Pilot-Scale Incineration of PCB-Contaminated Sediments from the New BedfordHarbor Hot Spot Superfund Site

摘要

Testing was performed at the EPA's Incineration Research Facility (IRF) todetermine the incinerability of contaminated marine sediment from the Hot Spot in the New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site. The contaminants at the site were PCBs, at concentrations up to <200,000 mg/kg, and metals, chiefly cadmium, chromium, copper, and lead, at concentrations up to several hundred mg/kg. Sediments were incinerated without dewatering. Tests were run on sediments spiked with pure PCB transformer fluid and a brief period of operation with native sediment alone, or unspiked. Kiln exit gas temperature was varied from 824 to 984C (1515 to 1803F). Greater than 99.9999% Destruction and Removal Efficiency was achieved at both kiln temperatures with the afterburner operated at 1200C (2206F), but the treated sediment was still PCB-contaminated. The kiln ash accounted for about 80 to 90% of the discharged amount of copper and chromium at both kiln temperatures. Kiln ash discharge accounted for 53% (low kiln temperature) and 20% (high kiln temperature) of the lead and 61% (low kiln temperature) and 10 to 20% (high kiln temperature) of the cadmium. Test results suggest that incineration would be an effective treatment option for the site sediments. However, sediment dewatering prior to incineration and/or incinerating for a longer kiln solids residence time might be required to produce a treated sediment not contaminated by PCBs.