Project Experience

Remediation of Contaminated Soil and Groundwater

Remediation of Soil Contaminated with Hexavalent Chromium, Jersey City, NJ.

Treatability studies were designed for soils collected from this site using a variation of the ASTM dynamic column leaching test protocols. Soils were leached for up to 3 months using clean groundwater from the site. Column effluents were monitored for hexavalent chromium and other key water quality parameters to determine time-scales for flushing. Additional leach testing was performed using groundwater dosed with a chemical reductant to determine its effectiveness for in-situ remediation. This information was vital for the selection and design of remedial alternatives for the site.

Groundwater Sparging with CO2 of a Plume of Caustic Brine to Achieve Reduction in pH in Brunswick, GA

This site was characterized with a subsurface plume of high pH and high total dissolved solids from historical operations of a mercury cell facility. The resulting plume contained high pH (~12), high total dissolved solids and dissolved metals such as mercury, arsenic and chromium. As part of this work, a “proof of concept” test was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of sparging the plume with carbon dioxide to lower pH and metals concentrations. The test was successful, resulting in implementation of this technology for the entire 8 acre site.

Remediation of Arsenic in Gypsum and Fly-Ash Waste Beds at a Chemical-Processing Facility in Amhustburg, Ontario, CA.

Design of a monitoring program to assess speciation of arsenic in groundwater and solid waste material. This work involved the development of source code in VBA for modeling chemical diffusion through porous fractured rock matrices. The resulting matrix diffusion model was used to model arsenic diffusion through fractured rock at this site.

Three-Dimensional Reactive Transport Modeling in Groundwater Systems

Evaluation of Remedial Alternatives for a Hexavalent Chromium Plumes Using Custom Reactive Transport Modeling (North Hollywood CA, Stockton, CA)

Custom reactive transport FORTRAN code was developed for modeling chromium transformations within RT3D (Reactive Multispecies Transport in 3-Dimensional Groundwater Systems). The model was used to perform simulations to evaluate the effectiveness of various alternatives for in-situ additions of chemical reductants including calcium polysulfide. In addition, the RT3D model was used to model the results of bench-scale column testing of reductant addition and to evaluate the performance of in situ chemical reduction of hexavalent chromium “push-pull” and permeable reactive barrier technologies.

Reactive Transport Modeling of Degradation of Chlorinated Solvents using Catalyzed Hydrogen Peroxide (CHP) in Newark, CA

Custom reactive transport FORTRAN code was developed for modeling the interaction of CHP with a PCE/TCE dissolved plume. Modeling was performed using RT3D (Reactive Multispecies Transport in 3-Dimensional Groundwater Systems). The model was used to perform simulations to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and clean-up times for the site.

Reactive Transport Modeling of Emulsified Vegetable Oil Injections for Remediation of PCE and TCE in Gardena, CA

Custom reactive transport FORTRAN code was developed for modeling the injection and distribution of emulsified vegetable oil (EVO) for in-situ remediation of a PCE/TCE dissolved plume. Modeling was performed using RT3D (Reactive Multispecies Transport in 3-Dimensional Groundwater Systems). The model was used to perform simulations to evaluate and optimize the effectiveness of treatment for the site.

Development of a “Unit World” Lake Model for Modeling Metals Fate and Transport

This work involved development of numerical algorithms and software package for the TICKET-UWM platform for modeling metals fate and transport in the environment. The publically available model (www.unitworldmodel.net) is being used to support metals classifications under REACH in the European Union.

Environmental Forensics

  • Chemical Fingerprinting of Chemical Contaminants in Groundwater Originating from Landfill Leachate at the Pennsauken NJ MSW landfill.
  • Fate, Transport and Speciation of Arsenic in Contaminated Soils at the Auburn Rd. Landfill, NH.
  • Chemical Fingerprinting and Intermedia Transport Modeling, Industrial Plant, Illinois

Sediment Remediation and Assessment of Contamination

  • Assessment and Allocation of Sediment Contamination from a PRP located on Berry’s Creek (NJ) Superfund Site
  • Geochemical Analysis of Sediment from the Gowanus Canal (NY) Superfund Site for use in Source Identification

Bench Scale Leaching and Treatability Studies

  • Column Leaching Study for Soil Collected from a Hexavalent Chromium Containing Site
  • Batch Study Investigating Chromium Transformations During pH Adjustment of Raffinate Waste Stream
  • Batch Microcosm Study for Treatment of Hexavalent Chromium Contaminated Soil