Low-flow air injection (or extraction) through the vadose zone to supply oxygen to indigenous aerobic microorganisms that biodegrade petroleum hydrocarbons in place. A bioremediation variant of SVE optimized for biological activity rather than physical removal.
Bioventing applies modest airflow to the vadose zone with the goal of sustaining aerobic microbial respiration on petroleum hydrocarbons rather than physically stripping vapours. Flow rates are typically an order of magnitude lower than SVE, and well spacing is tuned to deliver oxygen across the contamination volume without inducing off-gas emissions that would require treatment.
The technology suits mid- and heavy-range petroleum hydrocarbons (diesel, jet fuel, motor oil), is energy-efficient, and is often the cheapest long-term option for low-to-moderate concentration LNAPL source zones above the water table. Performance is governed by soil moisture, temperature, and nutrient availability; cold-climate applications often require thermal or nutrient amendment.
Also known as: bioventing.
Petroleum Hydrocarbons: treatment approach
The full spectrum of petroleum-derived organic compounds — crude oil, condensate, diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, and bunker fuel — reported analytically as total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in gasoline-range (C6–C10), diesel-range (C10–C28), and heavy-range (C28–C40) fractions.
An ex-situ soil treatment process that heats contaminated soil to volatilize and separate organic contaminants from the soil matrix, after which the liberated vapors are captured and treated, usually in a high-temperature oxidizer.
A thermal desorption configuration where the heat source contacts the soil directly inside the rotary unit, delivering high heat-transfer efficiency and supporting higher treatment temperatures.
A thermal desorption configuration where heat is conducted through the wall of the treatment vessel without combustion gases contacting the soil, producing a concentrated, lower-volume vapor stream suitable for condensation and recovery.
Treatment that heats contaminated soil and groundwater in place, typically with electrical resistance, thermal conduction, or steam injection, to volatilize and recover contaminants without excavation. Used where excavation is impractical or where the contaminant zone sits beneath active infrastructure.