Vacuum Extraction

Definition

• The application of a vacuum on a subsurface vertical or horizontal well.
• The applied vacuum induces in situ volatilization and causes air to flow through the soil matrix void space toward the well(s), partitioning the contaminant from the dissolved, absorbed or residual liquid phase, and extracting contaminants from the subsurface as a vapor.
• The vacuum enhances this partitioning of volatile and semi-volatile contaminants into the vapor phase and extracts the contaminants from the soil matrix.

Application

• Unsaturated soil matrices of clays, silts, sands, gravels and bedrock, in widely varying geologic settings and at depths up to 300 feet.
• Volatile and semi-volatile compounds, including: Chlorinated solvents (PCE, TCE, DCE, etc.), petroleum hydrocarbons (gasoline, jet fuel, etc.), Stoddard Solvent, mercury and many others.
• Typical soil permeability range of 0.1 >10,000 millidarcies (equivalent of 10E-6 to 10E-1 cm/s hydraulic conductivity).

Unique Characteristics

• Minimizes site disturbances. Can be performed under existing buildings and structures.
• Performs rapid cleanup for property sale or development.
• Has accomplished clean closure to CERCLA, RCRA and state requirements.
• Can be implemented rapidly for quick response.
• Is the most widely applied innovative remedial technology.

Case Studies

• Thomas Solvents Superfund Site, Battle Creek, MI
• Tyson's Superfund Site, King of Prussia, PA
• McClellan AFB Superfund Site, Sacramento, CA
• Former Service Station, Belleview, FL

Technical Papers

• Integrated Remediation Technology Provides Rapid Site Remediation
• Integrated Pneumatic Soil Fracturing System/Vacuum Extraction For Remediation of Low Permeability Soils
• In Situ Bioremediation in Low Permeability Silt and Clay Soils
• Soil Remediation and Free Product Removal Using In-Situ Vacuum Extraction with Catalytic Oxidation
• Advances in the Vacuum Extraction Technology for Effective Subsurface Remediation
• Rapid Response and Remediation Of a Gasoline Spill La Voulte Sur Rhone, France
• Full-Scale Remediation At A Superfund Site Using In Situ Vacuum Extraction And On-Site Regeneration Case Study-Phase I
• Vacuum Extraction Of Volatile and Semi-Volatile Compounds At a Superfund Site
• Vacuum Extraction Of Hydrocarbons From Subsurface Soils At a Gasoline Contamination Site
• Unsaturated Zone Monitoring And Recovery Of Underground Contamination
• Superfund Site Soil Remediation Using Large-Scale Vacuum Extraction
• Integrated Vacuum Extraction/Groundwater Sparging For Rapid, Cost-Effective

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