‘Natural' alternative to dirt burning for contaminated soil may be less costly

A "natural" alternative to treating contaminated soil with dirt-burning thermal desorption machines is the use of "bio-raptors," according to its producers, U.S. Microbics, Inc.

The Bio-Raptor is a shredder, conveyor and sprayer system used to particalize soil into small chunks that are then sprayed with water containing activated microbial blends. After the contaminated soil passes through the Bio-Raptor system it is stacked onsite, where the microbes break down the hydrocarbon chains into carbon dioxide, water and other innocuous substances.

New process does not release noxious gas
In many cases, according to a report from Microbics, the concentration of the offending contaminants can be reduced to non-detectable levels or levels that meet or exceed current governmental standards for a non-contaminated classification. Compared to alternative thermal burning processes, the new process does not release noxious gases into the atmosphere, minimizes offsite transportation of contaminated soil through populated neighborhoods, is relatively quiet and does not pose explosion dangers.

Typical contaminants that can be treated successfully include diesel fuel, gasoline, jet fuel, oil derivatives, pesticides, sludges and crude oil.

Number of reasons given to use alternative
The process should be evaluated as a remediation alternative for several reasons, according to the company report:

• It is environmentally friendly.
• It is often significantly cheaper than other alternatives such as thermal burning and offsite disposal.
• There are significantly reduced consequences of the release of airborne contaminants or the potential environmental costs resulting.
• The burial site is maintained and eventually cleaned up.

With a cost effective solution at hand, Microbics encourages communities to restart projects to improve neighborhoods, mitigate contaminated soils, remove noxious odors, and return unusable land to productive use.

U.S. Microbics, Inc. is an environmental technology company that specializes in applied microbial technology for bioremediation, waste treatment, and odor control. For further information, contact Robert Brehm or Mery Robinson at 760-918-1860.

Edited by Joyce Jungclaus, Editor, Public Works Online
Information provided by U.S. Microbics, Inc.