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A sustainability assessment of an in situ ultrasonic reactor for remediation of PFAS‐contaminated groundwater
Author(s) -
Laramay Fiona,
Crimi Michelle
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
remediation journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.762
H-Index - 27
eISSN - 1520-6831
pISSN - 1051-5658
DOI - 10.1002/rem.21667
Subject(s) - environmental remediation , sustainability , environmental science , groundwater , waste management , groundwater remediation , environmental engineering , contamination , hydraulic conductivity , environmental planning , engineering , soil science , ecology , geotechnical engineering , soil water , biology
The environmental remediation industry has increasingly considered the sustainability impacts of remediation systems. The ideal remediation system has a greater environmental benefit than detriment. While sustainable systems are increasingly available for many contaminants, per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances have presented new challenges for remediation practitioners seeking effective and sustainable systems. Here the sustainability and cost impacts of an ultrasonic reactor installed in a horizontal well (referred to as the In situ reactor technology [inSRT] system) at a hypothetical site are quantified and compared to hypothetical pump‐and‐treat (PT) system impacts. Direct costs of emissions from remediation were compared using LCOE data. The indirect impacts from pollution were quantified based on literature values. The results showed that the InSRT system had lower lifecycle impacts and costs compared to the PT system when each was considered under individually optimal conditions. InSRT was found to meet sustainability goals when used in a low hydraulic conductivity source zone and the PT system lifecycle impacts were reduced when the system was used in a high‐hydraulic conductivity area.