Mechanisms that govern the successful application of sparging technologies

Accidental releases of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the subsurface environment in the form of petroleum products or industrial solvents can result in costly remediation. Although virtually any form of remediation is expensive, developing a well planned, cost effective strategy at the onset of a spill or release can minimize expenses which accumulate throughout the duration of a cleanup project. Sparging has the potential to significantly reduce the cost and duration for remediation of saturated, contaminated soils. The multi-fluid transport processes involved in sparging are complex. The technology is not appropriate for application at all sites. System control is best achieved in coarser grained soils without significant stratification. Pulsed operation of sparging system appears to provide a number of advantages over continuous system operation with respect to the efficiency of mass removal. Volatile and semi-volatile contaminants may also be biodegraded in-situ through ground water oxygenation as a result of sparging processes. Through the proper design and application of the technology, rapid and effective contaminant mass removal can be achieved. Under optimal conditions, ground water can be cleaned to MCL levels