NCD980602163_19950406_Warren County PCB Landfill_SERB C_ETG RFQ for Pilot Scale Project-OCR

Environmental, Inc.
Sharron Rogers
Assistant Director for Policy,
Planning and Development
State of North Carolina Department of
Environment, Health and Natural Resources
Division of Solid Waste
PO Box 27687
Raleigh, NC 27611-7687
Dear Ms. Rogers:
Providing creative environmental solutions
April 6, 1995
Pursuant to your March 30, 1995 letter requesting responses to a list of twenty-
five questions, ETG Environmental has completed the enclosed questionaire for
review by the Joint Warren County and State PCB Working Group and their
independent technical advisor.
In addition to the responses contained in the attached document, feel free to
contact Dr. Yei-Shong Shieh or me with any further questions that the Working
Group or their technical advisor may have.
In closing, we look forward to speaking with you and your associates soon and
suggest that, at a date in the near future, respresentatives from ETG come to your
offices to present an overview on our THERM-0-DETOX® indirect thermal
desorption technology and the BCD process.
Very truly yours,
ETG ENVIRONMENTAL ,INC.
L~artin
Vice President, Business Development
660 Sentry Parkway, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania 19422 • [phone] • Fax [phone]
Regional Offices: Cincinnati, OH • Lansing, Ml • Philadelphia, PA • Toledo, OH
Questions for Respondents on WQ1Ten County PCB Landfill Detoxification RFQ
March 30, 1995
Please respond to the following questions clarifying and/ or extending your responses to the
RFQ. You may submit additional documentation at this time as well; no additional
responses are required.
FROM: Sharron Rogers
NCDEHNR, Division of Solid Waste Management
1. Has your company completed a soil-based PCB clean-up project to clean-up standards
at detection limit levels? Please provide brief summary(s).
ETG has completed several projects with contaminants having a similar boiling point
as PCBs (e.g. PAHs) at a CERCLA Superfund site; PCP and PCDD/PCDF were
treated to clean-up standards.
2 Did the above project(s) involve a thennal desorption method?
Yes, indirect heat thermal desorption was used.
3. Did the above project(s) involve a non-thermal desorption method?
No.
4. Did the above project(s) involve a patented BCD process? (Questions 2, 3, 4 may be
answered in combined schematic or as separate descriptions at your preference).
Yes, BCD reagent was utilized in the thermal desorption (solid phase BCD). Organic
condensate from the soil phase BCD process was collected and treated in the liquid
phase by the EPA patented, ETG licensed BCD process in a liquid tank reactor.
5. Please briefly state the primary proposed treatment method your recommend at this time
for the Wmren County PCB Landfill detoxification initiative.
The combination of BCD and indirect heat thermal desorption process will be used
to treat PCB contaminated wastes from the Warren County PCB Landfill. See attached
SITE technology profile.
6. Please briefly state the options (1...2 . .3) contained in your qualifications statement or
recommended for the Wmren County PCB Landfill detoxification initiative.
See response under item 5 above.
WtllTen County PCB Landfill Questionnaire Responses •Ques.LAM"
Z What are the lowest achievable clean-up levels for your recommended detoxification
method for Warren County? Are extra costs/time involved in achieving these levels, beyo,uJ
normal clean-up levels? Are these lowest clean-up levels theoretical or have they been
achieved in an actual project?
The lowest achievable clean-up levels is estimated at 50 ppb level for each PCB
congener based on treatability studies for other PCB projects. Extra costs/time are
dependent upon waste type, contaminant level and site conditions.
8. Please identify all waste streams expected to remain on-site or be shipped off-site following
completion of soil clean-up at he Wmren County PCB Landfill using your recommended
method. Please list approximale quantities where possible at this early stage in the project
design.
Treated wastes (soils) -Backfill on-site.
Treated water -Reuse for soil conditioning -backfill on-site.
Treated organic condensate -Off-site recycling (non-hazardous after BCD treatment).
Off-gas -Less than 200 CFM discharge emission will meet applicable standards.
9. Please briefly describe how successful or how closed the proposed 11closed loop• process
would be for Warren County, e.g. percentage of destruction, air emissions, and residual
wastes.
The proposed process should be nearly "closed loop" with all residual and water
combined for on-site backfill. Air emissions should be negligible from the process (200
cfm) and will be treated to applicable standards by an extensive vapor recovery system.
10. Is your organization familiar with NC regulations? Wdl they be able to meet all required
pennits and conditions?
Yes, the system will meet the required permitting and conditions.
11. Have you completed a BCD project? How large?
Yes. An EPA SITE demonstration project was conducted at the Koppers Superfund
site in Morrisville, NC in September, 1993.
12 What performance changes may occur as a result of design modifications needed to
upgrade your system to handle a large project such as ours?
The off-gas system has been modified based on the state-of-the-art approach to meet
the most stringent air emission standards.
13. Do you have the organizational and technical resources available to devote to this project?
Yes. ETG is a hazardous waste management company with more than thirty-five (35)
years experience in field waste processing and remediation services, including a well
trained field operatinos staff and headquarters technical support.
Wa"en County PCB Landfill Questionnaire Responses •Ques.LAM"
14. If your Company is wholly or partially owned, or joint venture, please outline this
relationship and list all related 1st and 2nd and other generation affiliates.
ETG is a privately owned company backed up by Charterhouse International, an
investment company located in New York, NY.
15. Wzll your organization have a project manager available to answer questions from working
group members, legislators, media throughout the lifetime of this project?
Yes.
16. Can you provide references or written statements from citizens at project sites?
This technology was advocated for utilization at the following Superfund sites by the
citizens groups (1) New Bedford Harbor (MA); Neil Balboni (508-748-0099), (2)
Koppers Superfund site (Morrisville, NC).
lZ Please estimate a net cost per ton for remediation of the 40,000 cubic yards of
contaminated soil at the Wwren County LandfilL What items are not included in this
price (e.g., security, mobilization, demobilization, waste disposal)?
$150 -$200/Ton for turn-key responsibility including excavation, mob/demob,
processing, waste disposal and security as required.
18. Does your company/joint venture have the willingness and/or ability to conduct a pilot
study?
Yes. Pilot and full-scale units are available to conduct an on-site demonstration.
19. If a pilot study is approved, what would be your organizations earliest availability, and
please give a rough time estimate for completion of the pilot study?
The pilot unit will be available in June and the pilot study can be completed in 3 - 4
weeks (including set-up, processing and demobilization).
20. Reference at least two sites where you have successfully utilized the proposed remedial
process.
The thermal desorption process has been used at several refineries in Ohio and Puerto
Rico. The thermal desorption/BCD process has been demonstrated at the Koppers
Superfund site in Morrisville, NC.
21. Please list any violations or citations related to non-compliance with local, state or federal
environmental regulations in any jurisdiction.
None
Wa"en County PCB Landfill Questionnaire Responses •Ques.LAM"
22 Is vendor a minority or woman owned firm?
No.
23. Has vendor utilized the proposed remedial process on any CERCLA sites, and if so,
where?
Yes. The Koppers Superfund site.
24. How long has vendor been in business?
More than thirty-five (35) years.
25. Does vendor expect to be able to meet all legal requirements related to public contracts
such as anti-Bid Rigging Act, Equal Employment Opportunity Act, OSHA and Debarment
in any state
Yes.
Wa"en County PCB Landfill Questionnaire Responses •Ques.LAM"
Technology Profile DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM
RISK REDUCTION ENGINEERING LABORATORY
(Base-Catalyzed Decomposition Process)
TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION:
The base-catalyzed decomposition (BCD) pro-
cess is a chemical dehalogenation technology
developed by the Risk Reduction Engineering
Laboratory in Cincinnati, Ohio. BCD is
initiated in a medium temperature thermal
desorber (MTTD), at temperatures ranging from
600 to 950 degrees Fahrenheit (0F). Chemicals
are added to contaminated soils, sediments, or
sludge matrices containing hazardous chlorinated
organics including polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCB) and polychlorinated dioxins and furans.
BCD then chemically detoxifies the condensed
organic contaminants by removing chlorine from
the contaminant and replacing it with hydrogen.
Because the chlorinated organics have some
volatility, there is a degree of volatilization that
takes place in parallel with chemical dechlori-
nation. The result is a clean, inexpensive,
CONTAMINATED MATERW.S OR SCREENED SOILS
permanent remedy where all process residuals
(including dehalogenated organics) are recyclable
or recoverable.
ETG Environmental, Inc. (ETG), and Separation
and Recovery Systems (SRS) developed the
THERM-o-DET0X® and SAREX® systems and
combined them with the BCD process chemistry.
The combined process begins by initiating solid
phase dechlorination in the MTTD step (see
figure below). Organics are thermally desorbed
from the matrix, and are condensed and sent to
the BCD liquid tank reactor. Reagents are then
added and heated to 600 to 650 °F for 1 to 3
hours to dechlorinate the remaining organics.
The treated residuals are recycled or disposed of
using standard, commercially available methods,
including solvent reuse and fuel substitution.
Treated, clean soil can be recycled as on-site
backff'
r--------... vAPORRECOVERY-SYSTDi-------~;---~
I ATMOSPHERE I
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I
FtED
HOPPER
VAPOR DISCHARGES I
ot:CHLORINATION
REAGENTS
C\ A V V
F"EEO CONVEYOR
\J \7
BCD SOLIDS REACTOR
MEDIUM TEMPERATURE
THERMAL DESORPTION (MTTD)
COOUNG WATER
ON-SITE BM:l<FlU.
OR -------4 0fT -sm: DISPOSAL
WATER
SPRAY
C\ C\ V V
COOLING SCREW
CONVEYOR
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I I
I
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TREATED WATER
REC'YCt.Ell
ON-sm:
RECYCL.fD OFT-SITE
Base-Catalyzed Dechlorination (BCD) Process
Page 106 The SITE Program assesses but does not
approve or endorse technologies.
-
WASTE APPLICABILITY:
The BCD process can treat soils , sediments, and
sludges contaminated with the following chlori-
nated compounds:
• Halogenated volatile organic compounds
• Halogenated semivolatile organic com-
pounds, including herbicides and pesti-
cides
• PCBs
• Pentachlorophenol (PCP)
• Polychlorinated dioxins and furans
STATUS:
The combined BCD process was successfully
demonstrated at the Koppers Company
Superfund Site in Morrisville, North Carolina,
from August through September 1993. The
process removed PCP and polychlorinated
dioxins and furans from clay soils to levels well
below those specified in the Record of Decision.
As a result, EPA Region 4 approved BCD for
the full-scale site remediation.
For information on the SAREX® system, see the
SRS profile in this document.
DEMONSTRATION RESULTS:
The demonstration consisted of four replicate
test runs in the MTTD and two replicate test
runs in the liquid tank reactor (LTR). Feed soil
consisted of a dry, clayey silt which was pro-
cessed at a rate of 250 pounds per hour in the
MTTD at 800 °F; retention time was approxi-
mately one hour. The oil in each LTR test run
was batch-processed for six hours at 650 °F.
Based on preliminary analytical results, key
findings from the SITE demonstration are sum-
marized as follows:
November 1994
Completed Project
• The MTTD removed 99 percent of
penta-chlorophenol (PCP), and 92
percent of dioxins and furans in the soil.
• Treated soil met the cleanup goals of 95
parts per million for PCP and 7 parts
per billion for dioxins and furans.
• All semivolatile organic compounds
were well below toxicity characteristic
leaching procedure limits in treated soil.
• The L TR batch tests reduced PCP
concen-trations by 97 percent, and
dioxin and furan concentrations by 99
percent.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
EPA PROJECT MANAGER:
Terrence Lyons
U.S. EPA
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
26 West Martin Luther King Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45268
513-569-7589
Fax: [phone]
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPER CONTACTS:
Carl Brunner
U.S. EPA
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
26 West Martin Luther King Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45268
513-569-7655
Fax: [phone] or 7677
Y ei-Shong Shieh or Steven Detwiler
ETG Environmental, Inc .
660 Sentry Parkway
Blue Bell, PA 19422
610-832-0700
Fax: [phone]
The SITE Program assesses but does not
approve or endorse technologies. Page 107
Environmental, Inc.
Sharron Rogers
North Carolina Department of Environment,
Health and Natural Resources
Division of Solid Waste Management
401 Oberlin Road, Suite 150
Raleigh, NC 27605
Providing creative environmental solutions
February 24, 1995
Subject: Request for Qualifications from Vendors of Technical & Engineering
Expertise on the Base Catalyzed Decomposition (BCD) Method for
Detoxification of PCB Contaminated Soils
Dear Ms. Rogers:
ETG Environmental, Inc. (ETG) is pleased to respond to your request to submit
qualifications indicating our technical and engineering expertise in using the USEPA
patented, ETG licensed Base-Catalyzed Decomposition_(BCD) chemical dechlorination
method for detoxification/destruction of PCB contaminated soils at the Warren County PCB
Landfill, located in Warren County, North Carolina.
ETG has developed the Therm-0-Detox® indirect heat, medium temperature, thermal
desorption (MTTD, 600-950 °F) system. The Therm-O-Detox system can be combined with
the BCD process to provide low cost complete detoxification/dechlorination of chlorinated
polyaromatic compounds including: polychlorinated bi-phenyls (PCBs); polychlorinated
phenols (PCP); polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD); polychlorinated dibenzofurans
(PCDF); pesticides and herbicides and many other chlorinated aromatic compounds.
ETG has worked extensively with the USEPA Risk reduction Engineering Laboratory (RREL)
since 1991 to commercially develop the BCD process. ETG is uniquely qualified and is the
only company that has field experience in performing liquid phase BCD treatment. As
indicated in the attachments, ETG has extensive experience in performing large thermal
desorption projects.
In our telephone conversation on Monday, February 20, 1995 you had concerns about the
formation of PCDDs during the MTTD portion of our process. PCDDs can be
formed/reformed through partial oxidation of chemical precursors at relatively high
660 Sentry Parkway, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania 19422 • [phone] • Fax [phone]
Regional Offices: Cincinnati, OH • Lansing, Ml • Philadelphia, PA • Toledo, OH
r , Sharron Rogers Page2
temperatures (greater than 1,200F0 ). ETG _utilizes a low flow (less than 200 cfm), inert (less
than 50/o oxygen) sweep gas to physically carry the volatilized organics from the MTID unit.
The combination of lower operating temperatures (600 -950°F), low oxygen environment,
and non-static (dynamic) components in the Therm-O-Detox Vapor Recovery System (VRS)
serve to virtually eliminate the possibility of dioxin formation/reformation. Published
literature has indicated that pollution control components operating in a static, high
temperature, oxidative environment (i.e., baghouses or electrostatic precipitation) have a
higher probability of facilitating dioxin formation/reformation.
Since our SITE demonstration effort in September 1993 in Morrisville, NC, a number of
design improvements have been made in the Therm-O-Detox VRS system for off-gas
treatment. We emphasize that the primary purpose of the SITE demonstration was to meet
site treatment standards for soil and condensed organics. ETG utilized a standard VRS design
which was proven successful in years of operation at petrochemical facilities. Data from the
SITE demonstration indicated inconsistent VRS performance; however, health-based risk
assessments performed by the USEPA indicated that the worse case emission at Morrisville
did not constitute a risk to human health or the environment. Nonetheless, design
improvements have been instituted for future applications. Improvements including redesign
of the oil and water cyclone type scrubbers, adding additional components, including
refrigerated chillers, air reheated and polymer adsorption prior to final carbon adsorption
polishing will ensure consistent VRS performance.
The revised, confidential process flow diagram (Figure 1) can be compared to the SITE
demonstration process flow diagram contained in the Seventh Edition of the SITE Program
descriptions (copy attached).
We hope that the information contained in the accompanying qualifications package meets
your needs. Should you or your associates have any questions, you can contact Dr. Yei-Shong
Shieh or me at ( 610) 832-0700.
Very truly yours,
Loren A. Martin
Vice President, Business Development
Enclosures
LAM:pb
!l!!fl//9--~ i=IIJI
Environmental, Inc.
CONTAMINATED SCREENED SOILS CONFIDENTIAL CHILLER OIL WATER CONDENSING AIR TO ATMOSPHERE SCRUBBER SCRUBBERS UNIT REHEAT FEED HOPPER DECHLORINATION REAGENTS C\ /'\ V V FEED CONVEYOR VAPOR DISCHARGE AQUEOUS HEAT TRANSFER ------1 I CHILLER I• I CONDENSATE FLUID BCD SOLIDS REACTOR MEDIUM TEMPERATURE THERMAL DESORPTION (MTTD) COOLING WATER ON-SITE BACKFILL OR -OFF-SITE DISPOSAL I WATER SPRAY D. /',_ V V COOLING SCREW CONVEYOR TREATED WATER RECYCLED ON-SITE DECONTAMINATED SOLIDS CONTAINER 0 0 Date: 2/7 /95 STORAGE BAG FILTER CARBON POLYMER ADSORPTION ADSORBER POLYMER ADSORBER OILY CONDENSATE STORAGE CARBON POLISHER DECHLORINATION REAGENTS TREATED OIL/HC RECYCLED OFF-SITE Reference: NA c:::::::J~~ Cs O ~ ENVIRONMENTAL. INC. Drawing No.: 4018.DWG BCD/THERM-0-DETOX• SYSTEM FIGURE 1 Drawn By: M. Brocker
!!!!f!l/a~~ ,:: I U
Environmental, Inc.
Mr. Richard J. Tobia
Sr. Project Engineer
Roy F. Weston, Inc./REAC
GSA Raritan Depot
2890 Woodbridge Avenue, Building 209 Annex
Edison, NJ 08837-3679
Providing creative environmental solutions
February 8, 1995
SUBJECT: McCormick and Baxter Demonstration
Dear Mr. Tobia:
The pilot unit for the McCormick and Baxter demonstration has been modified to
improve the removal efficiency of the organics from the off-gas stream when compared to
the system utilized in the SITE demonstration at the Koppers Superfund site. The off-gas
system is described in the attached equipment list and the process flow diagram.
An oil scrubber has been reconstructed to include a spraying chamber, demister and
packed tower. The temperature of the condensed oil is maintained at a predetermined range
around 2so·F. Two refrigerated chillers are added to condense VOCs and moisture from
the off-gas from 12o·F to 37.F. An air reheater is added to reheat the off-gas from 37.F to
70.F to prevent the carbon polisher from moisture saturation. A polymer absorber system
(not utilized at Koppers) will also be added prior to the carbon polisher to remove the
majority of hydrocarbons by encapsulating the organics in the polymer matrix.
The modified off-gas system is a state-of-the-art system and should be able to meet
the most stringent air emission standards.
If you have any questions, please contact Bert or myself.
"Tobia. YSS-
Sincerely,
,,,. -+J =;t),
Y ei-Shong Shieh
Sr. Vice President
Technology & Business Development
660 Sentry Parkway, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, 19422 [phone] • Fax [phone]
Regional Offices: Cincinnati, OH • Lansing, MI • Philadelphia, PA • Toledo, OH
ETG Environmental, Inc.
BCD /Therm-O-Detox9 System
Vapor Recovery System For Pilot Scale Unit
1. Oil Scrubber
To spray high boiling point (B.P.) oil into the off-gas stream to condense organics
with B.P. above 250°F. An impingement type demister and packed tower consisting
of ¾" stainless steel Raching Rings are built into the unit.
2. Water Scrubber System
Two chambers, one spray, one particulate drop out chamber.
Purpose: To cool and condense the vapor stream from 250° to an exit temperature
of 120°F or less.
3. Two (2) Refria:erated Chillers
Removes the humidity and VOCs from the gas stream at 37°F then re-heats the
gas stream to 70°F by an air reheater.
4. Polymer Adsorbor
To adsorb trace organics from the gas stream. The hydrophobic polymers have a
strong affinity for hydrocarbon based compounds and can adsorb several times
their own weight through micro-encapsulation. The encapsulating polymers
immobilize hydrocarbons.
5. Carbon Polishin&
Final polishing for any trace organics remaining in the off-gas stream.
"Tobia.YSS"