Thermal remediation involves the heating of contaminated groundwater or soil. The heat is used to push chemicals toward collection wells, where they are then pushed up to the ground surface for cleanup. The heating process can also destroy or evaporate some chemicals; evaporation turns the chemical to a gas, easing its passage through the soil. There are several kinds of in situ thermal remediation methods, including steam heat injection, radio frequency heating, and thermal conduction.
Thermal remediation methods are currently being used at some Superfund sites throughout the United States. They work well where other methods do not or where they may be too costly (i.e. sites requiring digging to reach contaminated sediment). Importantly, thermal remediation is one of the few methods that can help cleanup non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) in situ.
Use the search tools below to find additional information about SBRP-funded thermal remediation studies.
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