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Perchlorate Info: Comprehensive information and resources about perchlorate and treatment options
The majority of perchlorate treatability research, testing, and application has targeted either the California Action Level of 18 ppb as the benchmark treatment goal, or the non-detectable level of 4 ppb. Information collected by GWRTAC was organized to depict trends in technology deployment and R&D efforts targeting perchlorate contamination in groundwater, water/wastewater streams, or soil. The intent is to provide the environmental community and public with information on public and private sector activity in laboratory research, and pilot- to full-scale application of innovative technologies in one convenient location. To date, we have identified a variety of case studies or project summaries related to perchlorate treatment technologies or R&D projects. Thirty-one of the studies identified are laboratory studies, 26 are pilot-scale scale studies, and 7 are full-scale site remediation projects. A total of 35 of the projects have been completed, 27 projects are in progress, and 3 projects are in the planning stages. Results information is not yet readily available for many of these projects due to their on-going or planned status. The vast majority of the 33 pilot- to full-scale projects are located in EPA Region IX (19 projects) and Region VI (5 projects). Perchlorate-contaminated water or wastewater streams were targeted in approximately 30 projects. Groundwater contamination was targeted in approximately 25 cases, while soil contamination only was targeted in 9 cases. Four projects targeted both soil and groundwater. Of the 65 projects summarized, 29 projects utilize or study some type of ex situ biological technology, 12 projects utilize or study some type of in situ biological technology, and 4 projects are indicated as addressing a general biological technology (reflecting projects where biological research might easily benefit either in situ or ex situ biological technology application). Fourteen projects address an ex situ physical treatment technology, while four projects address ex situ chemical treatment technology. Two projects involve ex situ abiotic technologies not otherwise specified. The most widely used and investigated biological technique for perchlorate treatment to date has been the use of ex situ bioreactors of various types, which account for 23 of the 45 projects where biological technologies are employed or studied. Seven in situ bioremediation projects are included which have involved laboratory work; an additional four in situ bioremediation projects have advanced to the field. Four projects are listed as research and development for any biological technology, being equally applicable to in situ or ex situ application. Finally, there are four ex situ soil bioremediation projects, and three phytoremediation projects identified in the case study summaries. The most commonly investigated and used physical/chemical technology is anion exchange, which accounts for 13 of the 20 physical/chemical technology case studies. Chemical reduction is being investigated in an additional four projects. Reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration are being studied in two of the projects, and oxidation/GAC is being studied in one project. Where known, the range of perchlorate concentrations being addressed by the projects included in this report ranged from <1,000 ppb to >1,000,000 ppb. Research and application for the treatment of drinking water sources amount to the majority of the 15 low concentration (<1,000 ppb) perchlorate treatment projects. Projects with soil or groundwater contamination, or wastewater stream treatments (such as booster motor washout), accounted for those studies generally having higher concentrations of perchlorate. Based on the information compiled for this report, each perchlorate concentration range investigated has been addressed by physical technologies, ex situ bioreactors, and other biological technologies, with the exception that physical treatment technologies have not yet been applied to perchlorate concentrations greater than 1,000,000 ppb. We hope to provide periodic updates and refinements to this report over the next several years, due to the extremely fast-moving developments in the perchlorate treatment area. Click here to view more case study information. |
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