ABSTRACT
Vapor-extraction systems are commonly used to remediate soils contaminated with volatile and semivolatile hydrocarbons. The ORS Catalytic Scavenger Vapor-Abatement System is an electrically heated unit that operates at 20 kilowatts. In an actual cleanup, once the vapor concentration is less than about 100 ppmv the abatement device can be removed and the vapor either vented straight to the atmosphere or activated carbon can be substituted for the more complicated and higher fixed cost units. The life-cycle model indicates that vapor-phase carbon can be used to remediate a site very quickly but that the associated costs are 5 to 8 times that of the other abatement units. The Thermo-Scavenger appears initially to be very cost effective, but this advantage decreases with respect to the Catalytic Scavenger Vapor-Abatement System unit for low-permeability geologic formations. An internal combustion engine could be cost effective for the remediation of small spills in a highly permeable formation.
