Project: REmoving Organic Pollutants from soils using instant pressure drop process

This project proposal aims to study and develop a new technology for the removal of organic pollutants from soil or other inorganic matrices and to design a mobile plant to use it ._x000D_The removal process is based on the combination of a solvent washing with an innovative thermo-mechanical treatment called Instantaneous Controlled Pressure Drop (DIC) . DIC is a technique recently developed and patented in France for the extraction of essential oils from vegetable products ._x000D_The material to be treated is firstly brought to high temperature and pressure conditions through steam introduction in the treatment reactor and afterward it is decompressed by opening the valve that connects the reactor to a big volume tank (called vacuum reserve), completely empty and cold. The low boiling fractions are completely removed (and separately recovered) from the treated material that results decontaminated. _x000D_The objectives of the project are :_x000D_- C<12 hydrocarbons removal from soil till to reach total content < 10ppm;_x000D_- C>12 hydrocarbons removal from soil till to reach total content < 50ppm;_x000D_- PAH removal from soil till to reach total content < 10ppm;_x000D_- PCB removal from soil till to reach total content < 0,06ppm;_x000D_These values correspond to Italian threshold limits (DLgs 152/2006) to consider a soil "clean". Italian values are the lowest in Europe ._x000D_Moreover there is a general economical objective for the project: to limit the treatment cost < 100euro/ton._x000D_It is not possible with technologies at present available on the market to reach all these objectives together : there are technologies able to remove some pollutant below the limits above reported (for some kind of soils) like steam current distillation or solvent distillation but their cost is much higher than 100 euro/ton._x000D_And of course there are soil treatments with a cost lower than 100 euro/ton (like i.e. bacteria based techniques) but their efficiency is not enough to reach the requested threshold limits ._x000D_The project workplan is subdivided in four phases:_x000D_a) in the first phase of the project the process will be tested at laboratory level using DIC reactors suited to treat vegetables and adapting/optimizing them for the new materials ;_x000D_b) in the second phase we will plan, build and start up a prototype of treatment plant (not mobile) specifically studied for the process application at pilot scale;_x000D_c) in the third phase we will carry out several field tests both on real polluted soil and on specific kinds of waste, like scrap metals;_x000D_d) in the fourth phase we will design the mobile plant and we will evaluate project results from the environmental, economic and marketing point of view; we will also carry out actions to promote and disseminate obtained results . _x000D_Project Ps will be :_x000D_- an Italian SME specialized in treatment and recycling of waste and soils _x000D_- a French SME spin off the La Rochelle University, specialized in the application of DIC technology in several fields, DIC plant designer/builder and owner of all the patent on DIC technology ._x000D_The project will enter in the large sector of polluted areas reclaiming, that represents only in Italy more that 7% of the industrial areas. _x000D_Project approach will focus on organic pollutants aiming at their complete removal but already in the first phase of the research we will study and develop also treatments to stabilize also other kinds of pollutants eventually present in the treated materials, like i.e. heavy metals . The obtained products will be completely inertized, stable and also useful for environmental purposes (i.e. land reclaiming)._x000D_In the meantime the process will be also tested on several kinds of wastes containing organic pollutants, like metal scraps or paint residues, where this technology can offer interesting possibilities both at technical and economical level ._x000D__x000D_

Acronym	REOP (Reference Number: 4857)
Duration	01/06/2009 - 30/11/2012
Project Topic	The project aims to study and develop an innovative technology to remove organic pollutants (VOC, hydrocarbons, PAH, PCB) from soils and scrap metals ._x000D_ This technology will be applied with a mobile plant reducing considerably time and cost of the treatment and improving efficiency and safety .
Project Results (after finalisation)	1. A CO part of volatile hydrocarbon molecules could be removed by instant autovaporization (Removal Capacity >>99.9%)._x000D_1.1 Study of the process in some types of contaminated soils (Matter composition , grain size distribution, content of organic contaminating compounds). The production of such samples had continued all along the project realization._x000D_1.2 Selection of representative compounds and characterization and assessment methods to identify and quantify the process impacts. _x000D_1.3 Adaptation of DIC lab plants created for the treatment of vegetables (i.e. for essential oils extraction) to the soil/waste treatment._x000D_2. The extraction kinetics was achieved in some minutes (less than 2 min) with high yields versus some hours with lower yields for hydrodistillation. DIC-extrusion was a very relevant solution (extraction time less than 1 min). Two different lab reactors were set up to achieve the definition of the process conditions for the specific cases of soil/waste treatment:_x000D_. a conventional DIC reactor basically composed by a treatment chamber equipped with saturated steam injection system and by a vacuum tank ._x000D_. a "DIC Extrusion reactor" composed by a mixing unit of about 60 kg/h of polluted soil; a material pump; a heating vessel operating up to 180ºC/4 MPa; a multi-pipe oil heat exchanger (220°C); a second spraying pump able to be working with low liquid carrier content; a vacuum tank equipped with a cooling system._x000D_Although various technical problems, we obtained relevant long term lab tests. The instant autovaporization process can assure a high removal capacity higher than 99,9%. _x000D_3. Extraction by autovaporization could be solvent free process:_x000D_Another type of processes was the solvent-assisted operation, to be used, looking at safety and efficiency requirements _x000D_The study is started as scheduled selecting solvents with high pollutants removal efficiency and with low environmental impact . The study is carried out on parallel with the removal tests using lab DIC reactors. _x000D_4. In some cases, other compounds could be removed using hexan; the traces of solvent were effectively removed by autovaporization. Good performances have been reached with acetone, D-Limonene, ethyl ether, hexane, ethyl acetate and several kinds of alcohols. Since lot substrates are higher water content, non hydro soluble solvents were used for process optimization ._x000D_5. Equipment was studied, discussed and adapted versus the basic treatment process and the results obtained from the tests and experiences carried out by both project Ps in order to go further with the construction of the scheduled pilot plants._x000D_In the pilot plant reactor of about 1m3 we performed several tests to use higher water content soils, lower temperatures and adequate pressures in order to simplify the process. With innovative nozzles, it was possible to preserve the instantaneity of pressure drop and thus its efficiency. It was also possible to define and design a demonstrative pilot plant._x000D_6. Study and development of the organic removal process from various soils using lab plants were achieved through several tests on polluted fine soils samples, like clay and limestone filler . Obtained results show a strong influence of cyclic repetition of instant pressure drops on granular materials but also the importance of a detailed characterization of each sample before adopting the most adequate process._x000D_Size and shape of the treated material must be defined in order to reach 1) the highest specific surface, which is a key point for the process optimization. 2) the adequate level of fullness of the treatment chamber, to avoid any risk of condensation of pollutants just after each pressure drop ._x000D_7. The treatment of substrates wit higher water content increased significantly the organic pollutant removal efficiency, even at low temperatures. This results in avoiding the use of steam generator.
Network	Eurostars
Call	Eurostars Cut-Off 2

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
2	ABCAR-DIC PROCESS	Partner	France
2	Contento Trade srl	Coordinator	Italy