Project Specifics

The Høfde 42 pesticide waste disposal site is recognized as the most toxic contaminated site in Denmark. Between 1953 and 1962, the agrichemical manufacturing company Cheminova, with approval of Danish authorities, disposed of hundreds of tons of organophosphorus pesticide (OPP) and pesticide manufacturing wastes in pits at this site, which is located at a beach adjacent to the North Sea.

A remedial feasibility study completed by the Danish government determined that in situ alkaline hydrolysis (ISAH) is the most cost effective technology for remediating groundwater and the residual wastes at the site. The Danish government, with funding by the European Union Life Program, selected the team of Geosyntec, COWI A/S, Tufts University, Nasus Water, and the University of Aalborg to conduct three pilot tests to compare three techniques for optimizing pesticide treatment by ISAH: 1) groundwater recirculation; 2) surfactant-enhanced flushing; and 3) acoustic vibration. In all three, tests a primary challenge is to inject strong base [caustic, or sodium hydroxide (NaOH)] to the in situ treatment zone while minimizing exposure of site workers to NaOH and pesticides.

Geosyntec Scope of Services

The Geosyntec team is performing the three pilot tests in individual 10 m x 10 m sheet-piled test cells and three accompanying large diameter test pipes within the primary OPP-impacted area at the site. ISAH in each test cell is being achieved via injection of NaOH to achieve a pH > 12 to catalyze hydrolytic destruction of the pesticides.

Geosyntec has provided technical direction for all phases of the project, including overall experimental design, NaOH injection, performance monitoring, data analysis, and reporting. For the recirculation pilot test cell, Geosyntec’s scope has focused on designing the number and placement of recirculation wells, as well as the recirculation rate, with the goal of optimizing contact time with NaOH. For the surfactant enhanced pilot test, Geosyntec and Tufts together have directed bench tests to determine effective surfactants to solubilize and desorb OPPs at a pH of 12. For the acoustic vibration pilot test, Geosyntec has directed the selection of acoustic vibration equipment, the vibration frequency, and methods for quantifying the effects of vibration. The pilot tests are ongoing and treatment performance is still being quantified.

Notable Accomplishments

Geosyntec’s rigorous field test of in situ acoustic vibration for DNAPL remediation is the first such design and analysis performed anywhere in the world. This has included development of a novel field approach to deliver acoustic vibration for DNAPL remediation.

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