In situ anaerobic biodegradation (ISAB) technologies are being implemented at many contaminated groundwater sites to stimulate anaerobic bioremediation.
At some sites, ISAB is highly successful and can result in substantial reductions in contaminant concentration and mass, but at many sites, poor delivery of the chemical reagent or amendment can stifle effectiveness.
A new spreadsheet-based design tool, developed under the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), a Department of Defense program that promotes innovative, cost-effective environmental technologies through demonstration and validation at DOD sites, will aid remediation engineers in designing effective, reasonably efficient systems for distributing emulsified oil to promote bioremediation. The design tool uses site data and injection costs to select appropriate substrate quantities and injection well spacing. The user must also determine if barrier treatment or area treatment is appropriate.
The model then uses this information to evaluate the costs of various designs using different well spacing. Results of the complete analysis are given in terms of total fixed cost, dollars per injection point, injection rate, and injection costs per day. Similar design tools for distributing soluble substrates in ISAB systems and permanganate in ISCO systems are being developed and are anticipated to be released in 2010.
The Emulsion Design Tool Kit is available at www.estcp.org/_cs_upload/ER-0626-ToolKit.
