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In‐situ biological treatment of vinyl acetate‐contaminated soil: An emergency response action
Author(s) -
Flathman Paul E.,
Krupp Bryon J.,
Zottola Paul,
Trausch Jason R.,
Carson John H.,
Yao Ruji,
Laird Gregory J.,
Woodhull Patrick M.,
Jerger Douglas E.,
Lear Paul R.
Publication year - 1996
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.3440060207
Subject(s) - contamination , in situ , action (physics) , vinyl acetate , emergency response , environmental chemistry , environmental science , chemistry , medicine , biology , medical emergency , organic chemistry , ecology , physics , copolymer , polymer , quantum mechanics
In‐situ biological solid‐phase (or land) treatment was cost‐effectively used to remediate 1,500 cubic yards (1,100 m 3 ) of contaminated soil within three months of field operation following spillage of an estimated 12,000 gallons (45,000 L) of vinyl acetate from a railroad tank car onto surface soil. The vinyl acetate rapidly hydrolyzed to acetate and acetaldehyde with concentrations ranging up to 22,000 and 3,000 mg/kg, respectively. Ethanol, a metabolic intermediate, was found to accumulate in soil to concentrations as high as 280 mg/kg. The estimate for excavation, transportation, and disposal of the contaminated soil as a special waste, and for backfilling of the excavated area, was $850,000. The cost for biological remediation of the contaminated soil was $400,000, which was less than half the cost of excavation. In‐situ biological treatments have been used to readily remove contaminants, such as acrylonitrile, styrene, butylcellosolve, ethylacrylate, and n‐butylacrylate, at other sites involving railroad incidents.