ABSTRACT
Soil vapor extraction (S VE) is designed to physically remove volatile compounds, generally from the vadose or unsaturated zone. It is an in situ process employing vapor extraction wells alone or in combination with air injection wells. Vacuum blowers supply the motive force, inducing air flow through the soil matrix. The air strips the volatile compounds from the soil and carries them to the screened extraction well.
Air emissions from the systems are typically controlled by adsorption of the volatiles onto activated carbon, thermal destruction (incineration or catalytic oxidation), or condensation by refrigeration [1, p. 26]. 2
SVE is a developed technology that has been used in commercial operations for several years. It was the selected remedy for the first Record of Decision (ROD) to be signed under the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (the Verona Well Field Superfund Site in Battle Creek, Michigan). SVE has been chosen as a component of the ROD at over 30 Superfund sites [2–6].
Site-specific treatability studies are the only means of documenting the applicability and performance of an SVE system. The EPA Contact indicated at the end of this chapter can assist in the location of other contacts and sources of information necessary for such treatability studies.
The final determination of the lowest cost alternative will be more site-specific than process equipment dominated. This bulletin provides information on the technology applicability, the limitations of the technology, the technology description, the types of residuals produced, site requirements, the latest performance data, the status of the technology, and sources for further information.
