Summary of 1,4-dioxane treatment technologies

The chlorinated solvent stabilizer 1,4-dioxane (DX) has become an unexpected and recalcitrant groundwater contaminant at many sites. Increasing regulatory interest and promulgation of standards over the last several years has led to greater awareness among consultants, vendors and facility owners. Chemical characteristics of DX, such as miscibility and low sorption potential, enable it to migrate at least as far as the chlorinated solvent from which it often originates. This mobility and recalcitrance has challenged remediation professionals to redesign existing treatment systems and monitoring networks to accommodate widespread contamination from this previously unidentified compound. Furthermore, remediation technologies commonly applied to chlorinated solvents, such as extraction and air stripping or in situ enhanced reductive dechlorination, are relatively ineffective on DX removal. These difficulties in treatment have required the industry to identify, develop and demonstrate new and innovative technologies and approaches for both ex situ and in situ treatment of this emerging contaminant. (author)