BALLESTERO 9729935 Preliminary research on petroleum contaminated soil from McMurdo Station, Antarctica, has indicated that there appears to be a strong influence of temperature on the reduction of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in the soil. To be able to effectively remediate contaminated soils in Antarctica, the remediation system would need to incorporate some means of moderating temperature and maintaining the soil at a constant, uniform, above-freezing temperature. The basic objectives of this research are: 1. To see if petroleum contaminant levels of 1,000 mg/kg can be achieved by a bioremediation system, and 2. To design the appropriate radio frequency antennae to provide the heat source necessary to control soil temperature for pilot and full-scale Antarctic systems. This research will be performed on petroleum contaminated soil from McMurdo Station. No non-indigenous microorganisms have been or will be introduced into the soil as other researchers have indicated that petroleum degrading microorganisms are present in Antarctic soils. The first objective of this research will be investigated by using a bench-scale study. Two temperatures (50C and 150C) will be used. Additionally in the 50C reactors, the effect of moisture content will be analyzed. Air flow and nutrients will be used for all reactors. All reactors will be housed in small, sealed refrigerators. TPH and specific petroleum compounds will be analyzed for by EPA Method 8100. While the bench-scale studies will be carried-out in refrigerators, pilot and full-scale efforts would require the use of some heat source. What is proposed is to use radio frequency (RF) antennae to generate this heat. The RF heating of the soil occurs by electromagnetic radiation. Design variables to be considered include: operating frequency, power level, antenna applicator length, number of applicators, applicator position, applicator orientation, mutu al coupling between applicators, electrical phasing, and soil properties. Computer modeling will be used to simulate the RF heating process to account for three fundamental mechanisms: 1) Specific Absorption Rate (in units of watts/kg) of the materials illuminated by the electromagnetic fields; 2) Thermal conductivity of the regions of interest (i.e., heat conduction); 3) Fluid flow (resulting from moving air and/or water in the region) and initial temperatures (i.e., heat transport). By properly accounting for these three mechanisms, the temperature at any point in the region of interest can be modeled. This modeling effort will aid with the antenna designs. If bioremediation is not effective for larger particles, RF heating may be useful for volatilization of the petroleum contamination, a course of treatment which may be preferable to shipping the larger particles off continent.
