Evaluation of alternatives in the remediation of a former explosive manufacturing site

A case study on the remediation of a former explosive manufacturing site is presented. On the basis of the sampling and characterization results, the contaminants present were pyritic ashes and nitroaromatics (mainly trinitrotoluene and dinitrotoluenes). Waste was classified according to toxicity which was higher in the fraction contaminated by TNT and DNTs. The adopted remedial action consisted in the excavation and landfilling of the contaminated material. The toxic waste was sent to a security landfill and the rest was buried in a containment unit excavated at the site. In some cases, the application of treatment technologies to separate/destroy the nitroaromatics and reduce the volume and toxicity of the waste could have in the end resulted in lower cost. An evaluation of two such alternatives, thermal desorption and soil washing, is presented. Suitability of these remediation treatments for this particular case is discussed and some calculations presented including a computer model which is used to evaluate steam stripping performance in the remediation of these contaminants.