A Review of Vapor Extraction Technology for Contaminated Soil Remediation

Effective remediation of sites contaminated with VOCs requires a sound understanding of regulatory issues, technology options, and the site hydrogeology. A technology that is increasingly being used for the remediation of VOC contaminated sites is soil vapor extraction. Soil vapor extraction, also known as soil venting and soil air stripping, allows remediation of VOC contamination without the need for excavation. In soil vapor extraction, a vacuum pump or blower moves air through the soil near the contaminated zone. As contaminated air is removed, cleaner air moves through the soil to replace it. This air movement also promotes microbial degradation of contaminants at many sites