FELSILAB

LA152 SRL

Treated air (cu.m) Solvent extracted (kg)

0

500.000

1.000.000

1.500.000

2.000.000

2.500.000

3.000.000

3.500.000

4.000.000

4.500.000

5.000.000

28/0

2/08

26/0

3/08

09/0

4/08

22/0

4/08

07/0

5/08

06/0

6/08

07/0

7/08

11/0

8/08

09/0

9/08

10/1

0/08

21/1

1/20

08

11/1

2/20

08

12/0

1/20

09

11/0

2/20

09

13/0

3/20

09

05/0

5/20

09

24/0

6/20

09

0

1.000

2.000

3.000

4.000

5.000

6.000

7.000

8.000

To

tal O

rgan

ic C

om

po

un

d e

xtr

acte

d (

kg

)

To

tal A

ir E

xtr

acte

d (

mc)

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

10000

giu-06 set-06 dic-06 mar-07 giu-07 set-07 dic-07 mar-08 giu-08 set-08 dic-08 mar-09

Piombo tetraetile Benzene Etilbenzene Stirene Toluene Idr. totali (n-esano) MTBE Xilene

Smart-Stripping®Pump & Treat

Co

nce

ntr

atio

n in

gro

un

dw

ate

r m

on

ito

rin

g w

ell

(ug

/l)

Location North Italy

Site 1: dismissed petrol refinery

Duration

N. SmartStripping® wells

N. monitoring wells

N. gas probe

about 16 months

6

6

3

Distance monitoring – remediation wells

Medium groundwater depth

Aquifer thickness

Type of pollutants

Start concentration (µg/l)

Final Concentration (µg/l)

between 2,5 and 5,5 m

10 m from surface

5

Aromatic Hydrocarbons Total Hydrocarbons

16.000 Benzene20.000 Total hydrocarbons

1 Benzene<350 Tot. hydrocarbons

Central Italy

Site 2: operating gas station

1 years

2

4

4

between 10 and 12 m

1,5 m from surface

5,5 m

MTBE, BTEX,Total Hydrocarbons

2.000 Total hydrocarbons6.000 MTBE 100 BTEX

46 Total hydrocarbons72 MTBE <0,23 BTEX

Description

30.000 cu.m of water arecontained in aphreatic zone(porosity of 0,30) with asurface of 20.000 squaremeters and a groundwaterthicness of 5 m.

phreatic zone

vadose zone

contaminated air

clean air

groundwater level

ACTIVATED

CARBONS

FILTER

(CAG)

DIRECTIMPACTS(ON SITE)

air flow OUT

air flow IN

contaminats concentration ingroundwater: 10.000 µg/l

600 Kg ActivatedCarbon absortioncapacity of 50%

One 600 Kg CAG retain300 Kg of contaminatstherefore 30.000 cu. mof groundwater aret r e a t e d w i t h o u treleases to superficialwater or sewage.

phreatic zoneporosity 0,30

5 m

20.000

vadose zone

INTRODUCTION

The issue of contaminated groundwater remediation was addressed by minimizing the costs and the time required to

start up and complete the remediation and by optimizing the removal of the contaminants. From attempts to solve

these topics the SmartStripping® technology is born from the need to start the “Misure di Messa in Sicurezza

d'emergenza” and / or remediation without the need to wait for the administrative authorisations for the discharge of

water in sewer or superficial water or air emission into the atmosphere. SmartStripping® combines a fast installation,

a significant reduction of environmental impacts with a high efficiency in removing volatile organic compounds from

groundwater.

PRINCIPLE OF THE INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY

The process can be defined as an innovative combination of Air Sparging (AS) and Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE): groundwater

remediation occurs by enabling a transfer of contaminants from a saturated zone (groundwater) to an unsaturated zone

(vadose) by blowing heated air from existing wells, which then enables groundwater stripping from the aquifer. The stripping

allows the separation of VOC and sVOC from groundwater that vent up to the unsaturated zone which is under a continuous

vacuum status, whereby the soil vapour is extracted. Vapours are treated with granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption

filters before being re-injected into the groundwater to start the stripping process again, through a continuous closed air-

cycle system.

The SmartStripping® equipment is controlled by a Siemens PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) installed on site

with the possibility to transfer the data in order to control the plant remotely.

ADVANTAGES, REMEDIATION COSTS AND DURATION

The process differs from other technologies (Pump & Treat, Air Sparging, Soil Vapor Extraction/Air Sparging) as it is a green

remediation process without any contaminant expulsion to the atmosphere, surface water or sewage networks; in addition

the remediation results are achieved quickly. During remediation, water is not extracted from the groundwater and no

substances (air or water) are released into the environment.

The costs to achieve groundwater remediation by this new technology for site owners are competitive: in the order of 1/5

compared to Pump & Treat costs. Also the startup time of the remediation is competitive because, before installation,

SmartStripping® does not need the Authorities authorisation for water and gas discharge to the environment; this particularity

reduces the intervention time.

POTENTIAL LIMITATIONS AND DRAWNBACKS

SmartStripping® applicability depends on contamination characteristics and on site geology and hydrogeology. The technology

can present limitation in low permeability soils and especially in stratified and/or heterogeneous ones and it is not recommended

for confined aquifers.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

The diagram below shows the schematic direct impacts of the technology to the environment: for each 300 Kg of extracted

contaminant 30.000 cubic meter of groundwater are cleaned and NOT extracted from groundwater and NOT released to

superficial water or sewage.

PREVIOUS APPLICATION OF THE TECHNOLOGY

The technology effectiveness was observed in some on-site pilot plants operating in Italy mainly contaminated by petroleum

fractions. Case studies allow to outline important issues, problems encountered, lessons learned, solutions identified and

remediation results.

The table and graphs below show the remediation results after the application of the SmartStripping technology in two sites.

The following graph shows the comparison between the remediation results obtained in a monitoring well in Site 2 by

SmartStripping and P&T active in different period of time. Pump & Treat compared to Smart Stripping application results in

a monitoring well shows that in the P&T active period contaminants concentration hadn't decreased, while, after one year

of application, Smart Stripping strongly reduced concentration of contaminant in groundwater, in particular of MTBE .

Site 1

SmartStripping® effectivness was observed in a abandoned petrol refinery in Norther Italy; at this site a Pump & Treat plant

was previously installed but without succes for several years. Pump & Treat was therefore substituted by the SmartStripping®

technology and in 16 months of activity the concentration values of Benzene and Total Hydrocarbons in groundwater

decreased respectively from 16.000 ug/l to 1 ug/l, and from 20.000 ug/l to <350 ug/l.

Site 2

SmartStripping® was applied in an operating gas station; at this site a Pump & Treat plant was to be installed but had

difficulties in getting going as the authorities denied the discharge of water after treatment. Therefore, treated water would

have been collected and then transported to a remote wastewater treatment plant wich would have increased the costs of

the remediation. Due to this problem, the Pump & Treat plant was substituted by a Smart Stripping plant and in 14 months

of activity the concentration values of total Hidrocarbons, MTBE and BTEX decreased respectevely from 2.000 ug/l to 46

ug/l, from 6.000 ug/l to 72 ug/l and from 100 ug/l to <0,23 ug/l.

0

100.000

200.000

300.000

400.000

500.000

600.000

700.000

800.000

900.000

1.000.000

14/0

4/2

008

16/0

4/2

008

18/0

4/2

008

24/0

4/2

008

24/0

4/2

008

23/0

5/2

008

23/0

5/2

008

29/0

5/2

008

26/0

6/2

008

27/0

6/2

008

15/0

7/2

008

25/0

8/2

008

30/0

9/2

008

24/1

0/2

008

28/1

1/2

008

17/1

2/2

008

19/0

1/2

009

05/0

2/2

009

26/0

3/2

009

23/0

4/2

009

22/0

5/2

009

22/0

6/2

009

To

tal A

ir E

xtr

acte

d (

mc)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

To

tal O

rgan

ic C

om

po

un

d e

xtr

acte

d (

kg

)

Treated air (cu.m) Solvent extracted (kg)

Emission free Groundwater Remediation Technology (SmartStripping®)

FIELD OF APPLICATION

The groundwater remediation technology called SmartStripping®, in compliance to Italian D.Lgs. 152/2006, is an innovative

process for groundwater on-site remediation that reduces concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and semi-VOC

which are produced by chlorinated compounds (Tetrachloroethylene, triclhoroethylene, dichloroethylene, Viniyl Chloride) and

petroleum fractions (Benzene, Ethylbenzene, Styrene, Toluene and Xylene: BESTX, and Methyl tert-butyl ether: MTBE), which

are adsorbed into the unsaturated zone and dissolved in groundwater at industrial and civil sites and especially at sites with

underground storage tanks.

The system is suitable for use in permeable subsoils, unsaturated (vadose zone) and saturated (groundwater) with a groundwater

level between 1 and 10 meters under the ground level surface.

STANDARD EQUIPMENT

A standard SmartStripping® plant is equipped with:

- Monitoring wells;

- Closed circle air flow system: PVC tubes, metal tubes, blower-vacuum pump, filters, packer, valves;

- Measurements and control instruments for: electricity, air flow pression from carbon filters, wells, blower, packer pression,

air flow, extracted air, VOC and sVOC values;

- Air flow filtering system;

- Control panel, PLC, and software.

STATE OF DEVELOPMENT AND PROCESS STANDARDISATION

Previous case studies showed the effectiveness of the process on sites contaminated by petroleum fractions. Moreover,

the technology is under a process of standardisation and simulation through on-site and lab scale demonstration to replicate

the proposed solution and to clarify the limitations of the stripping process for sites contaminated by chlorinated compounds.

A numerical model using the finite elements method (ABAQUS, CFX-ANSYS) is being developed to describe the processes

occurring in the saturated and unsaturated zones: stripping and vapor extraction. Furthermore, MATLAB is being used for

the simulation of the breakthrough curves for the adsorption of contaminants onto the granular activated carbon filters. The

goal of the developed model is to identify and analyze the main parameters affecting the performance of the technology

(air flow, injection pressure, soil characteristics and hydrogeological properties of the site, etc.) in order to optimize the zone

of influence of the remediation technology. First results have already been used to redesign the SmartStripping® wells in

order to improve their efficiency. At the end of the project, the model will be an optimized tool for properly designing the

SmartStripping® technology in each particular site. This is, to determine the number of SmartStripping® wells, their distribution

over the space and the operation parameters (i.e. depth, air flow etc.) to efficiently remediate a contaminated site.

The optimisation of the technology started in December 2011 through funding received from the European Commission

under the program Eco Innovation (http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eco-innovation/about/index_en.htm). Eco Innovation

is a financial project for the development of innovative and eco-friendly technologies that could contribute to sustainability

development by reducing Environmental impacts.

THE VOC ESTRACTED ARE NOT RELEASED INTO THEATMOSPHERE AFTER TREATMENT

COSTS COMPETITIVE: 1/5 COMPARED TO P&T COSTS

VENTILATION OF UNDERGROUND IMPROVE NATURAL

DEGRADATION OF CONTAMINANTS

EASY INSTALLATION, MINIMAL DISTURBANCE TO SITEOPERATIONS

WATER TREATMENT (PHREATIC ZONE)

SOIL TREATMENT (VADOSE ZONE)

TREATED WATER IS NOT DISCHARGED TO SURFACE WATER ORINTO SEWERS

LOW COST MAINTENANCE

LOW PRODUCTION OF WASTE

NO NEED FOR AUTHORISATIONS FOR WATER DISCHARGE AFTER

TREATMENT

NO NEED FOR AUTHORISATION FOR GAS DISCHARGE AFTER

TREATMENT

USE OF EXISTING WELLS FOR REMEDIATION

SHORT TREATMENT TIMES

DescriptionSmart

Stripping P&T AS SVE/AS

No.a. No.a.

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No.a. No.a.

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European Symposium: Remediation Technologies and their Integration in Water Management, September 25 - 26, 2012 Barcelona, Spain

Jubany I.1, Caridei F.2, Pagano M.2, Calderer M.1, Marti V. 1, Mosangini C. B. 2 and R. Verri 2

1 Fundació CTM Centre Tecnològic Manresa Av. De les Bases de Manresa 1 - 08242 Manresa BCN, Spain, email: irene.jubany@ctm.com.es, Telephone (+34) 938777373, Fax: (+34) 938777374.2 LA152 srl, Via Don Minzoni 11, 40121 Bologna, Italy - email: cm@ecosurvey.it.

groundwater level

Smart-Stripping® well

Activecarbon

filter

ground levelsampling S

sampling

Controlpanel

Activecarbon

filter

sampling S

sampling

Treated air pipes

Contaminated air pipe

Air flow

LEGEND

Muff screwed orsettled to central

pipe of the packer

ømm6x4

Blower pipe

Pipe to inflatethe packer

Operatingtwine

Operatingpipe

Air output

PACKER

zone of influence

STATE OF DEVELOPMENT AND PROCESS STANDARDISATION

Previous case studies showed the effectiveness of the process on sites contaminated by petroleum fractions. Moreover,

the technology is under a process of standardisation and simulation through on-site and lab scale demonstration to replicate

the proposed solution and to clarify the limitations of the stripping process for sites contaminated by chlorinated compounds.

A numerical model using the finite elements method (ABAQUS, CFX-ANSYS) is being developed to describe the processes

occurring in the saturated and unsaturated zones: stripping and vapor extraction. Furthermore, MATLAB is being used for

the simulation of the breakthrough curves for the adsorption of contaminants onto the granular activated carbon filters. The

goal of the developed model is to identify and analyze the main parameters affecting the performance of the technology

(air flow, injection pressure, soil characteristics and hydrogeological properties of the site, etc.) in order to optimize the zone

of influence of the remediation technology. First results have already been used to redesign the SmartStripping® wells in

order to improve their efficiency. At the end of the project, the model will be an optimized tool for properly designing the

SmartStripping® technology in each particular site. This is, to determine the number of SmartStripping® wells, their distribution

over the space and the operation parameters (i.e. depth, air flow etc.) to efficiently remediate a contaminated site.

The optimisation of the technology started in December 2011 through funding received from the European Commission

under the program Eco Innovation (http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eco-innovation/about/index_en.htm). Eco Innovation

is a financial project for the development of innovative and eco-friendly technologies that could contribute to sustainability

development by reducing Environmental impacts.