ESTCP Funding Opportunity BAA-12-0003

ESTCP is interested in receiving pre-proposals for innovative environmental technology demonstrations that address DoD requirements as candidates for funding. This notice constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). To be eligible for consideration, readers wishing to respond to the BAA must submit a pre-proposal in accordance with the instructions on the website no later than 2:00 p.m. ET, Thursday, March 15, 2012. No electronic mail or faxed proposals will be accepted. Areas of interest for this round of funding include 1) management of contaminated groundwater; 2) characterization, control, and treatment of testing and training range contamination; 3) military munitions detection, classification, and remediation; 4) watershed management models/tools for DoD installation applications; and 5) demonstration and validation of alternatives to cadmium plating in manufacturing and maintenance of weapons systems. http://www.serdp-estcp.org/Funding-Opportunities/ESTCP-Solicitations/Env
ironmental-Technologies-Solicitation

McDonald, K.
UC San Diego News Center, 18 Dec 2011

Biologists and bioengineers at the University of California at San Diego have created a living neon microfluidic sensor chip composed of millions of bacterial cells that periodically fluoresce in unison like blinking light bulbs. Their achievement is detailed in the journal Nature. Each of the blinking bacterial colonies comprise what the researchers call a "biopixel," an individual point of light much like the pixels on a computer monitor or television screen. The larger microfluidic chips contain about 13,000 biopixels, while the smaller chips contain about 500 pixels. The largest chips contain 50 to 60 million bacterial cells and are about the size of a paper clip or a microscope cover slip. The smaller microfluidic chips, which contain ~2.5 million cells, are about a tenth of the size of the larger chips. The researchers have used the technology to engineer a simple bacterial sensor capable of detecting low levels of arsenic. In this biological sensor, decreases in the frequency of the oscillations of the cells' blinking pattern indicate the presence and amount of arsenic. Because bacteria are sensitive to many kinds of environmental pollutants and organisms, the scientists believe this approach could be also used to design low-cost bacterial biosensors capable of detecting an array of heavy metal pollutants and disease-causing organisms. And because the senor is composed of living organisms, it can respond to changes in the presence or amount of the toxins over time, unlike many chemical sensors. Within about five years, a small hand-held sensor could be developed that would take readings of the oscillations from the bacteria on disposable microfluidic chips to determine the presence and concentrations of various toxic substances and disease-causing organisms in the field. The UC San Diego Technology Transfer Office has filed a patent application on this invention. Anyone with commercial interest in the research or application should contact Eric Gosink, senior licensing officer, at egosink@ucsd.edu. Full story at http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressreleases/researchers_create_living_neon_si
gns_composed_of_millions_of_glowing_bacter/

Department of Commerce Funding Opportunity NOAA-NMFS-HCPO-2012-2003241

The principal objective of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) 2012 Multi-Year Implementation Grants is to administer funds for sub-awarded coastal habitat conservation and restoration projects. The funded projects/sub-awards will be selected through NRDA restoration planning processes in response to natural resource injuries and lost use of natural resources due to those injuries. NOAA acts as a trustee on behalf of the public to protect and restore coastal and marine resources. For almost 20 years, NOAA has worked cooperatively with responsible parties (the individuals, companies, or government agencies responsible for an oil spill or hazardous substance release) and trustee councils (teams of state, tribal, and other federal agencies convened to respond to a specific spill, release, or grounding) to implement remedial actions that protect NOAA trust resources from additional harm. Applicants selected through this funding opportunity will be those capable of implementing trustee-selected NRDA restoration projects, or competitively soliciting projects to meet specific restoration goals determined by the trustee council. Projects selected by the trustees can be implemented through a subcontract to a specified organization, or implemented directly by the grantee (requiring significant oversight), provided the trustees determine the applicant has relevant expertise. NOAA anticipates $750,000 to $15,000,000 to fund the awarded cooperative agreements over the life of any selected awards. Funding is expected to be provided on an as-available basis to maintain the grants for up to seven years, and is dependent upon the level of funding made available by trustee councils. Typical awards range from $350,000 to $2,000,000 within the first year. Applications for federal, state, tribal, or local governments will not be considered, due to their potential role as trustee council members. The closing date for this solicitation is February 23, 2012. http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=137053

ScienceDaily, 1 Mar 2011

Pioneering technology by scientists at Queen's University Belfast is now being used to create safer drinking water in the United States. Subterranean Arsenic Removal (SAR)—winner of the 2011 UK Environment and Energy Innovation Award for Remediation Technology—removes arsenic from groundwater without using chemicals. SAR was developed by a team of European and Indian engineers led by Dr. Bhaskar Sen Gupta in Queen's University School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering. Based on the principle of oxidation and filtration processes, the technology is already in use in six plants in West Bengal. In the United States, the technology has been tested successfully in a rural community outside Bellingham, Washington. The Washington State installation team first read about the SAR technology on Wikipedia. Recognizing the advantages and elegance of the SAR approach, they tested it with assistance from Queen's University and Dr. Sen Gupta, who visited Washington State to oversee the system's installation. The SAR test began in January 2011 on an abandoned well with high arsenic levels. After three weeks, arsenic levels had decreased substantially. After seven weeks, arsenic levels were at or below the limit set by U.S. EPA. According to Dr. Sen Gupta, the cost of setting up a plant to produce up to 6,000 liters of water a day averages under $4,000 (even less in the developing world), and the operational cost is ~$20/month. Each plant has an estimated life of about 20 years without any mechanical maintenance. The system is operated simply by the pressing of an electrical switch. The technology has attracted interest from other parts of the United States, and plans have advanced for installation in 2011 of SAR plants in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Mexico. Full story: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110301091631.htm
Additional information on SAR: http://www.insituarsenic.org/files/SAR%20handout.pdf

U.S. DOE News Release, 8 Dec 2011

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman has announced a new pilot initiative to reduce some of the hurdles that prevent innovative companies from working with DOE's national laboratories. The new Agreements for Commercializing Technology (ACT) will help businesses bring job-creating technologies to the market faster by allowing them to work with DOE's national laboratories from start to finish to develop and deliver new clean energy technologies and other innovations. In 2012, this initiative will remove barriers for businesses and startup companies that are interested in accessing the research, facilities, and scientists available at the laboratories, catapulting innovative new products to the marketplace. In October 2011, the President issued a memorandum to executive departments and agencies, directing agencies with federal laboratories to accelerate technology transfer and commercialization of research and to take steps to increase partnerships between businesses and laboratories. The DOE ACT will serve as a vehicle to help accomplish technology transfer and commercialization at DOE laboratories. ACT also complements the goals of the Administration's "Startup America" initiative by supporting high-growth entrepreneurship and startup companies. ACT is part of DOE's broader efforts to unleash American innovation by reducing barriers so industry can work more easily with the national labs. In March 2011, DOE launched "America's Next Top Energy Innovator" Challenge, which gives startup companies access to DOE's thousands of unlicensed patents at greatly reduced cost and paperwork. DOE also recently announced the Rooftop Solar Challenge, which allocates $12 million to support 22 regional teams. The teams compete to spur solar power deployment by cutting red tape—streamlining and standardizing permitting, zoning, metering, and connection processes—and improving finance options to reduce barriers and lower costs for residential and small commercial rooftop solar systems. To view the FAQs on ACT, visit http://technologytransfer.energy.gov/ACTpilotFAQ.html
Full story: http://www.doe.gov/articles/energy-department-announces-new-initiative-r
emove-barriers-industry-work-national-labs

Brown University Press Release, 16 Dec 2011

A technique variously described as electrowinning, electrolytic removal/recovery, or electroextraction works by using an electrical current to transform positively charged metal ions (cations) in contaminated water into a stable, solid state where they can be easily separated from the water and removed. The main drawback to this technique is that there must be a sufficient concentration of metal cations in the water for it to be effective; if the cation concentration is too low—roughly less than 100 parts per million—the current efficiency becomes too low, and the current acts on more than the heavy metal ions. Metals also can be removed via simple chemistry, using hydroxides and sulfides to precipitate the metal ions from the water in the form of a toxic sludge. Joseph Calo, professor emeritus of engineering, who maintains an active laboratory at Brown University, and co-authors Pengpeng Grimshaw and George Hradil combined the two techniques to form a closed-loop cyclic electrowinning/precipitation (CEP) system that efficiently removes trace heavy metals from water. The technique is scalable and has viable commercial applications, especially in the environmental remediation and metal recovery fields. The CEP system has two main units, one to concentrate the cations and another to turn them into stable, solid-state metals and remove them. In the first stage, the metal-laden water is fed into a tank in which an acid (sulfuric acid) or base (sodium hydroxide) is added to change the water's pH, effectively separating the water molecules from the metal precipitate, which settles at the bottom. The "clear" water is siphoned off, and more contaminated water is brought in. The pH swing is applied again, first re-dissolving the precipitate and then re-precipitating all the metal, increasing the metal concentration each time. This process repeats until the concentration of the metal cations in the solution reaches a point at which electrowinning can be employed efficiently. The solution then is sent to a spouted particulate electrode where the electrowinning takes place, and the metal cations are chemically changed to stable metal solids. The cleaner water is returned to the precipitation tank, where metal ions can be precipitated once again. The supernatant water is sent to another reservoir, where additional processes can be employed to lower the metal ion concentration levels. These processes can be repeated in an automated, cyclic fashion as many times as necessary to achieve the desired performance, such as federal drinking water standard levels. The CEP system's mechanics and results are described in the Chemical Engineering Journal [175:103-109(2011)]. News release at http://news.brown.edu/pressreleases/2011/12/cep

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Funding Opportunity EPA-G2012-STAR-C1, 27 Dec 2011

U.S. EPA, as part of its Science to Achieve Results program, is seeking applications for an interdisciplinary center focusing on the sustainable molecular design of chemicals. The aim of the center will be to develop a set of parameters and strategies that will establish design criteria regarding the properties of chemicals, which will lead to the development of intrinsically less hazardous substances when compared to those currently used in society. These newly acquired criteria and design principles will direct researchers toward the generation of novel chemicals that will minimize, and preferably eliminate, associated potential environmental and human health impacts that might occur during that chemical's life cycle. The advent of these novel chemicals and the respective discovery of correlations between a chemical's inherent properties and adverse impacts require the development of improved methods for the design of next-generation chemicals. The closing date for this opportunity is April 25, 2012. http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2012/2012_star_molecular_design.html

Cha, K.Y., T. Simpkin, and R.C. Borden.
Remediation Journal, Vol 22 No 1, p 43-58, 2011

CDISCO, a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet-based model, can be used to assist with the design of in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) systems that use permanganate (MnO₄^-). The model inputs are the aquifer characteristics (porosity, hydraulic conductivity, effective aquifer thickness, natural oxidant demand, kinetic parameters, contaminant concentrations), injection conditions (permanganate injection concentration, flow rate, duration), and unit costs for reagent, drilling, and labor. Permanganate transport in the aquifer is simulated and used to estimate the effective radius of influence (ROI) and required injection-point spacing. CDISCO then provides a preliminary cost estimate for the selected design conditions. The user can perform multiple runs of CDISCO to optimize the cost of the ISCO design. Comparisons with analytical and numerical models of nonreactive and reactive transport demonstrate that CDISCO accurately simulates permanganate transport and consumption. Comparison of CDISCO results with 3-D heterogeneous simulations show that aquifer volume contact efficiency and contaminant mass treatment efficiency are closely correlated with the ROI overlap factor. The spreadsheet, user's guide, and training video are available on line: http://www4.ncsu.edu/~rcborden/Design_Tool.html

Austin, C., J.W. Kirchner, D.C. Whyte, and A. Myers.
Program and Abstracts: The 10th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP), Halifax, Nova Scotia, July 24-29, 2011

How effective is site cleanup? Simple before-and-after comparisons of contaminant concentrations or loads can be misleading measures of remediation effectiveness due to factors external to the remediation, including weather. A new analytical method, before-and-after contaminant rating curves, has been developed to correct for variations in external driving forces and thus to clarify remediation effectiveness. Demonstration of the method uses monitoring data from the Gambonini mercury mine in the California Coast Range. Measured mercury loads in a stream draining the mine site were a factor of ~1,000 lower five years after remediation compared to measurements made prior to remediation; however, the post-remediation year also had much lower rainfall, hence lower mercury loads would be expected because most of the mercury comes from erosion of the waste pile. The calculations show that the variation in rainfall would account for a factor of ~60-80 decrease in mercury loads (corresponding to an apparent 98-99% removal efficiency), even without remediation. Results also show that (a) concentrations of mercury in sediment went down (less mine waste in stream sediment) and (b) concentrations of sediment at a given stream flow went down (less sediment mobilized due to greater slope stability); therefore, (c) for a given stream flow, a much smaller load of mercury left the site. By comparing pre- and post-remediation contaminant rating curves, the mine remediation can be shown to have reduced mercury loads by a factor of 10 to 20 (90-95%) on an all-else-equal basis.

Timmins, B., ETEC LLC, Portland, OR.
17th Annual Florida Remediation Conference, Orlando, 13-14 October 2011

This presentation discusses case studies of surfactant-enhanced remediation conducted in Florida and in Georgia in 2010 and 2011. These projects involved the injection under pressure of a biodegradable surfactant solution within target remediation zones to mobilize residual sorbed fuel constituents from soil and groundwater and to capture them via extraction. Performed over a period of one to two weeks, the process provided subsurface contact between the surfactant solution and residual sorbed fuel, and subsequently achieved hydrocarbon mobilization and capture. Surfactant-enhanced treatment can accelerate site remediation dramatically whether applied as a stand-alone remedial approach or used with operating remediation systems. In one case study, surfactant-enhanced remediation provided a stand-alone remediation approach, while in the other surfactants were used to enhance the effectiveness of an existing dual-phase extraction system. Remediation results at both sites demonstrate that surfactant-enhanced remediation using a short-term recirculation process is a cost-effective remediation alternative as both a primary remediation approach and as a system enhancement to reach stringent soil and groundwater cleanup standards. Several biosurfactant flushing case studies are available at the bottom of the linked page: http://www.etecllc.com/bioremediation-case-studies.asp

Christensen, B., AMEC.
Pollution Engineering, 1 Feb 2011

A former agricultural-industrial facility in Manitoba was operated as a fertilizer and petroleum storage and distribution facility until the early 2000s. The consultant who conducted an environmental site assessment as part of decommissioning activities identified two contaminant plumes: one involving nitrates from fertilizer and the other petroleum hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbon plume posed the greater short-term environmental risk because it extended onto two residential properties and was migrating in the direction of additional residential properties in the town of Gladstone. The nitrate plume posed little immediate financial or environmental liability, but over time, the dissolved fertilizer concentrations would produce a more extensive plume, with potential future restrictions on groundwater use in the area. The extent of the plumes and the presence of existing infrastructure and landscaping posed remediation challenges. Rather than treat the two plumes in separate remediation efforts, contractors designed a recirculation system (a series of groundwater collection trenches and infiltration galleries) to collect and redistribute nitrate-contaminated groundwater to the hydrocarbon-contaminated area. Nitrate-impacted groundwater was used in one gallery to dissolve residual granular fertilizer in the soil. The resulting nitrate-concentrated water then was pumped to the area affected by petroleum hydrocarbons, where it was released underground through a series of infiltration beds. The nitrate acted as an electron acceptor and the petroleum hydrocarbons as an electron donor, resulting in the rapid stimulation of microbial cell growth. Through a series of biochemical reactions, the microbes transferred the electrons from the carbon-containing electron donor to the electron acceptor. This process worked to transform both contaminants into harmless by-products: the nitrate ions were converted to nitrogen gas and the petroleum hydrocarbons were converted to water and carbon dioxide, rapidly achieving a 98% reduction. Once the hydrocarbon electron-donor source was depleted, other electron donor sources (molasses, high fructose corn syrup, emulsified canola oil) were added to eliminate the nitrate contamination, which decreased by ~98%. The treatment was completed mainly over five May-to-October seasons at a total cost of less than $200,000 Canadian. [Note: This article also contains a second case study of a federal Superfund site in northern New Mexico, where vegetable oil was used for rapid remediation of a large PCE plume.] http://www.pollutionengineering.com/Articles/Article_Rotation/BNP_GUID_9
-5-2006_A_10000000000000994606

Christensen, B., AMEC.
Pollution Engineering, 1 Feb 2011

At the North Railroad Avenue Plume Superfund site in northern New Mexico, vegetable oil was used for rapid remediation of a large PCE plume that contaminated an aquifer—the sole source of drinking water in the area—and threatened a major river. Emanating from solvents used by a former dry cleaner, the plume extended three-quarters of a mile, was 800 ft wide, and lay as deep as 260 ft below ground surface. It forced the closure of two city supply wells and had moved to within 10 feet of the Rio Grande River. Cleanup involved coordination among the Santa Clara Pueblo, the City of Espanola, the New Mexico Environment Department, and U.S. EPA. Three bioremediation systems were implemented to target the deep-zone aquifer, the area downgradient of the plume near the river, and, in a departure from the initial cleanup plan, the high-concentration source area. The initial plan called for surfactant-enhanced aquifer restoration (SEAR) to flush out and capture the highest concentrations of undissolved contamination in and near the source area. That plan envisioned a confining layer on which PCE downward migration stopped and pooled, but the process of drilling for remediation wells revealed the supposed confining layer to be a low-permeability water-bearing unit that had been penetrated by the PCE. Surfactant flooding, under the existing hydrogeologic conditions, would have taken much longer and cost significantly more than originally estimated. Also, due to the slope of the layer, there was a risk of contaminants mobilized by the surfactants escaping the capture zone of extraction wells and migrating downgradient toward the river. Tests of electron-donor bioamendments confirmed that emulsified vegetable oil best supported the growth of a specific consortium of bacteria that was capable of reductive dechlorination of the PCE to TCE > DCE > VC > ethene. The tests also were used to determine the concentration and frequency of bioamendment injection that would be needed to keep the rate of degradation high. Full-scale operation of the bioremediation system began in May 2008, and by March 2010, sampling confirmed that more than 99% of the site's PCE had been eliminated, as well as more than 95% of all chloroethenes in the source area. With the end of the remedial action, only long-term maintenance was scheduled to continue in 2011. Enhanced bioremediation with an electron-donor substance and nutrient mix enabled rapid cleanup. Current forecasts estimate cleanup completion within the next two years, contrasting with the original cleanup estimate of up to 30 years and costing considerably less than the proposed SEAR remedy. [Note: This article also contains a case study of remediation of nitrate and petroleum hydrocarbon plumes at a site in Manitoba.] http://www.pollutionengineering.com/Articles/Article_Rotation/BNP_GUID_9
-5-2006_A_10000000000000994606

Theriault, P., Golder Associates Ltd.
Federal Contaminated Sites (FCS) Regional Workshop, June 14-15, 2011, Vancouver, British Columbia. Real Property Institute of Canada, Abstract only, 2011

In situ treatment via bioremediation was selected to address petroleum hydrocarbon-impacted soil and groundwater (1,800 m³ and 735 m²) at a former tank farm. The use of the Golder Sustainability Evaluation Tool, GoldSET, to evaluate a variety of scenarios identified bioremediation as the optimal solution from a sustainable development perspective, i.e., for rapid elimination of contaminant impacts on the downstream sewer system and reclamation of the property for eventual residential uses. Additionally, bioremediation consumes little energy and generates limited greenhouse gas emissions, while offering highly positive research and development potential. Bioremediation was implemented via a super-oxygenated water (SOW) injection system, plus injection of oleophilic nutrients. The establishment of an aerobic reactive zone created advantageous conditions for bacterial growth, thus enhancing contaminant biodegradation. This technology is a very cost-effective and efficient oxygen delivery technique. It needs minimal maintenance, involves low construction costs, and has a very high transfer coefficient of oxygen into groundwater. The system produces dissolved oxygen concentrations on the order of 50 to 70 mg/L, which is 5 to 7 times greater than the saturated concentration of oxygen in natural waters. Systems such as air sparging transfer only 2% of the oxygen to groundwater and thus are greater consumers of energy compared to SOW, which has oxygen transfer efficiencies exceeding 90%. SOW system energy requirements are low: a typical pressurized chamber system with an oxygen delivery capacity of 0.87 kg/h (25 scfh) requires a 3-hp compressor and an oxygen generator requiring 120 W/h. The tank farm cleanup system has been in operation for two years. Injected oxygen concentrations vary from 40 to 50 ppm, and the bacteria counts have increased by ~3 to 4 orders of magnitude. The system can be placed in 100% recirculation mode for months at a time to minimize water consumption and operate the system as an in situ plug-flow bioreactor.

Evans, P.J., R.A. Fricke, K. Hopfensperger, and T. Titus.
Ground Water Monitoring & Remediation, Vol 31 No 4, p 103-112, Fall 2011

Gaseous electron donor injection technology (GEDIT) was demonstrated at a site in California affected by both nitrate and perchlorate. A mixture of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and nitrogen was injected into the vadose zone over a period of 5 months, followed by 3 months of LPG alone. This treatment reduced perchlorate and nitrate plus nitrite nitrogen concentrations by over 90% and was capable of reducing them to non-detectable concentrations. Hydrogen, at concentrations as low as 0.5%, was required for perchlorate destruction but not for nitrate destruction. Hydrogen was an effective electron donor because of its low molecular weight and high diffusivity, which likely promoted its penetration into low-permeability formations. Contaminant destruction was observed in both fine-grained and coarse-grained soils ranging from clay to gravel, as well as in moisture contents ranging from 6.8% to 36%, demonstrating the effectiveness of GEDIT in low- and high-moisture soils. The radius of influence (ROI) for perchlorate destruction was ~3.0 to 4.6 m, while that for nitrate exceeded 17 m. The ROI in this case was limited by use of a single injection location, but use of a grid injection system likely would increase efficiency considerably. This project represents the first demonstration of GEDIT for treatment of contaminants in the vadose zone. Additional information is available in an ESTCP study— http://www.clu-in.org/download/contaminantfocus/perchlorate/Perchlorate-
ER-0224-FR.pdf
—and Cost & Performance report: http://www.clu-in.org/download/contaminantfocus/perchlorate/ER-0224-C&P-
1.pdf

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, 3 Aug 2011

National Defence is required to ensure that a screening is conducted pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, commencing June 6, 2011, in relation to the project "Novel Air Sparging to Remediate Petroleum Hydrocarbons." An innovative method to remediate groundwater and sediment—in situ biosparging (ISB)—will be tested at Canadian Forces Base Borden. In biosparging, air is injected into a contaminated aquifer and the contaminant removed by volatilization and in situ biodegradation. Supersaturated water injection (SWI) is a technology that potentially can enhance the performance of ISB by introducing oxygen dissolved in water. In 2011, a sheet-piling cell used by Nelson et al. (EA File 1267-0113-02031) will be re-established with residual NAPL (a simulated gasoline), and pulsed ISB will be undertaken, initially using nitrogen gas to minimize (eliminate?) the biological component. Air biosparging then will be undertaken so that bio-enhanced removal can be separated from direct volatilization. Each process will be operated for up to one month. Offgas will be collected, analyzed, and treated with activated carbon before discharge to the atmosphere. The pulsed biosparging field experiment also will serve to develop and test tools for quantifying the contributions of volatilization, biodegradation, and dissolution to in situ remediation. CO₂-SWI has been demonstrated at Borden, in terms of enhancing volatile hydrocarbon removal through volatilization (Nelson et al., 2009). A trial of O₂-SWI is proposed to enhance volatilization and aerobic biotransformation at Borden and to compare its performance with pulsed biosparging. In 2012 the SWI will be undertaken in the same cell as the 2011 pulsed air sparging after it is recharged with additional NAPL of similar chemistry. N₂-SWI will be tried initially for about 2 months, then air-SWI for about 2 months to mimic the 2011 pulsed sparging approach and so facilitate a comparison of the two technologies. A multiphase extraction system will collect water and gases, treat these streams on site using activated carbon, and test and release water to the ground surface and gas to the atmosphere. In fall 2012, the contaminated sand and groundwater remaining in the sheet piling cell will be excavated and taken off site for appropriate disposal, and the cell will be decommissioned. Downgradient monitoring of groundwater will continue for 2 years to ensure it remains uncontaminated. An environmental assessment is required in relation to this project because National Defence is the project proponent and may provide federal lands. http://ceaa.gc.ca/050/details-eng.cfm?evaluation=63172&ForceNOC=Y
Additional information on the earlier field work is available in Leif Carl Nelson's 2007 Master's thesis, Field Trial of Residual LNAPL Recovery Using CO₂-Supersaturated Water Injection in the Borden Aquifer: http://uwspace.uwaterloo.ca/handle/10012/2711

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, 179 pp, July 2011

Shell Oil Products US (SOPUS) is currently addressing historical petroleum releases inside the WRB Refining LP Wood River Refinery (WRR). In September 2010, SOPUS submitted a Vapor Intrusion Investigation Work Plan in which the installation of a soil vapor extraction (SVE) system was first proposed. URS Corporation, on behalf of SOPUS, submitted a Soil Vapor Extraction Pilot Test Work Plan, which proposed SVE pilot test activities at two separate locations, the west fenceline area of the WRR and the Village of Roxana Public Works Yard. SVE pilot-test field activities at these sites were initiated on March 14, 2011, and concluded on March 24, 2011. This report describes field activities that took place both prior to and during the pilot test and summarizes the results. Pilot activities at the Public Works location indicate a range of influence of at least 90 ft and demonstrated air flow readings of 65 cfm following the decrease in initial concentrations. Potential air flow and range of influence information could not be obtained at the WRR site due to site conditions. Air flow potential at WRR was measured during testing activities, but unlike the Public Works site, sustained elevated concentrations being pulled into the trailer-mounted internal combustion engine unit did not decrease sufficiently to determine air flow potential under a sustained test. Based on boring logs, data collected at both sites, and the close proximity of the two site locations, assumptions can be made that air flow responses to SVE treatment at both sites should be similar. The information gained from pilot testing is being incorporated into the full-scale SVE design. To locate this pilot test report and other site documents, look under 'Reports' at http://roxanainvestigation.urs-stl.net/

Schnoor, J., Univ. of Iowa.
Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP), Project ER-1499, 169 pp, June 2011

SERDP Project ER-1499 was conducted to determine (1) whether plants significantly improve biodegradation of explosives; (2) the respective contribution of plants and soil microbes in the process; and (3) whether the aging of explosives affects the biodegradation process. In addition to lab and greenhouse studies, the project included a field study of phytoremediation conducted at Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), consisting of three 0.4-acre plots planted in May 2009 with Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) Pensacola with biannual sampling over 18 months. The specific objectives of the field study were to (1) determine if the implementation of phytoremediation significantly improved biodegradation of explosives in soil; (2) determine whether plants could take up and significantly degrade explosives in the field; and (3) compare fate and transport processes in lab studies (using soil from the field study site) against the field demonstration results. In the biodegradation studies, TNT was readily transformed and degraded by microbial communities in native Eglin AFB soils, while RDX and HMX remained recalcitrant under unplanted conditions. Additional biodegradation studies found that the RDX concentration in soil rapidly decreased in the presence of Bahiagrass Pensacola and hybrid poplar. The field study results showed that TNT was transformed in the soil with no apparent treatment benefit in the planted areas, and both RDX and HMX migrated downward through the soil before Bahiagrass Pensacola could treat the compounds effectively. There was some evidence that the application of high carbon content soil in which the Bahiagrass was established slowed the migration of TNT and RDX. While phytoremediation was not effective in treating explosives contamination in the sandy soil at Eglin AFB, it is believed that the treatment can be effective in different soils or using different plant species. This project provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying phytoremediation of explosives and propellants in the field. http://www.serdp-estcp.org/content/download/12633/150512/file/ER-1499-FR
.pdf

Illman, W. and T.-C.J. Yeh.
Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP), Project ER-1365, 449 pp, July 2011

This report presents the modeling and experimental results of a cost-effective technology that images DNAPL source zones in 3-D without extensive invasive sampling. Based on stochastic methods, this new technology assimilates results of hydraulic and partitioning tracer tomography surveys to derive the best estimate of the DNAPL distribution and its uncertainty. Specifically, it first analyzes the information derived from hydraulic tomography to identify the 3-D heterogeneity in hydraulic conductivity (K) and specific storage (S_s) of the aquifer. The knowledge of heterogeneity then is used to design conservative tracer and partitioning tracer tomography tests for accurate depiction of the spatial distribution of DNAPL residual saturation in the source zone. Preliminary calculations suggest that the fused tomography technology becomes markedly more cost effective over conventional characterization approaches at sites with suspected investigation areas larger than 2,500 square ft. The degree of cost savings increases dramatically in conjunction with the increasing size of the area being characterized. While the resolution of the heterogeneity patterns are dependent on the density of the monitoring well network, the developed algorithm still yields improved estimates of K, S_s, and S_N in comparison to traditional interpretive techniques. A draft deployment protocol is provided. http://www.serdp-estcp.org/content/download/12636/150562/file/ER-1365-FR
.pdf

Hudak, P.F.
Remediation Journal, Vol 21 No 4, p 119-126, 2011

Numerical models were used to simulate alternative funnel-and-gate groundwater remediation structures near property corners in hypothetical homogeneous and heterogeneous unconfined aquifers. Each structure consisted of a highly permeable central gate (hydraulic conductivity = 25 m/d) and soil-bentonite slurry walls (hydraulic conductivity = 0.00009 m/d). Gates were perpendicular to regional groundwater flow and ~5 m from a contaminant plume's leading tip. Funnel segments collinear to the central gate reached property boundaries; additional funnel segments followed property boundaries in the most hydraulically upgradient direction. Structures were 1 m thick and anchored into the base of the aquifer. Two structures were simulated for each aquifer: one with a 3.0-m-long central gate and funnels on either side, and a second one with a 1.5-m-long central gate, funnels on either side, and 0.75-m-long end gates. Funnels were lengthened in successive simulations until a structure contained a contaminant plume. Results suggest that for the same total gate length, one-gate structures can facilitate more rapid remediation (up to 44% less time in trials conducted in this study) than multiple-gate structures constructed near property corners. To contain a plume effectively, however, one-gate structures were up to 46% larger than multiple-gate structures.

Baker, J., C.-W. Chang, K. Sowers, U. Ghosh, P. Paul, and B. Kjellerup.
Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP), Project ER-1502, 148 pp, Aug 2011

Beginning in summer 2006, initial project goals were to examine sediments from representative riverine and estuarine systems with well-characterized PCB contamination histories for use in detailed lab studies of dehalogenation, activated carbon (AC) amendment, and sediment-water exchange. Only sediments with high PCB levels and active populations of dehalogenating microbes were considered suitable for subsequent experiments. Sediment was collected from the several waterways, and sediments from the Grasse River (upstate New York) were deemed the most appropriate freshwater candidates. Results to date compare the PCB levels and bioavailability across the sediment types. Incubations of Grasse River sediments with and without AC addition are under way to assess the dehalogenation activity of the native microbial populations. Molecular techniques have been optimized and applied to characterize the dehalogenating community, proving a link between the observed activity and the putative organisms. In consideration of the likely variable redox conditions in contaminated sites such as the Grasse River, aerobic incubations were conducted to assess the potential for aerobic degradation of PCB congeners. These studies, while still in progress, suggest modest biological degradation of many congeners, which decreases but still continues in the presence of AC. A dynamic sediment-water exchange model of PCB transport has been developed and calibrated that that includes particle coagulation and kinetically limited partitioning. http://www.serdp-estcp.org/content/download/12629/150467/file/ER-1502-FR
.pdf

Harper, G., A.C. Elmore, C. Redell, G. Risley, and J.G. Burken.
Remediation Journal, Vol 21 No 4, p 107-118, 2011

Adding activated carbon to sediments has been shown to be an effective means of reducing the bioavailability of certain contaminants. The current state of the practice is mechanical mixing of activated carbon to a target concentration of 3% at depths of ~30 cm using a rotovator or similar construction equipment. Waterjets have been used to cut hard material with a mixture of water and abrasives. If activated carbon is substituted for abrasive, waterjets have the potential to replace mechanical mixing with surface injection during sediment remediation. A perceived benefit of waterjet-based sediment remediation is a reduced potential for benthic organism mortality related to amendment delivery. A set of waterjet parameters were identified for their potential to achieve amendment placement goals, and a series of waterjet tests were conducted to evaluate the potential impact on the benthic community. The tests included mortality testing using a swimming macroinvertebrate and a burrowing invertebrate; benthic artifacts, such as shells; and craft foam as a surrogate for living organisms. Results indicated that the immediate survivability was typically >50% and empirical relationships between two variables (waterjet nozzle diameter and the water column height between the nozzle and the target) and the depth of cut in the foam could be established. Data are not available in the literature for direct comparison of organism survivability immediately after mechanical mixing, but the results of this study provide motivation for the further evaluation of waterjets on the basis of the low observed mortality rates. Future waterjet work may address field-scale characterization of mixing effectiveness, resuspension potential, technical feasibility, and cost. Additional information on waterjet-based sediment remediation is available in C.J. Redell's 2011 Master's thesis, Waterjet Injection of Powdered Activated Carbon for Sediment Remediation, at http://scholarsmine.mst.edu/thesis/Waterjet_injection_o_09007dcc80923887
.html

Takaoka, M., N. Fukuda, K. Oshita, T. Mizuno, and K. Shiota, Kyoto University.
Program and Abstracts — ICMGP 2011: The 10th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant, Halifax, Nova Scotia, July 24-29, 2011

This presentation describes the investigation of a mercury stabilization technology. Elemental mercury and sulfur were mixed using planetary ball milling under different experimental conditions. Results confirmed the synthesis of mercury sulfide. No heat was applied, and no release of mercury to atmosphere was detected during the milling process. The labile intermediate of mercury sulfide, which has relatively high water leachability, was observed in the early stage of milling. At a later stage, the intermediates were pulverized into mercury sulfide powder. These phenomena were influenced significantly by the diameter of the balls (19.04, 9.52, and 4.76 mm) in the 250-mL vessel. The larger diameter (19.04 mm) provided for more effective stabilization of mercury, yielding a Japanese leaching test (JLT-46) value for the synthesized mercury sulfide <0.5 µg/L after 20 min. When the molar ratio of sulfur to mercury was 1.05, both TCLP (Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure) and the JLT-46 values were 0.26 µg/L and 0.059 µg/L respectively, which suggests that mercury leachability is strictly controlled. When the volatility of the synthesized mercury sulfide was evaluated via headspace analysis, Hg headspace concentration was less than 1 µg/Nm<>sup3 at 20°C, equivalent to the level of pure reagent. Compared with other mercury stabilization technologies, the stability of mercury sulfide synthesized by planetary ball mill at optimal conditions was as good or better. The running cost of this technology was estimated to be 13,250 Yen ($160 USD)/ton Hg, which is lower than that of the sulfur polymer stabilization/solidification method.

Jacobsen, L., Milestone Inc.
Program and Abstracts — ICMGP 2011: The 10th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant, Halifax, Nova Scotia, July 24-29, 2011

Direct mercury analysis is a well-established technique for determining mercury in a wide range of sample matrices. Compared to more traditional techniques for mercury analysis (i.e., CVAA and ICP-MS), direct mercury analysis requires no sample preparation, generates no sample waste, and has a short turnaround. One challenge with direct mercury analysis has been the difficulty of analyzing samples with very low mercury concentration without first pre-concentrating the system by running several samples, but the Tri-Cell technology now can tie into the DMA-80 direct mercury analyzer. Tri-Cell technology allows samples with low levels of mercury to be analyzed in a single run, opening up the possibility of carrying out low-level Hg work in naphtha, groundwater, and oil. Tri-Cell technology further increases the analytical range to include both high and ultra-trace mercury concentrations in the same instrument. This presentation discusses the new technology and its applications. Additional information is available in a slide presentation by G. Colnaghi at http://58.137.157.252/sac/sac2011_pdf/02_sac2011.pdf

Huang, L., L. Gan, Q. Zhao, B.E. Logan, H. Lu, and G. Chen.
Bioresource Technology, Vol 102 No 19, p 8762-8768, Oct 2011

The authors investigated a method for improved pentachlorophenol (PCP) degradation via a microbial fuel cell (MFC). An MFC is a device that uses microbes to convert the chemical energy stored in organic and inorganic compounds into electricity, providing a low-cost and low-maintenance reactor in a process that produces very little sludge. While many previous studies showed a wide range of organic substrates can be degraded in an MFC, ranging from easily degradable organics such as acetate to complex wastewaters, there is now great interest in using the process for bioremediation of aquatic sediments and groundwater pollutants. This work showed that PCP degraded more rapidly in acetate and glucose-fed MFCs than in open-circuit controls, with removal rates of 0.12 ± 0.01 mg/L h (14.8 ± 1.0 mg/g-VSS-h) in acetate-fed, and 0.08 ± 0.01 mg/L h (6.9 ± 0.8 mg/g-VSS-h) in glucose-fed MFCs, at an initial PCP concentration of 15 mg/L. A PCP concentration of 15 mg/L had no effect on power generation from acetate, whereas power production decreased with glucose. Coulombic balances indicate the predominant product using acetate was electricity (16.1 ± 0.3%) but lactate (19.8 ± 3.3%) using glucose. Current generation accelerated the removal of PCP and co-substrates as well as the degradation products in both PCP-acetate and PCP-glucose reactors. While 2,3,4,5-tetrachlorophenol was present in both reactors, tetrachlorohydroquinone was only found in PCP-acetate MFCs. These results show that PCP degradation and power production are affected by current generation and the type of electron donor provided. http://gs1.dlut.edu.cn/newVersion/Files/dsxx/441.pdf

Bergeron, L.
Stanford Report, 1 Dec 2011

A team of researchers led by Stanford geochemist Kate Maher is proposing to imitate nature by using amorphous silica—also known as the precious gemstone opal—to sequester uranium at contaminated sites. Once incorporated into opal, the uranium molecules would be rendered immobile and chemically inert. Opaline silica in deposits across the western United States almost universally contain very high uranium concentrations, and the deposits have been stable, closed systems for hundreds of thousands of years or longer. According to computer modeling studies the researchers have done using their data from natural opal deposits, opaline silica may offer a faster, cheaper, more enduring way to sequester uranium than other current or proposed methods. The sequestering process would involve pumping a solution rich in dissolved silica into the subsurface through injection wells, effectively flooding the contaminated areas. As the solution moves through the soil or rock, chemically interacting with its surroundings, amorphous silica would precipitate out, incorporating the dissolved uranium. Opaline silica is not only a demonstrably long-lasting host, it is also much more welcoming than other potential mineral hosts, such as calcite, which is often precipitated along with the opal. Opaline silica also is stable over a wider range of pH conditions. Silica is relatively inexpensive, making it an affordable method for storing uranium in situ in the subsurface. On top of its striking capacity and stability, opal incorporates uranium into its amorphous form at a relatively rapid rate, according to the researchers' modeling of different sequestration scenarios. Modeling indicates that within 10 years of flooding a contaminated area with sodium silicate, nearly the whole aquifer has been decontaminated to levels far below the maximum contaminant level allowed by federal law, whereas less than half of the aquifer would be beneath that level with traditional pump and treat. Once uranium has been incorporated into opal, almost the only way for it to dis-incorporate would be if fluids containing very low amounts of silica began circulating through the uranium sequestration zone. If the silica content of the fluid was low enough, the amorphous silica would begin dissolving and free the uranium. The researchers' work so far has been focused on sampling and analyzing naturally occurring deposits of opal and using those data to model the reactivity and transport of uranium under different scenarios. They are particularly interested in how iron oxides, commonly present in soil and sediment, might affect the incorporation of uranium into opal. Maher hopes to try the method at the experimental scale in the laboratory in 2011 and then run a trial at a contaminated site. Full story at http://news.stanford.edu/news/2011/december/opal-uranium-sequester-12011
1.html

Idaho National Laboratory Research Fact Sheet, 16 Aug 2011

Numerous waste sites across the DOE complex are contaminated with metals and radionuclides, often the primary drivers for remedial activities at these sites. In situ methods for the remediation of metals and radionuclides are currently being developed. Fate and transport of metals and radionuclides can be directly or indirectly affected by the activity of microbes. At Idaho National Laboratory (INL), research has focused on the microbial reduction of Cr(VI) and U(VI), which can lead to nontoxic and immobile forms. In addition, INL researchers have investigated the microbially facilitated precipitation of minerals that can sequester radionuclides such as Sr-90 and U(VI) through coprecipitation. As described in this fact sheet, considerable progress has been made in these two areas. http://www.inl.gov/research/microbially-facilitated-remediation-of-metal
s-and-radionuclides/

Bollen, A. and H. Biester.
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, Vol 219 Nos 1-4, p 175-189, 2011

A study was conducted to evaluate the applicability of the amino acid L-cysteine for mobilization of mercury (Hg) from contaminated soils containing different Hg binding forms, such as Hg adsorbed to mineral surfaces, Hg bound to soil organic matter, and Hg sulfide (HgS). Soils were subjected to extraction in batch and column experiments using L-cysteine solutions with S:Hg-molar ratios of 1, 2, 10, 20, 100, and 200. In 24 h-batch experiments, the addition of L-cysteine led to an increase of Hg in the leachates of 42% for soils with Hg bound to mineral surfaces. In column experiments, the maximum Hg removal rate was 75%, whereas leaching with water could only mobilize 1% of inorganically bound Hg, proving the high mobilization potential of L-cysteine. For soils with organically bound Hg or HgS, only 1 to 5% of Hg could be mobilized. Thus, the extraction of Hg from soils with L-cysteine is highly dependent on soil composition and the Hg binding form in the soil. Hg speciation analyses of leachates indicate that Hg-L-cysteine-complexes mainly are easily reducible and labile. Speciation analysis in soil samples using a Hg thermo desorption method revealed that, besides the formation of Hg-L-cysteine-complexes, reduction to elemental mercury takes place at low S:Hg ratios (1 to 10), presumably by microbial activity. At higher S:Hg ratios of 10 and 100, precipitation of stable Hg-S complexes was observed. L-cysteine shows a high mobilization potential for inorganically bound Hg, but Hg species transformation processes and the labile character of Hg-L-cysteine complexes are limitations for considering L-cysteine leaching as a remediation strategy.

Dresel, P.E., D.M. Wellman, K.J. Cantrell, and M.J. Truex.
Environmental Science & Technology, Vol 45 No 10, p 4207-4216, 2011

This paper reviews the major processes for deep vadose zone metal and radionuclide remediation that form the practical constraints on remedial actions. Remediation of metal and radionuclide contamination in the deep vadose zone is complicated by heterogeneous contaminant distribution and the saturation-dependent preferential flow in heterogeneous sediments; hence, efforts to remove contaminants generally have been unsuccessful, although partial removal can reduce downward flux. Abiotic and biotic reactions or physical encapsulation have the potential to reduce contaminant mobility, and hydraulic controls can limit aqueous transport. Delivering amendments to the contaminated zone and verifying performance are challenges for remediation.

Munakata-Marr, J., K.S. Sorenson, B.G. Petri, and J.B. Cummings.
In Situ Chemical Oxidation for Groundwater Remediation. Springer, New York. ISBN: 978-1-4419-7826-4, SERDP/ESTCP Environmental Remediation Technology: Vol 3, Chapter 7, p 285-317, 2011

In situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) applied in combination with other remedial technologies, particularly when plans are formulated prior to implementing a remedy, can provide significant benefit over ISCO alone. The authors discuss interactions between ISCO and other in situ remediation technologies, and describe optional approaches for coupling ISCO with bioremediation, surfactant/cosolvent flushing, air sparging, or thermal treatment. Enhanced in situ bioremediation and monitored natural attenuation are most frequently combined with ISCO. Oxidation approaches can decrease aerobic and anaerobic microbial abundance and diversity temporarily, but these typically rebound with time. ISCO combined with surfactants or cosolvents can enhance contaminant removal, although chemical compatibility of remedial agents must be considered. Air sparging and thermal methods can interact synergistically with ISCO, whereas in situ chemical reduction acts in opposition to ISCO.

Chaney, R.L., C.L. Broadhurst, and T. Centofanti. Trace Elements in Soils, P. Hooda (ed.). John Wiley and Sons Ltd., ISBN: 978-1-4051-6037-7, p 311-352, 2010

Commercial phytoextraction practices continue to be developed and are being tested in the field. Improved crops will be bred for commercial application, and bioengineered plants will be developed with unique properties. Despite their technical value, bioengineered plants may not be accepted by the public, even for phytoremediation, especially bioengineered strains of food plants. Some phytoextraction can be profitable as a farming/phytomining business on contaminated or mineralized soils. Nickel phytomining offers high profit potential, although the technology has not been fully commercialized. The company that licensed the patents obtained by Chaney, Angle, Li, and Baker (Viridian LLC) has elected to attempt an initial public offering of stock to recover their technology development costs rather than to operate the technology by contracting with farmers to grow Alyssum crops on serpentine soils. The company has contracted with Vale-Inco to test Ni phytomining on smelter-contaminated soils and mine waste deposits, potentially for phytomining on Vale-Inco properties. This strategy has not proceeded beyond the planning phase, frustrating scientists who have considered the technology ready for commercial operation since 2001. Phytostabilization will remain a valid remediation technology for most contaminated sites. Mixed metal contamination can be handled by phytostabilization in most cases, except where food-chain transfer would continue risk to wildlife. Public acceptance of in situ Pb inactivation will aid adoption of phytostabilization of mixed Zn-Pb-Cd contaminated sites, such as the site in Joplin, Missouri, where field testing showed the forage was safe for livestock, and soil feeding tests showed strong reduction in soil Pb bioavailability. Controlled land use after phytostabilization can protect humans and the environment from soil trace element risks. Continued development of phytotechnologies will provide more choices for remediation and demonstrate in the field the value to society these technologies offer. http://ddr.nal.usda.gov/bitstream/10113/45986/1/IND44411047.pdf

Hesketh, N. and M. Pearl, UKAEA Ltd.
Nuclear Industry Group for Land Quality, 61 pp, Dec 2011

This industry guidance was developed to provide a methodology for qualitative risk assessment of land contamination in the UK. It covers both non-radioactive and radioactive contamination and considers the full range of receptors within applicable regulatory regimes (i.e., people, environment, and property) for land contamination in its current condition or in a planned future condition. The document is aimed mainly at land quality management practitioners in the nuclear industry but also might apply to contaminated sites in other contexts. Revision of the guidance in 2013 is anticipated for incorporation of user feedback. This document was developed on behalf of the Nuclear Industry Group for Land Quality, funded as part of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's Direct Research Portfolio. Although representatives of regulatory bodies were consulted during its development, their participation should not be construed as evidence of regulatory endorsement. http://www.safegrounds.com/pdf/NIGLQ%20Qualitative%20Risk%20Assessment%2
0Guide%20-%20V1%20Dec11.pdf