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Evaluation of emulsified zero valent iron as a remediation technique for chlorinated hydrocarbons at Presidio Square Apartments complex in Milwaukee, Wisconsin : a report submitted to the faculty of the Milwaukee School of Engineering in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Engineering / by Erika Rua.

by Rua, Erika, author., Milwaukee School of Engineering

Chlorohydrocarbons

Hazardous waste site remediation

Iron -- Oxidation.

Abatement and removal

213 leaves : illustrations, some of which are in color ; 29 cm.

Introduction -- Background -- Characteristics of contaminants of concern -- Remedial action objectives -- Zero valent iron -- Emulsified zero valent iron -- Conceptual pilot test -- Estimated cost for remedial implementation -- Net Present Value -- Analysis of results -- Conclusions and recommendations -- Appendix A. Groundwater elevation tables -- B. Soil gas sampling locations -- C. Air quality testing -- D. Emulsified zero valent iron safety data sheet -- E. Sodium lactate safety data sheet.

Over the course of twenty years, the Presidio Square Apartments has been struggling with the presence of high concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons in soil and groundwater samples. Contamination at the residential complex is being attributed to previous waste dumping activities that occurred during the 1960's, and prior to the construction of the buildings. The primary contaminants encountered at the site have included tetrachloroethene (PCE), trichloroethene (TCE), 1,2-dichloroethylene (DCE) and vinyl chloride (VC), among others. These compounds are listed as substances of public health concern and are strictly regulated under the Wisconsin Administrative Code. Extensive remediation efforts have been performed at the site, including a sub-slab-depressurization system, enhanced anaerobic reductive dechlorination, soil removal, and chemical oxidation. After the in-situ treatment, most of the contamination was removed. Parent compounds like PCE and TCE have decreased by several orders of magnitude, and in some points, they no longer exist. In contrast, the concentration of daughter compounds such as 1,2-Dichloroethylene and vinyl chloride are present in high concentrations in soil and groundwater samples. Moreover, they are expected to increase since most of the parent compounds have been degraded. Compared with the initial concentration, there is a significant improvement in clean up, but persistent pollutants remain in the area and continuous actions are required by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources before closure status may be granted. On the other hand, the degradation products are more unstable and toxic than their predecessors.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified vinyl chloride as a human carcinogen. Chronic exposure through inhalation and oral ingestion are related to liver damage and other harmful effects. Vinyl chloride is also one of the 188 hazardous air pollutants listed under the Clean Air Act Amendments. The administrative code has established limits of 0.2 micrograms/liter in groundwater, and in almost all the monitoring wells at the site, the enforcement is being exceeded. Therefore, the assessment of an effective technology is crucial to mitigate any human risk associated with pollutants exposure.

This capstone project has investigated the feasibility of emulsified zero valent iron (EZVI) as an alternative technology to reduce chlorinated solvents at the site. The use of EZVI has received increased attention, since it has shown tremendous promise in the environmental sector for soil and groundwater remediation. EZVI has a number of features that make it ideally suitable for remediation, such as biotic and abiotic degradation, and ability to sequester chlorinated hydrocarbons. The primary application of the EZVI technology is treatment of DNAPL source zones, but it is also capable of treating dissolved-phase chemicals. This study reviews the current knowledge of emulsified zero valent iron and its performance in degrading chlorinated hydrocarbons. The aim is to provide a comprehensive review of documents published by the United States Protection Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, research papers, conference proceedings, journal articles, patents, and a variety of peer reviewed documents and books focused in soil and groundwater remediation. This analysis of relevant literature was leveraged to present the feasibility analysis of EZVI as an alternative remediation technology at the Presidio Square Apartments Complex.

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