Comparing the Adoption of Contaminated Land Remediation Technologies in the United States,United Kingdom,and China

In many locations across the world, land contamination poses a serious threat to human health and the wider environment. For instance, a report published on April 17, 2014, revealed that China now has 16.1 percent of its land contaminated by various organic and inorganic contaminants, posing a range of challenges from human health risk to food security. The innovation and adoption of suitable remediation technologies is critical for solving land contamination issues. However, little is known about the pattern of remediation technology adoption, as well as its determining factors. This study uses a questionnaire survey in the United States, United Kingdom, and China to examine the spatial variation of remediation technology adoption. It further explores the temporal trend of remediation technology adoption using secondary data from the U.S. Superfund program. The study identified significant differences in remediation technology adoption among these countries, which are attributed to the different environmental, social, economic, and regulatory contexts. It is argued that the full implications of remediation technology adoption to sustainable development should be further studied, and policy instruments should be designed accordingly to promote those remediation technologies that align the best with long‐term sustainability. Technology developers may also use these implications to adjust their research and development priorities. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The challenge of remediation technology development

A huge commercial environmental industry, currently estimated at some $130 billion in size in the United States alone, has sprung up to manage and remediate environmental problems. Hundreds of innovative remediation technologies are being developed under EPA's SITE program, which has provided R&D funding for more than 100 new treatment technologies. Despite the obvious demand, numerous regulatory, marketing, technical, and financial barriers have impeded progress in the field of remediation technology development. Developers of remediation technologies are faced with a significant challenge to overcome these barriers and successfully bring a technology to market. This article examines the barriers to technology development and offers strategic planning alternatives for long-term economic success and commercial viability of remediation technologies.     

石油污染土壤的微生物修复技术

介绍了石油污染土壤微生物修复技术的影响因素;概述了生物刺激、生物强化、固定化微生物、植物-微生物联合修复以及电动-微生物联合修复石油污染土壤的技术原理,分析了现阶段土壤修复过程中面临的难题,预测了微生物修复技术的研究方向。指出优化微生物的环境条件、培育新型高效的基因工程菌和开发经济高效的新型修复技术等将是未来微生物修复技术的发展趋势。     

Alternatives to incineration in remediation of soil and sediments assessed

Contamination of soil and sediment by pollutants represents a major environmental challenge. Remediation of soil during the original Superfund years consisted primarily of dig and haul, capping, or containment. The 1986 amendments to CERCLA—SARA—provided the incentive for treatment and permanent remedies during site remediation. Thermal treatment, which routinely achieves the low cleanup criteria required by RCRA land-ban regulations, became one of the major technologies used for cleanup under the concept of ARAR. As the remediation industry matured and recognized specific market niches in soil remediation, a number of new technologies emerged. Thermal desorption, bioremediation, soil vapor extraction, soil washing, and soil extraction are being used on sites at which the technology offers advantages over incineration. In addition, a continuing stream of emerging technologies is being presented that requires careful evaluation relative to existing cleanup methods. Each of these technologies offers a range of options for achieving appropriate cleanup criteria, application to different soil matrices, cost, time of remediation, and public acceptability. Balancing cleanup criteria defined by regulation or risk assessment with technology cost and capability affords the opportunity to solve these problems with appropriate balance of cost and protection of human health and the environment.     

Bioremediation Of Petroleum- And Creosote-contaminated Soils: A Review Of Constraints

The evaluation and selection of technologies for the effective remediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated sites requires careful consideration of the waste/site/soil characteristics that determine their ultimate success. The presence of weathered hydrocarbon wastes and sub-optimal environmental conditions places technical restraints on the bioremediation of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon-contaminated soils. A brief overview of applicable bioremediation technologies is followed by an indepth critical evaluation of limiting factors that can influence the efficacy of biotreatment options, including waste composition, temperature, substrate, bioavailability, accompanying toxicants and soil structure.     

A European approach to increase innovative soil and groundwater remediation technology applications

The European Commission (EC) has recognized a need for strengthening innovation of environmental technologies in order to increase competitiveness of European technologies on a global market and to achieve a more sustainable development in Europe. In the area of soil and groundwater remediation, innovative technologies are principally available and have proven applicability and performance on demonstration scales, but market uptake is disappointing. Consequently, initiatives have been launched in order to promote application of these technologies and to investigate on the harmonization of applications. The European Co‐ordination Action for Demonstration of Efficient Soil and Groundwater Remediation (EURODEMO), an EC‐funded project, is one strategic initiative for supporting these goals. This article summarizes results obtained so far regarding the investigation of the European situation and some undertaken and envisaged measures to achieve better market uptake. The results of this research project may serve as prerequisites for a European Environmental Technologies Verification (ETV) process. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Improving Objectives for Cleanup Sites

In 1976, the discovery of the Love Canal Superfund Site in New York thrust environmental cleanups into the forefront of the national conscience and essentially launched the remediation industry. Since then, vast efforts have been devoted to improving site remediation. Despite the attention given to key subject areas, such as site characterization, risk assessment, and remediation technologies, relatively little attention has been given to the objectives set forth for conducting cleanups, and they have generally not been rigorously evaluated in the literature. Several of the more common objectives for remediation projects are discussed. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

等离子体裂解煤制乙炔技术分析及展望

针对乙炔生产过程,介绍了电石制乙炔、天然气制乙炔和等离子体裂解煤制乙炔三种乙炔生产工艺,对比了各工艺的资源消耗、能源利用率、环境污染、技术经济性等因素,探讨了国内等离子体裂解煤制乙炔技术的发展历程和技术优势,指出了当前工业化试验面临的技术难点与攻关方向,阐明了等离子体裂解煤制乙炔技术在乙炔行业和煤化工市场的重要意义.     

Current use of bioremediation for TCE cleanup: Results of a survey

In 1995 the University of Tennessee's Waste Management Research and Education Institute and Canon Inc. began an analysis of the extent to which remediation firms and research centers have implemented bioremediation strategies, particularly for the cleanup of trichloroethylene (TCE) in soil and groundwater. The research involved the mailing of surveys to a select, representative group of environmental professionals involved in TCE cleanup activities. The survey was divided into two parts. Part I gathered cost information for TCE cleanup, using both bioremediation and “conventional” cleanup technologies. Part II asked the survey recipients to relate their opinions on the use of nonindigenous microorganisms for bioremediation, especially their assessment of the effectiveness, reliability, safety, and predictability of this approach. The results of this survey are discussed in this article.     

铁活化过硫酸盐修复石油烃污染土壤的研究进展

分析了Fe~0、Fe~(2+)和Fe~(3+)活化过硫酸盐氧化石油烃的机理,介绍了土壤中石油烃污染物降解的影响因素以及总结了铁活化过硫酸盐修复石油烃污染土壤技术的不足。指出应以铁活化过硫酸盐原位修复作为土壤中高浓度有机污染物的前处置方法,再结合微生物或植物修复等技术,以减少对土壤理化性质的影响;另外,检测仪器的发展有利于土壤修复技术的应用。     

Review of in situ remediation technologies for lead,zinc, and cadmium in soil

This article presents a review of in situ technologies for the remediation of soils contaminated with lead, zinc, and/or cadmium. The objective of this review is to assess the developmental status of the available in situ technologies and provide a general summary of typical applications and limitations of these technologies. The literature review identified seven in situ remediation technologies—solidification/stabilization, vitrification, electrokinetic remediation, soil flushing, phytoextraction, phytostabilization, and chemical stabilization. These technologies were considered for their ability to meet a specific set of remediation objectives under a range of conditions. Each of these technologies has both strengths and weaknesses for addressing particular remedial situations discussed in the article for each of the technologies. A general summary of which technologies are most applicable to common remedial scenarios is also provided. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Sustainable Remediation Considerations for Treatment of 1,4‐Dioxane in Groundwater

1,4‐Dioxane remediation is challenging due to its physiochemical properties and low target treatment levels. As such, applications of traditional remediation technologies have proven ineffective. There are a number of promising remediation technologies that could potentially be scaled for successful application to groundwater restoration. Sustainable remediation is an important consideration in the evaluation of remediation technologies. It is critically important to consider sustainability when new technologies are being applied or new contaminants are being treated with traditional technologies. There are a number of social, economic, and environmental drivers that should be considered when implementing 1,4‐dioxane treatment technologies. This includes evaluating sustainability externalities by considering the cradle‐to‐grave impacts of the chemicals, energy, processes, transportation, and materials used in groundwater treatment. It is not possible to rate technologies as more or less sustainable because each application is context specific. However, by including sustainability thinking into technology evaluations and implementation plans, decisions makers can be more informed and the results of remediation are likely to be more effective and beneficial. There are a number sustainable remediation frameworks, guidance documents, footprint assessment tools, life cycle assessment tools, and best management practices that can be utilized for these purposes. This paper includes an overview describing the importance of sustainability in technology selection, identifies sustainability impacts related to technologies that can be used to treat 1,4‐dioxane, provides an approximating approach to assess sustainability impacts, and summarizes potential sustainability impacts related to promising treatment technologies. ©2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

You Know Your Environmental Contractor Is Out of Control When…

Far too often private industry is caught in situations where they become responsible for environmental characterization and remediation projects. The processes involved in successfully completing such tasks may be foreign to the responsible industry. In such cases, an environmental contractor is hired to perform the necessary work. While many environmental contractors claim a high level of ethics and customer orientation, the very essence of their jobs should make the responsible industrial client wary. Far too often, environmental characterizations and remediations become too drawn out and costly. Far too often, environmental contractors need “just a little more data” to complete otherwise simple tasks. To guard against the phenomenon of “never-ending environmental work,” responsible industrial clients that do not have environmental expertise on their staff would do well to retain a senior level independent environmental contractor to watch out for the best interests of the responsible industry. While the hiring of a contractor to watch a contractor may seem redundant and cost inefficient, the truth of the matter is the exact opposite. By bringing in an expert in environmental characterization and remediation, the responsible industrial client essentially hires another technical employee. It is best to hire this person as a member of the company to avoid additional overhead costs. If such an “environmental guardian” cannot be hired or found, then the responsible industrial client must learn to recognize the warning signs of an environmental characterization or remediation project that is out of control and should be stopped and regrouped. These warning signs become more apparent as time goes on (and money is spent). Having an experienced independent environmental contractor “look over the shoulder” of another contractor is just good business sense. One could say that it is the “potentially responsible party's” (PRP's) right to a second opinion.     

Sustainable soil remediation by refrigerated condensation at sites with “high‐concentration” recalcitrant compounds and NAPL: Two case studies

Remediation of recalcitrant compounds at sites with high concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or nonaqueous‐phase liquids (NAPLs) can present significant technical and financial (long‐term) risk for stakeholders. Until recently, however, sustainability has not been included as a significant factor to be considered in the feasibility and risk evaluation for remediation technologies. The authors present a framework for which sustainability can be incorporated into the remediation selection criteria focusing specifically on off‐gas treatment selection for soil vapor extraction (SVE) remediation technology. SVE is generally considered an old and standard approach to in situ remediation of soils at a contaminated site. The focus on off‐gas treatment technology selection in this article allows for more in‐depth analysis of the feasibility evaluation process and how sustainable practices might influence the process. SVE is more commonly employed for recovery of VOCs from soils than other technologies and generally employs granular activated carbon (GAC), catalytic, or thermal oxidation, or an emerging alternative technology known as cryogenic‐compression and condensation combined with regenerative adsorption (C3–Technology). Of particular challenge to the off‐gas treatment selection process is the potential variety of chemical constituents and concentrations changing over time. Guidance is available regarding selection of off‐gas treatment technology (Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence, 1996; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006). However, there are common shortcomings of off‐gas treatment technology guidance and applications; practitioners have rarely considered sustainability and environmental impact of off‐gas treatment technology selection. This evaluation includes consideration of environmental sustainability in the selection of off‐gas treatment technologies and a region‐specific (Los Angeles, California) cost per pound and time of remediation comparisons between GAC, thermal oxidation, and C3–Technology. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Towards an international standard: The ISO/DIS 18504 standard on sustainable remediation

Sustainable remediation is the elimination and/or control of unacceptable risks in a safe and timely manner while optimizing the environmental, social, and economic value of the work. Forthcoming International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standard on Sustainable Remediation will allow countries without the capacity to develop their own guidance to benefit from work done over the past decade by various groups around the world. The ISO standard has progressed through the committee draft (ISO/CD 18504) and draft international standard (ISO/DIS 18504) stages. The risk‐based approach to managing the legacy of historically contaminated soil and groundwater has been incorporated into policy, legislation, and practice around the world. It helps determine the need for remediation and the end point of such remediation. Remediation begins with an options appraisal that short lists strategies that could deliver the required reduction in risk. A remediation strategy comprises one or more remediation technologies that will deliver the safe and timely elimination and/or control of unacceptable risks. The ISO standard will help assessors identify the most sustainable among the shortlisted, valid alternative remediation strategies. Practitioners presenting case studies claiming to constitute sustainable remediation should now report how they have aligned their work with the new standard. Indicators are used to compare alternative remediation strategies. The simplest metric that allows a characteristic to act as an indicator should be chosen. Weightings indicators can become a contested exercise and should only be undertaken where there is a clear desire for it by stakeholders and a clear need for it in identifying a preferred strategy. The simplest means of ranking alternative remediation strategies should be adopted.     

化学淋洗—H2O2-O3-UV复合催化氧化技术修复硝基甲苯一氯、二氯代物污染土壤工程实例

针对某退役化工企业地块的关注污染物硝基甲苯一氯、二氯代物的历史形成、污染状况和土质特点,在小试技术验证的基础上,采用化学淋洗—H₂O₂-O₃-UV复合催化氧化技术进行受污染土壤异位修复的工程实践。结果表明,该技术能较好地适用于关注污染物的土壤修复工程,修复后指标明显优于目标值,且造价和运行费用较低,具有显著的社会效益、经济效益和环境效益,有一定的推广价值。     

生物炭修复Cd,Pb污染土壤的研究进展

随着矿产开采、冶炼等工业活动以及污水灌溉、施用污泥和劣质化肥等农业活动的进行,Cd,Pb等有害重金属不断进入农业环境中,对农田、菜地等造成污染。生物炭作为重要的土壤改良剂,在对Cd,Pb污染土壤的修复中表现出巨大的潜力。从生物炭的特性及制备、修复效果及其影响因素、修复机理等方面,对近年来国内外有关生物炭修复Cd,Pb污染土壤的研究成果和现状进行了总结,并对生物炭修复Cd,Pb污染土壤的发展前景和未来研究方向进行了展望。     

Hazardous Substance Research Centers program: An incubator for remediation research

The Hazardous Substance Research Center (HSRC) was established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assist in the implementation of Superfund and to address major hazardous substance environmental problems at a regional level. Over the past 12 years, the HSRC program has produced more than 1,200 peer‐reviewed technical articles, 27 patents and licenses, 21 new technologies for the remediation marketplace, and provided technical assistance to more than 300 communities. Research, technology transfer, and training are conducted by five regional multi‐university centers, which focus on different aspects of hazardous substance management. Areas of focus include urban environments, contaminated sediments, natural remediation and restoration technologies, abandoned mine lands, and chlorinated solvents in groundwater. This article provides an overview of the five HSRC programs including current areas of research, field studies, and technology transfer Internet links to access research results and remediation technology information. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

再生资源产业发展的战略思考与对策建议

再生资源产业对于破解我国资源环境约束、推动新型城镇化建设和促进产业结构调整具有重要的支撑作用.但是我国再生资源产业处于发展初期,面临管理体系不善、技宋鬟备落后、产业规 缺位和产业政策不清等突出问题.对此,提出六点具体建议,包括：加强立法和产业发展的顶层设计,构建再生资源高效回收体系,推动技术装备升级和推广,完善配套财税政策,强化产业规划统筹和部门政策衔接,加强与新型城镇化建设的融合等.