HomeMy WebLinkAboutNCD980602163_19950731_Warren County PCB Landfill_SERB C_DOE Oak Ridge Technical Services Agreement Report re Landfill Samples-OCR.----------.
----------
. -·-~/;1/t?r ·g. rl · ..
~-~ ~ ~~
'--14 DcJ~ &a-/L~r
T~~~~
~ ~ u~~L~
.s~.
/ACl»\a,;, ~ /4 ~
7h ~ 1 ~ r~·~ ~(>~~.,nJ ~
-ff..,. ~~ ~ ~
~ .u J1-t:t,...,,;r..., ,.,_.:.., ~ . ~ ,? -// !t ✓ / I /1\.. t1/V}IUl.-d ~ ~ pU__1·c y0 cosh( .:r
I •' • • • '
11.~--¼_~:··:·.
~-~. A 4'.LJb ,:4, ~ rr/
..
• . .
"
''i LOCKHEED MARTIN ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC. POST OFACE BOX 2008
June 29, 1995
Sharron Rogers
State of North Carolina
Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources
P.O. Box 27687
Raleigh, North Carolina 27611-7687
OAK RIDGE, TENNESSEE 37831
Evaluation of Polycblorinated Bi phenyl (PCB) Bio remediation in North Carolina Landfill
Enclosed is a short report evaluating the microbial transformation of PCBs in the landfill and the
possibility of bioremediation as an in situ treatment option. The results are quite encouraging
depending on your treatment objectives and goals.
Please contact me after you have had a chance to review the report.
Sincerely,
K. Thomas Klasson
Remediation Technology Group
KTK:ccn
Attachment 1) Emiuation of PCB Remediation Possibilities in North Carolina Landfill
c w/att: A. A. Barnes
J. W. Barton
M. E. Reeves
S. M. Robinson
ncpcbcval.ltr
Direct Assistance Project No. MT AC9505 l 6003 PI: K. Thomas Klasson, ORNL, (615) 574-6813
EVALUATION OF PCB REMEDIATION POSSIBILITIES IN NORTH CAROLINA LANDFILL
BACKGROUND
The State of North Carolina Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources Division (DEHNR) of
Solid Waste Management manages a landfill of soils contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
Background information show that the major PCB contaminant is Aroclor 1260. It has been speculated that the
PCBs in the capped landfill may have undergone bacterial transformation and the possibility for bioremediation has
been considered.
OBJECTIVE
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) was asked to evaluate PCBs in samples taken from the landfill for
bacterial transformation of the PCB and to predict the extent at which PCB bioremediation may be effective. The
project was arranged by the Direct Assistant Program of Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc.
SAMPLES
Three 1-L glass jars of soil contaminated with PCBs were shipped to ORNL on May 25, 1995 from DEHNR.
Four samples were collected from each jar and the subsamples were separately extracted with acetone/hexane (1 :5)
and the extract was combined with an internal standard (octachloronaphtalene) and injected into a gas
chromatograph (GC) equipped with an electron capture detector (ECD). The resulting GC chromatograms were
evaluated by comparing peak sizes to a known standard consisting of an Aroclor mixture (1242, 1254, and 1260).
The extracted soils were dried (80°C for 24 hrs) and PCB concentrations were calculated as concentrations in dried
soil.
ANALYTICAL RESULTS
The average concentration of PCBs in the samples was 382 mg/kg (standard deviation 56 mg/kg), and the
average number of chlorines per biphenyl was 5.33 (standard deviation 0.10). The GC chromatogram for a typical
sample is displayed in Fig. 1. As references, GC chromatograms for Aroclor 1242, 1254, and 1260 are shown in
Figs. 2--4.
EVALUATION OF ANAEROBIC DECHLORINATION IN SAMPLES
Based on historic data, the contaminated soil should contain mainly Aroclor 1260. This is indeed the case
(compare GC chromatograms in Figs. l and 4); however, a large number of smaller peaks in the DEHNR sample
appearing at GC retention times shorter that 23 min are Jacking in the Aroclor 1260 sample (Fig. 4). Also, the
average number of chlorines per biphenyl (5.33) is approximately 20% lower in the DEHNR sample than in the
Aroclor 1260 standard. This lends itself to speculation that dechlorination may have occurred; however, the
majority of these peaks are most likely from another Aroclor (e.g., 1242 or 1254).
This conclusion is further supported by the evaluation of the number of PCB chlorines at the ortho, meta, and
para positions in the sample relative to Aroclor mixtures. A variety of data collected from various sources is shown
in Fig. 5. It appears that the ratio between the number of chlorines at different positions in the DEHNR sample is
consistent with an Aroclor mixture. The mixture of Aroclor 1242, 1254, and 1260 that best represents the DEHNR
sample is 12 wt% 1242, 27 wt% 1254, and 6 I wt% 1260. This conclusion is based on a non-linear regression
analysis of the components in peaks as analyzed by GC/ECD. A graph depicting the correlation between this
Aroclor mixture and the DEHNR sample may be seen in Fig. 6. Points below the line correspond to peaks
containing congeners at diminished levels in the DEHNR sample compared to the Aroclor mixture; similarly, points
above the line correspond to peaks containing congeners at elevated levels in the DEHNR sample compared to the
Aroclor mixture. Four points, corresponding to peaks 31, 32, 48, 53, and 61, are quite noticeable at some distance
from the straight line. A closer look reveals even more relative differences between the DEHNR sample and the
Aroclor mixture as summarized below together with a possible dechlorination pattern.
Congeners at elevated levels: 25-3, 25-25, 24-25, 24-24, 34-4, 23-24, 24-34, and 236-24.
Congeners at diminished levels: ~3~, ¥i5~-25, 24~S. 236-34, ~~3~236 .
.___I Underline indicates attack position I
Direct Assistance Project No. MT AC9505 J 6003 Pl: K. Thomas Klasson, ORNL, (615) 574-6813
The same conclusion was drawn by researchers at General Electric (1 ). The dechlorination pattern is consistent
with removal of very limited doubly-flanked meta, singly-flanked para, and singly-flanked meta chlorines.
State of NC DEHNR (Sample 3.3)
13 17 21 25 29
Internal
Standard
I
33
Fig. I. Typical GC chromatogram of DEHNR sample. (Values
on ordinate correspond to GC retention time.)
Aroclor 1242
Internal
Impurity Standard
13 17 21 25 29
Fig. 2. Aroclor 1242 standard GC chromatogram.
Aroclor 1254
13 17 21 25 29
Fig. 3. Aroclor 1254 standard GC chromatogram.
33
Internal
Standard
I
33
Direct Assistance Project No. MT AC9505 i 6003 PI: K. Thomas Klasson, ORNL, (615) 574-6813
Aroclor 1260
13 17 21 25 29
Internal
Standard
I
33
Fig. 4. Aroclor 1260 standard GC chromatogram.
Average No. of
para+meta
Chlorines
♦R■f.(2)
4 ■ R■f. (3)
.ORNL
• OEHNR
2
Aroclor 1260
Aroclor 12S.
• • : ......_ OEHNR 3.3
Aroclor 1242.._ • Aroclor 1016 •
Aroclor 122.1
0 2
Average No. of ortho Chlorines
3
Fig. 5. Average number of PCB chlorines in different positions of
various samples.
• peak 48
• peak 31
• peak 53
peak 32 ....
... • • peak 61
Fig. 6. Comparison of DEHNR sample with Aroclor mixture
consisting of 12 wt% 1242, 27 wt% 1254, and 61 wt% 1260.
Direct Assistance Project No. MT AC9505 I 6003 Pl : K. Thomas Klasson. ORNL, (615) 574-6813
CONSTRUCTION OF A TOOL FOR PREDICTION OF PCB BIOREMEDIATION
To aid in evaluation of bioremediation possibilities for the DEHNR landfill, a computer spreadsheet was
developed based on the susceptibility of PCB congeners to undergo bacterial transformations (4.5). Several
anaerobic and aerobic attacks were considered and transformation of each PCB congener was evaluated based on
the position of chlorines on the biphenyl rings and the type of bacterial attack. A Isa, to evaluate bioremediation as a
remediation alternative, half-life expectancy in humans together with dioxin-like structures of each PCB congener
were also incorporated into the computer model (6.7). Based on GC analysis of DEHNR samples and the
assumption that organisms capable of anaerobic removal of doubly-nanked meta, singly-nanked para, and
singly-nanked meta chlorines are present in the landfill, the possibility of in situ bioremediation was evaluated. The
results are shown as they appear 011 the computer screen in Fig. 7.
An o•.ieirvi-:.>w of PCB biorE>m':'diatiorr m3~ be to1Jnd in Abr amo· ... •ic:-:. Crit F:ev.
Biote~hnol..1•), 2•1 rl990l. n,.,_ ccmposi,1,::in of PCB Arr:-ck,rs nt-':'dl:'d for ,he
cak•Jlation_:" h.E b.;i,'='n ~uJt,li:f,"."d t,,_J Sc h•JI: ~t )I !En•Jirl'.:•n ':-i:t Te(·hnol, ~')f7l
B~2 (J:1B9J I
An<11?rc,bic 01:>cl,lorinitior,
V i1iou:-: t~Jp'?! c,f 1ed1Jt:'tiv4:-d?cl,l0rin~ti0n of PCBs ha~·~ b'?':'n r,c,tf-,j ir, ,1-,~
lilera,w'?. l•. ··o.F r-Aeta .6.ttad'' is H11? rNnO'.'al cf a c-hlorin'? ~t the m<-r l
po~iucn th 31_ is do1Jt,l1J-fl~,1~,ed b11 ~n ,:,rth•:-;ind ~a, a ( 1,1':,,int:' ~.1m ilJ1 l'.t a T•-F
P lra ;..,_tt-1,_.t .. 1s .;n :,tt vk. or,; Joubl'.J•fl~nk.e,j fv.•ith mt?t 1 d ·,1,:,rme;1 i:-hl,:11in"'
in th':' p.3r~ posirion. ,l'•.tt.,;ck,:;: of ~ir,91\J-fl;,r,t>?•j r• 11 a .3n<'.1 met.3 chlorine-.:: hwo?-
al::o L11:-':'n ,jemc,nstraterJ a.; ..,,o;,ll .1~ Ol~c.;.!ional IE'mo•.•.;i1 or ur,fl1nt1:-d r 1ra or
m'lta l'.'hlo1ir11?!: Th-:>s':' f1•.•e ded1lo1m,Hior, p,me-rri:; h;w1:-ti~o;.n hr.to?d m 01d1:-,
of tht"H 11:"L;ti•.•i:.-r':"~r::ti-.•1t'.l O~•r;hl,,,ir,aii,:m p~U'?rnr: h1•:.,, t,P-:>r, r•.it,fi:::h,:-,j titJ t-------------,'ll"":!.,,,.,,"'r.!...-------------1l~.,,;illi :\rns [Er,~•i1,::in ~,d T(•dinol, 28(41. f,34 [18~4 IJ
The, attacr..!. on c..1rbon-carbon bonds t"l!J ,jio::~19':'nase h.a•:1:-t•':'l?n 1,e•:1>?':1':'J t,,_J
At-.ram0wi,:.z !f':'i:> ~bo·.•11:"J <1rid h ;•:,;, t•ll?':'n li_:tl?d in ,:,rd11:-1 i:,f 111:"13ti•:"' r~=:t"."~i•.•i1'.J
Toxicit9 E•:ahJation
Th':' .l(;C-•Jmul,3~ion 1,'itt"S" of 1J;,11orJs PCB c0n9i;.r1e-rs-"''>:r':' compiled t-.'.J E:rc•.•,'n
[E11'.'iron. S,::i. T 1:'Chnol.. 2~l lJ), 2235 (1~'H)) <1r1,j l dk1::in1 ro::,c 'i'quiv alc-no:-'i'
(TEGll •:'If cor,lar,c11 and monoonho subS'tit•Jtl?d analO':,l$ hc1•;11? tiie-~n r•ut.h;l,':'d
b9 Safi:-[Cri~. R'i''J, To:-:icol., 2412), 87 f1~94J] Tht TEF v1lue-s L"\f thf rno::t
dio>:in-lik.e cong~nil::'JE -l/E-0.1, 0.05. 0.01, an,-j 0.001 fo, con9-i"n':'1S 128. 169. 77. ., ..
and 105 fl:'!1:'f>Cti-.•f:>l!J TEF i! th,: val1J':' th<11t ~ft':' e;or19'i'ni'f ,;.·onr:,e,r,tr<1t1on ::!.ou1,j ·
t+'i' multipli':'d "''ith to get th':" eq1J1•:1l€'nl 2'378•1£-tr-l,:l1\01c .. j1t,~r,;(I p•d1,::,::ir,
fTCDDl c,,n.::Hitr-1tion
Sp1e !dsh1?11?t Oev,,.lopm1:-nt
Tl,is spl':'3d:5h':'i:"t ~-:as de•J1:>l0p':'d-l:::. .;i 1i:-;11lt of -3 DOE [111-:-,:-1 l•.!!:1;.1.,irt"."11:"
K. Thom:;i! r:i.:.s!on
Oa~. Ridg~ r·,hltcn;,I L<11t10r ;.tory
P.O. Bo, 2008-~0H. O.,k R1d9• lM 378::t
Fig. 7. Computer screen layout for computer prediction of PCB bioremcdiation. The results listed are for
prediction of PCB bioremediation at the DEI--INR landfill. (A lso part of the computer output. but not shown above.
is a complete listing of individual congener concentrations.)
J\s noted in Fig. 7. the predicted treat ment is quite effective in reducing heavily chlorinated PCB compounds and
producing less chlorinated congeners as indicated by the shift in homolog levels. The majority of congeners
remaining after anaerobic dechlorination are tetrachlorobiphenyls. The products were found to have a shorter
half-life expectancy in humans. and dioxin-like compounds were removed by the biotransformation. The total
concentration of PCBs dropped 15% due to the change in average molecular weight of the congener mixture and
does not indicate a reduction of total PCB molecules. only a change in their relative concentrations.
Computer prediction of aerobic attack by 2.3-dioxygenase-containing organisms 011 the congeners present after
anaerobic transformation was also performed. The results indicate that the PCB concentration present after
anaerobic treatment (3 15.3 mg/kg) could be reduced to 182 mg/kg under optimal conditions.
...
Direct Assistance Project No. MTAC950516003 PI: K. Thomas Klasson, ORNL, (615) 574-6813
CONCLUSIONS
I. Analyses of soil samples taken from the DEHNR PCB landfill indicate that an Aroclor mixture exists in the
contaminated soil with over 60% of the PCBs present as Aroclor 1260.
2. GC peak profiles in extracts from soil samples showed a bacterial dechlorination pattern consistent with
removal of very limited doubly-flanked meta, singly-flanked para, and singly-flanked meta chlorines.
3. Under optimal conditions, the dechlorinating bacteria may substantially reduce the fraction of heavily
chlorinated compounds, reduce the half-life expectancy of PCBs in humans, and eliminate the dioxin-like
congeners.
RECOMMEND A TIO NS
1. Conduct treatability studies to determine the possible amendments needed to promote indigenous organisms to
dechlorinate PCBs present in the landfill.
2. Engineer landfill to accommodate addition of amendments and extraction of samples.
3. Investigate possibility of introducing air into the subsurface to promote aerobic degradation as a sequential step
to anaerobic treatment.
REFERENCES
I. Letter Report from F. J. Mondello (General Electric) to Sharron Rogers (DEHNR), August 26, 1994.
2. J.M. Tiedje et al., Biodegradation, 4, 231-240 (1993).
3. D. E. Schulz et al., Environ. Sci. Techno/., 23 (7), 852-859 (1989).
4. W. A. Williams, Environ. Sci. Technol., 28 (4), 630-635 (1994).
5. D. A. Abramowicz, Crit. Rev. Biotechno/., 10, 241-251 (1990).
6. J. F. Brown, Jr., Environ. Sci. Technol., 28 (13), 2295-2305 (1994).
7. S. H. Safe, Crit. Rev. Toxico/., 24 (2), 87-149 (1994).