Soil Vapour Extraction in Rauma chemical harbour

Ekokem-Palvelu Oy carried out remediation of Rauma chemical harbour site by Soil Vapour Extraction (SVE) 2001 - 2005. The site has in the course of time been polluted by chemicals leached out of containers and during loading. SVE is an appropriate remediation method for active industrial and residential sites that are polluted by volatile compounds, such as solvents and gasoline.

Remediation was implemented in a manner that it didn’t interrupt the warehousing, loading, unloading and transportation activities of the harbour. The hot-spots polluted by least volatile compounds were excavated and transported to remediation centre. If the entire site would have been treated by mass transfer the stationary cisterns and railroads would should have been demolished. In situ treatment was also a more economical option for the site.

Twenty suction lines altogether 450 m over ground and 360 m underground pipe lines were installed to site. The Volatile compounds of soil gas were removed from soil by underpressure and treated by two catalytical oxidators and an activated carbon filter. Remediated areas were covered to direct the suction underground. The area of the site was 10 000 m ², which is exceptionally large site for SVE. Also rate of gas purification was high, up to 2 500 m ³/h. Altogether 8 600 kg of solvents were removed from soil.