PROJECT A-9
In Situ Sub-Surface
Residence, Framingham, MA
PROBLEM:
Fuel oil spill below concrete basement floor slab
A sudden release of 110 gallons of #2 fuel oil occurred during March
1997 when a copper fuel supply line ruptured below a concrete basement
floor slab. Initial response actions consisted of removing a 4'x4'
section of floor slab and excavation of six drums of heavily
contaminated sandy subgrade soils. Soil core samples confirmed that
residual petroleum contamination remained from a depth of 4 to 6 feet
below grade. TPH concentration of the soils averaged 4,200 ppm. The
soils could not be excavated without undermining the house
foundation.
SOLUTION:
Apply MicroSorb products through hand-augured wells
The residual contaminated soil was treated in situ on May 9 with 10
pounds of MicroSorb® SC, 1 pound of MicroSorb® Nutrients, 55 gallons
MicroSorb® Biocatalyst and 1 gallon of MicroBlue®. The mixture was
applied through 2" diameter hand-augured wells. The augmented
bioremediation application method was especially effective in
eliminating fuel oil vapors from the basement. The owners were able to
continuously occupy the house throughout the cleanup and
bioremediation.
RESULTS:
No petroleum odor, 92% reduction of TPH concentrations
The effectiveness of the bioaugmentation application was evaluated on
January 27, 1998, by coring soil samples at the release point adjacent
to the location of the original sample. The soil core samples had no
petroleum odor or other visual evidence of contamination. The January
soil samples had TPH concentrations of 350 ppm, a reduction of 92% in
8 months.The results of the January 1998 soil analyses confirmed that
a permanent solution had been achieved at the site in accordance with
Massachusetts regulations: no TPH concentrations in excess of
applicable soil cleanup standards were detected eight months after the
initial bioremediation application. The cost of biotreatment,
including MicroSorb®SC, MicroSorb®
Nutrients, MicroSorb® Biocatalyst, and application of
the mixture was $2,275.
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