Remediation of groundwater contaminated with chlorinated hydrocarbons

Groundwater treatment of volatile halogenated hydrocarbons (VHH at high iron concentrations). In contaminated groundwater, the iron concentration must first be significantly reduced in order to be able to operate the subsequent process stages without interference. For this purpose, the water is passed through two suspended solids filters, which are regularly backwashed. The water is then treated in a two-stage desorption with a subsequent  activated carbon filter. In the first desorption stage, the carcinogenic vinyl chloride is converted into the gas phase and then oxidized by the process of foto-oxidation in a UV reactor. Here, the vinyl chloride is completely mineralized into carbon dioxide, water, and hydrochloric acid. The purified exhaust air is admixed to the higher desorption air stream of the second column.

The remaining VHHs are stripped in the second desorption stage and removed from the desorption air by means of an  activated carbon filter. The remaining VHHs (volatile halogenated hydrocarbons) are stripped in the second desorption stage and removed from the desorption air by means of an air activated carbon filter.

The purified water is finally supplied to the receiving water.