PROBLEM
An agricultural chemical plant was ignited by an arsonist containing over 11,000 pounds of pesticide and herbicide inventory in Central,
Illinois. Phosgene toxic corridors were projected using a model presented to the National Transportation Research Board. Estimated evacuation and shelter-in-place zones were used by local authorities. A city evacuation of residents and nursing home patients were sheltered-in-place.
SOLUTION
Site remediation measures implemented included:
1. Emergency construction of a 300,000 gallon temporary treatment lagoon for stream leachates from fire fighting operations.
2. Emergency bench-scale treatment evaluated included granular activated carbon filtration, hydrogen peroxide oxidization, alkaline hydrolysis, and powdered activated carbon (PAC) addition.
3. A PAC dosage of 1,000 mg/l resulted in clarified water without turbidity and removal of burn residues containing organophosphates, carbamates, and furidan and 8 drums of waste
4. 300,000 gallons of treated water were released to a receiving stream and only 450 gallons of sludge were generated. Chemical
burn residues were extracted for offsite disposal. Residual soils were treated insitu via alkaline hydrolysis.
COST/BENEFITS
1. Insitu treatment of 300,000 gallons of fire leachates with powdered activated carbon (PAC) resulted in only 8 drums of waste and allowed draining clean water to the nearby stream.
2. Soil treatment was completed as a research project by at State University.
3. Employing alkaline hydrolysis and PAC treatment saved the client over a hundred thousand dollars.
This project was featured as a cover story in Civil Engineering Magazine. The insurance company, that paid for the cleanup, required secondary containment and storage for agricultural chemicals as a requirement for insurance.