guidance.
In this webinar, thermal expert John LaChance discusses the type and nature of high permeability and complex geologic settings, how they affect thermal treatment, and examples of effective in situ thermal remediation (ISTR) designs in complex geologic settings.
Heat It Up: How High Temp Thermal Tackles Recalcitrant Chemicals
What do coal tar, PAHs, PCBs, pesticides, dioxins, PFAS and mercury all have in common?
They’re all recalcitrant chemicals that are hard to treat using traditional remediation methods. Sites with these contaminants are nearly unaffected even by thermal treatments reaching the boiling point of water. Luckily, high temperature thermal conductive heating (TCH) can reach temperatures of more than 300°C, high enough to address these difficult chemicals.
In this webinar, TerraTherm’s Steffen Griepke will discuss where high temperature thermal is applicable, what chemicals can be targeted and what results can be achieved. Different implementation approaches tailored to the site specific circumstances will be presented, and both in situ and ex situ case study examples will be provided. Steffen will draw on TerraTherm’s 25 years of experience working with high temp thermal projects to answer participant questions during the Q&A.
If you have interest in cleaning up some the most difficult chemicals out there, this is a webinar you don’t want to miss.
What You Need To Know About Thermal Remediation For MGP Sites
When a manufactured gas plant (MGP) site is identified for treatment, the typical remediation approach can be expensive and involve hazards for crews and the community. Any time you excavate contaminated soil and transport it for treatment or disposal, you are introducing potential safety and liability issues.
Luckily, in situ thermal remediation (ISTR) is often a safe and cost-competitive alternative.
In this webinar, Vice President of Thermal Technology John LaChance will briefly introduce the primary ISTR technologies, their applicability, and their primary removal mechanisms at MGP sites. He will discuss the key design considerations for varying conditions and remedial goals, and present a real-life example of an MGP site that was recently remediated with ISTR – including analysis and discussion of the potential role in situ smoldering may play at some sites in the removal of creosote/coal tar. John will also cover projects where the goal was not complete removal but volatilization of the low boiling point compounds and in situ immobilization of the high boiling point compounds, such as heavier range TPH and PAHs.
Recalcitrant Contamination: Challenges, Pitfalls and Learnings from 20 High-Temperature Projects
Recalcitrant chemicals like PAH, PCB’s, Dioxins, PFAS, and Mercury, are hard to treat using traditional remediation methods. Sites with these contaminants are nearly unaffected even by thermal treatments at the boiling point of water. However, when we use our Thermal Conductive Heating technology, we can reach target temperatures well above 300 °C and thereby treat these persistent compounds. Join our free webinar, where the experienced team of TerraTherm and KrugerVeolia experts will discuss:
- Where high-temperature remediation is applicable
- Which chemicals can be targeted
- What results can be achieved
- Tailoring of implementation approaches and specific sites examples
- In situ and ex-situ case study examples.
Doing high-temperature remediation is not a simple task but done correctly, you can reach amazing results. We will touch on challenges, pitfalls and lessons based on our 20 successfully completed high-temperature project.
In Situ Thermal Remediation of High Boiling Point Chemicals
The treatment of sites with recalcitrant contaminants such as PFAS, PCBs, dioxins and PAHs can feel daunting. Fortunately, there’s an effective solution for high-boiling point chemicals – In Situ Thermal Remediation (ISTR).
In this flash webinar, TerraTherm thermal experts Sam Nienstedt, Technologist, and Steffen Griepke, Vice President of Technology, will provide a brief overview of thermal remediation and share how ISTR can remove or destroy subsurface contaminants. They explain why thermal conductive heating (TCH) is the primary ISTR technology for remediation of high boiling point chemicals. They will also discuss important design do’s and don’ts for a successful remedy, common ISTR myths, and typical costs.
There will be time for questions at the end, so bring your questions about using thermal remediation to treat hard-to-treat contaminants. This flash webinar is scheduled for 30 minutes.
ISTR and Subsidence Risks
More and more frequently, In Situ Thermal Remediation (ISTR) is being used to treat contaminations located below buildings, roadways, and other critical infrastructure. Subsidence and potential geotechnical effects on buildings and infrastructure are concerns often raised in the initial design phase of a thermal remedy.
While the heating approach and main heating mechanisms differ based on the ISTR technology utilized, heating in general will thermally expand the soils treated and at the same time, change the saturation of the treated volume due to boil-off of some of the water. Depending on the geology, this can lead to changes in the geotechnical integrity.
In this flash webinar, the basics factors affecting the geotechnical properties during a thermal remedy will be discussed, along with a general description of soil types where subsidence is more likely to happen. Examples of geotechnical pre-investigations and tests utilized to determine the impact of a structure’s stability will be given along with case studies showing data from thermal areas remediated below structures.
ISTR in Fractured Bedrock
Treating fractured bedrock is complex, and effective remedial options are limited. Due to the fractured nature of rock, contamination can migrate deep, and pathways out of the bedrock system are limited.
Using thermal technologies is one of the most effective and reliable methods of treating fractured bedrock.
In this flash webinar, presenters Steffen Griepke and John LaChance, (VPs of Technology and Development, respectively) will discuss the treatment of bedrock source zones, including:
- The challenges of removing CVOCs and DNAPL from fractured rock
- The pros and cons of the most common thermal treatment technologies in bedrock settings
- Design considerations and field implementation challenges
The presentation will include examples and results from bedrock sites successfully remediated using thermal. Steffen and John will also share highlights from a recently completed project—the world’s deepest thermal remediation project in crystalline rock, treated to a total depth of 170 ft.
If you are involved in the evaluation or remediation of any bedrock sites, this is a webinar you want to watch.
ISTR Challenges Part 1: Thermal Conductive Heating
In Situ Thermal Remediation (ISTR) is a widely used approach for treating highly contaminated source zones (e.g., DNAPL and LNAPL) at hazardous waste sites because of its reliability and effectiveness at removing a wide range of chemicals from a variety of geologic settings. As experienced consultants know, large scale remediation projects come with unique challenges.
Vice President of Development, John LaChance, and Senior Technologist, Erin Hauber, are here to share some of the lessons learned from implementing thermal conductive heating (TCH) at more than 80 sites including:
- unexpected COCs and increased mass
- higher groundwater flux than expected
- materials selection for sites with highly corrosive COCs
- how to handle highly flammable COCs in the vapor treatment system
- mitigating vapor intrusion issues that may arise during treatment
Join the discussion for insight to help avoid costly project delays in your next thermal project. There will be time for questions at the end, so bring the thermal remediation questions you’ve never had a chance to ask.