1. Web-based Class Project on Geoenvironmental Remediation
SOIL VAPOR EXTRACTION
Prepared by:
Elaine Wild
Adam Lobbestael
With the Support of:
Report prepared as part of course
CEE 549: Geoenvironmental Engineering
Winter 2013 Semester
Instructor: Professor Dimitrios Zekkos
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Michigan

2. INTRODUCTION
Remediation technique for treating contaminated soils within the vadose zone
In-situ remediation technique
Commonly used to remove volatile compounds
Petroleum
Chlorinated Products

3. CONTAMINANT & SITE SUITABILITY
VVOCs, VOCs, and SVOCs
Low boiling point
High vapor pressure
Increase volatility of substance, Increase the ease as which SVE removes the contaminant
Effectively removes:
Petroleum (benzene, toluene, and xylenes)
Chlorinated Products (tetrachloroethene and perchloroethylene)
deq.mt.gov

4. CONTAMINANT & SITE SUITABILITY
Soil Composition
Fine to medium sands
Permeability
High permeability (>10-6)
Groundwater Conditions
Unsaturated Zone
GW table > 10 ft bgs

5. PREDOMINANT PROCESSES
Volatization
Dominant process of SVE
High vapor pressure
Advection
Transport of a substance through a medium
Negative pressure gradient induced by wells
(USACE, 2002)

6. PREDOMINANT PROCESSES
Diffusion
Spreading of a substance through medium
Movement due to concentration gradient
Desorption
Process where a substance is removed from a surface to the air
Movement due to a concentration gradient
(USACE, 2002)

7. - Determining Applicability -
DESIGN & OPERATION
- Determining Applicability -
(USACE, 2002)

8. - Determining Applicability -
DESIGN & OPERATION
- Determining Applicability -
Vapor Flow Rate
Contaminant Concentration
Location/Setting of Contaminant
At end of this slide, discuss questions (highlight 2 and 4)
(Johnson et al, 1990)

9. DESIGN & OPERATION - Pilot Scale Testing -
Work through diagram and discuss important aspects of pilot scale testing
(USACE, 2002)

10. DESIGN & OPERATION
- System Design -

11. DESIGN & OPERATION
- System Design -

12. DESIGN & OPERATION - System Design - Thermal Oxidation
Catalytic Oxidation
Condensation
Carbon Absorption
Resins Absorption
Biofiltration
Internal Combustion Engine
Flares
Diffuser Stacks

13. - Operation & Monitoring -
DESIGN & OPERATION
- Operation & Monitoring -
Vapor Flow Rates
Pressure Readings
Vapor Concentrations and Compositions
Temperature
Water Table Levels
When discussing cost and duration, explain that wide range is due to the fact that SVE is often used in conjunction with other technologies such as AS or BV.
serc.carleton.edu

14. - Operation & Monitoring -
DESIGN & OPERATION
- Operation & Monitoring -
Cost Range: $0.35/lb to $220/lb
Duration: Months to Years
When discussing cost and duration, explain that wide range is due to the fact that SVE is often used in conjunction with other technologies such as AS or BV.
serc.carleton.edu

15. ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES
Ease of construction/readily available materials
Cost effective and relatively quick
Amenable to numerical modeling
Disadvantages:
Limited to high permeability soils
Limited to vadose zone
Ex situ applications have high exposure to contaminant

16. More detailed technical information on this project can be found at: (
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering