North Haven, CT (August 29th, 2011) - Precision Combustion Inc. (PCI) announced today that it has been awarded a DOE SBIR Phase I Grant for Steam–Based In-Situ Soil Remediation. Mercury is found as a contaminant at 290 Superfund National Priority sites. Thermal treatment of this mercury and its compounds, whether above ground on removed contaminated materials or in-ground, is highly effective in removing more than 90% of mercury in place but is dependent on site-specific factors. Temperatures greater than 300oC are usually required to meet land disposal standards. Treating mercury in ground avoids the added hazards of transporting contaminant soil to a treatment facility and reduces exposure risks.
PCI is developing a direct-fire catalytically stabilized steam generation technology that offers significant energy savings compared to steam boilers. Unlike traditional boilers, PCI's technology will operate at the high temperatures between 300oC and 1000oC needed to be effective for in-situ mercury removal. Designed to be efficient for a wide range of soil porosities, water content, and locations at or below the water table, PCI's process holds potential for clean combustion with low emissions, provide extremely high rates of heat and mass injection in relatively short times and produce super-heated steam with water contents over 60%. The technology is being developed to enable close to 99% mercury removal from contaminated soils in both shallow to deep well bores.
The project’s principal investigator, Jeff Weissman, states:
We view this project as an opportunity to explore a new potential solution to meet the anticipated high demand for in-situ thermal remediation for contaminated soils not only in the US but world-wide as well, in a cost-effective and environmentally sound manner.
With the potential for large energy savings and clean combustion, PCI's technology could remediate contaminated sites in a more efficient and faster manner, leading to reduced costs of mercury removal as well as removal of non-aqueous liquids and other contaminants.
Precision Combustion, Inc. is a clean energy technology company developing and manufacturing catalytic devices and systems for energy sector applications. To learn more, visit www.precision-combustion.com.
For more information, contact:
Manager, Marketing and Business Development
Phone: 203-287-3700 ext 290