TREATMENT OF PESTICIDE-CONTAMINATED SOILS WITH THERMAL-DESORPTION TECHNOLOGIES

Both laboratory-scale and full-scale studies have shown that thermal d esorption is an effective technology for treating soils contaminated w ith a variety of organochlorine pesticides. Soil decontamination resul ts are presented from six full-scale and nine laboratory, bench and pi lot-scale thermal desorption treatability studies. The impacts of seve ral key factors that influence thermal desorption kinetics, total pest icide removal efficiency, and achievable pesticide residual concentrat ion are discussed. Conclusions are presented regarding scale-up issues in predicting the performance of full-scale systems from laboratory, bench, or pilot-scale tests.