Open AccessThe hottest thing in remediation.
Author(s) -
Harvey Black
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
environmental health perspectives
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.257
H-Index - 282
eISSN - 1552-9924
pISSN - 0091-6765
DOI - 10.1289/ehp.110-a146
Subject(s) - pollutant , environmental remediation , environmental science , human decontamination , waste management , contamination , creosote , environmental chemistry , groundwater , chemistry , engineering , ecology , organic chemistry , biology , geotechnical engineering
Scientists and engineers are exploring a new way to decontaminate toxic waste sites by literally turning up the heat on pollutants. The method heats the ground using electricity or steam, which mobilizes the contaminants so they can either be extracted from the ground and destroyed or actually destroyed in place. Among the targets for this method are pollutants such as creosote, solvents, and gasoline. These in situ thermal technologies also offer the benefit of reaching contaminants not previously amenable to cleanup, such as those found beneath structures and below the water table.