Soil Washing Process
BIOGENESIS ENTERPRISES, INC.
(BioGenesis_ Soil Washing Process)
TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION:
The BioGenesis_ process uses specialized, patent pending equipment, complex surfactants, and water to clean soil, sediment, and sludge contaminated with organic and inorganic constituents. A truck-mounted batch unit processes 20 yards per hour. Auxiliary equipment includes tanks, dewatering and water treatment equipment, and a bioreactor. Extraction efficiencies range up to 75 percent per wash cycle. BioGenesis surfactants enhance biodegradation of some organics resulting in removal efficiencies of up to 85 percent. High contaminant levels require multiple washes.
The principal components of the process include pretreatment equipment for removing particles larger than 2 inches in diameter, a truck-mounted soil washer, and water treatment and reconditioning equipment. The Biogenesis_ soil washing system (see figure below) consists of a trailer-mounted gondola plumbed for air mixing, water and chemical addition, oil skimming, and liquid drainage. Water, BioGenesisÔ cleaning chemicals, and soil are loaded into the gondola. Aeration nozzles feed compressed air to create a fluidized bed. The resulting slurry is agitated to release organic and inorganic contaminants from the soil particles. After mixing, a short settling period allows the soil particles to sink and the removed oil to rise to the water surface, where it is skimmed for reclamation or disposal. Following drainage of the wash water, the clean soil is evacuated by raising the gondola's dump mechanism.
The BioGenesisÔ cleaning chemical is a light alkaline mixture of ionic and nonionic surfac-tants and bioremediating agents that act similarly to a biosurfactant. The proprietary cleaner contains no hazardous ingredients, and its characteristics were reviewed during the EPA SITE demonstration.
WASTE APPLICABILITY:
This technology extracts many inorganics, volatile and nonvolatile hydrocarbons, chlori-nated hydrocarbons, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and most organics from nearly every soil type, including clay.
STATUS:
The BioGenesis_ soil washing technology was accepted into the SITE Demonstration Program in June 1990. The process was demonstrated in November 1992 at a refinery site in Minnesota. Results from the demonstration have been published in the Innovative Technology Evaluation Report (EPA/540/R-93/510) and the SITE Technology Capsule (EPA/540/SR-93/510). The reports are avail-able from EPA.
A SITE demonstration of the BioGenesis_ sedi-ment washing process is scheduled for fall 1995 using PCB-contaminated sediment. For further information on the BioGenesis_ sediment washing process, refer to the BioGenesis profile in the Demonstration Program section (ongoing projects).
DEMONSTRATION RESULTS:
Results of the SITE demonstration are presented below:
· Soil washing and biodegradation with BioGenesis_ removed about 85 percent of the total recoverable petroleum hydrocarbon (TRPH) related contaminants in the soil.
· Treatment system performance was reproducible at constant operating conditions.
· At the end of 90 days, TRPH con-centrations decreased an additional 50 percent compared to washing alone.
· The prototype equipment operated within design parameters. New production equipment is expected to streamline overall operating efficiency.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
EPA PROJECT MANAGER:
Annette Gatchett
U.S. EPA
National Risk Management Research
Laboratory
26 West Martin Luther King Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45268
513-569-7697
Fax: 513-569-7620
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPER CONTACT:
Thomas Rougeux
BioGenesis Enterprises, Inc.
610 West Rawson Avenue
Oak Creek, WI 53154
414-571-6230
Fax: 414-571-6231