Technology Overview
Technology Type:
Chemical Treatment - Oxidation/Reduction
Trade Name and/or Model Number assigned by vendor:
High Energy Electron Beam Irradiation
Technology Scale: Indicates the operational status of the technology.
Full Scale - Available equipment is sized and commercially available for actual site
remediation.
Vendor Services:
Equipment manufacturer
Subcontractor for characterization, monitoring, or measurement
Patent Information
Registered trademark
Vendor has exclusive license
Technology patented
Patent Pending
Verification Program Information
This technology is in the Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE)
Program.
This technology is being tested, or has been tested, in EPA SITE Emerging
Technology Program.
This technology is being tested, or has been tested, in EPA SITE Demonstration
Program.
Description of Technology:
Describes the treatment process device or technology, including scientific principles on which
the technology is based; key treatment steps; unique and inovative features; whether full-scale
system is/will be batch, continuous, or semicontinuous; and whether the technology is above
ground or in situ.
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Click here to view Schematic
The E-Beam treatment process can be used as a stand-alone treatment methodology or
can be easily incorporated into a "treatment train". It can process liquid streams or streams
containing suspended soils, sediments, or sludges.
HVEA's electron beam treatment systems utilize insulating core transformer (ICT) electron
accelerators developed by High Voltage Engineering, Inc. The voltage and current
generated by the ICT are transferred to an accelerator tube and tungsten wire filament,
respectively. The electrons produced by the tungsten filament are then accelerated by
means of a voltage differential (0.5-3.0 MeV). Upon exiting the accelerator tube, the
electrons are deflected magnetically (scanned) so as to sweep a larger irradiation field. The
scanned electrons are then "injected" into a continuously flowing stream/slurry, producing
highly reactive species capable of destroying all toxic and/or hazardous organic
compounds in aqueous solution.
Electron beam treatment of aqueous based hazardous waste has its foundation in aqueous
radiation chemistry (radiolysis). The reactive free radicals formed during the electron beam
process are the reducing aqueous electron and hydrogen atom, and the oxidizing hydroxyl
radical. Reactions of these free radicals with the hazardous organic contaminants are
diffusion controlled and the treatment is complete in less than one second. The organic
contaminants are ultimately destroyed with the formation of carbon dioxide, water, and
halide salts.
Technology Highlights:
Describes the key marketable features of the technology in terms of contaminants treated,
performance, implementation, or cost. Includes the key marketable features of the technology,
such as treatment niche and advantages over other technologies.
HVEA's electron beam treatment process is nonselective in the destruction of organic
contaminants because both strongly reducing and oxidizing reactive (short-lived) species
are formed at the same time and in approximately the same concentration in solution. Due
to the nonselectivity of the process in destroying organic contaminants, the electron beam
has the ability to decompose any organic chemical. We have sucessfully demonstrated its
capability on destroying over 140 different organic contaminants, either as single solute
solutions or in complex mixtures of organic contaminants. These compounds fall into the
following general classes of contaminants: petroleum hydrocarbons, halogenated VOCs,
SVOCs, PCBs, explosives/propellants, pesticides/ herbicides, and chemical warfare
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agents. Examples of waste streams that are good candidates for HVEA's electron beam
technology include landfill leachates, Superfund sites, contaminated ground water, surface
water, drinking water, soil, sediments, sludges, and industrial wastewaters from chemical,
petrochemical, agricultural, metal finishing, automobile, wood finishing, paint, and pulp and
paper plants.
Advantages that the electron beam process has over other technologies include the
following:
(1) Process is non-selective in the destruction of hazardous organic contaminants.
(2) Bacterial and viral inactivation.
(3) Color and odor control.
(4) TOC, BOD, and COD reduction.
(5) The process is pH independent.
(6) Process is not affected by suspended materials up to 5% w/w.
(7) Significant flexibility to handle changes in feed flow and composition.
(8) Produces no air emissions.
(9) No pre-treatment or post-treatment is required.
(10) No residual sludge is produced.
(11) Process can easily be integrated into existing facilities or be incorporated into
"treatment trains".
Because of these advantages, the E-Beam process can also be used as a pre-treatment
for biological remediation techniques. That is, at a moderate dose, the electron beam
process can be used to convert (break apart) non-biodegradable contaminants (e.g., PCBs,
carbon tetrachloride, etc.) into biodegradable fragments.
Technology Limitations:
Describes the technical limitations such as specific contaminants or contaminant combinations,
temperature, moisture content, or chemical properties of the contaminant, that could adversely
affect applicability or performance.
The E-Beam treatment process does not directly address heavy metals, although the
treatment process has demonstrated the formation of an inorganic precipitate in waste
streams containing heavy metal contamination. The process is limited to "pumpable"
aqueous streams. The process is not an in situ treatment technique.
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Other Comments:
Provides additional technology information, such as technology history, status, capabilities,
experience, and applicable permits obtained (e.g., TSCA, RCRA). Also describes plans for
future development of the technology, including diversification of media and/or contaminants
treated.
HVEA was formed in 1989 by three college professors, after having completed seven years
and over 3 million dollars worth of research. Since 1992 HVEA has been involved with the
EPA Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) Program. As part of its
involvement with the SITE program, HVEA demonstrated its E-Beam technology, using a
trailer mounted E-Beam treatment system, at the DOE Savannah River Site in South
Carolina. During this demonstration, HVEA treated over 70,000 gallons of ground water
contaminated with a TCE and PCE plume of 30 mg/L and 17 mg/L, respectively.
As a result of HVEA's success with the E-Beam process, the mobile treatment system has
been shipped the Europe on three separate occasions, where it has successfully
conducted treatment for several government and industrial clients.
In addition to HVEA's mobile treatment unit, it operates and maintains a full scale
permanent facility located at the Miami-Dade Virginia Key (Central District) Wastewater
Treatment, Miami, Florida; the only facility of its kind located at a wastewater treatment
plant.
Over the past six years, numerous studies have been conducted for several clients at
bench, pilot, and full scale using either a radioactive cobalt source, the mobile unit, or
permanent facility, respectively. These studies, conducted either in the U.S or Europe, have
demonstrated the effectiveness of the E-Beam process on BTEX, chlorinated solvents,
chemical warfare agents, PCBs, energetics/ propellants, pesticides, and complex mixtures
containing up to 1 percent LNAPLs and DNAPLs.
Media:
Actual - have been treated by this technology.
Potential - may be applied in the future.
Actual Potential
Soil (ex situ)
Sludge (does not include municipal sewage sludge)
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Saturated sediment (ex situ)
Off-gas generated from a primary innovative treatment technology
Contaminant Groups treated:
Actual - have been treated by this technology.
Potential - may be applied in the future. If this technology is materials handling/physical
separation, delivery/extraction, or is an equipment vendor, this question may not apply.
Actual Potential
Halogenated volatiles
Halogenated semivolatiles
Nonhalogenated volatiles
Nonhalogenated semivolatiles
Organic pesticides/herbicides
Dioxins/furans
PCBs
Solvents
Acetonitrile (organic cyanide)
Inorganic cyanides
Explosives/propellants
Organometallic pesticides/herbicides
Organic Acids
Waste source or site types of sites treated:
Actual - have been treated by this technology.
Potential - may be applied in the future.
Actual Potential
Agriculture Applications
Chlor-alkali Manufacturing
Coal Gasification
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Dry Cleaners
Gasoline Service Station/Petroleum Storage Facility
Herbicide Manufacturing/Use
Industrial Landfills
Inorganic/Organic Pigments
Machine Shops
Municipal Landfills
Munitions Manufacturing/Storage
Paint/Ink Formulation/Use
Pesticide Manufacturing/Use/Storage
Petroleum Refining and Reuse
Photographic Products
Plastics Manufacturing
Pulp and Paper Industry
Other Organic Chemical Manufacturing/Use
Semiconductor Manufacturing
Rubber Manufacturing
Wood Preserving
Aboveground Storage Tank
Full Scale Equipment/Capabilities:
Full-Scale Facility is:
Fixed facility location:
Transportable
Fixed
In situ
Information not available.
Number of Full-Scale Systems:
Number planned/in design:
3
Projected completion (MM/DD/YY):
Not Provided
Number under construction:
1
Projected completion (MM/DD/YY):
Not Provided
Number constructed:
1
Capacity Range:
5
to
5000
gallons/minute (units)
6
Number of full-scale cleanups conducted by using this technology. Only applications of this
technology that were applied at petroleum/hazardous waste sites are considered.
vendor initiated or completed - as a subcontractor or prime contractor:
equipment manufacturer - other firms using this technology:
0
0
Full Scale - Major Unit Process:
HVEA's E-Beam facilities are designed as flow through treatment systems. Therefore, if the
contaminated matrix to be treated is pumpable, no preprocessing is necessary. The
contaminant matrix is presented to the electron beam by means of an influent pump and
proprietary delivery system(s). The presentation system can either be closed or open
depending on the nature of the contaminant.
Major components or requirements of an E-Beam treatment facility include:
(1) ICT transformer.
(2) Radiation shielded vault housing the E-Beam scanner assembly and water distribution
system.
(3) Appropriately scaled influent and effluent pumps.
(4) Discharge area.
(5) The E-Beam equipment is powered by 3-phase 460 V power.
No post-treatment is necessary.
Price Factors:
Estimated Price Range.
A "ballpark" estimate per unit of waste treated. Includes waste preprocessing and excludes
excavation, permitting, and disposal of residues.
$0
to
$ 0.3
per gallon (units)
Factors Affecting Unit Price.
Following is a ranking of items that will have a significant effect on the unit price. If the
technology is in situ, excavation and waste handling did not affect price. (1 = highest)
Rank Factor
1
Initial concentration of contaminant
2
Target concentration of contaminant
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3
Site preparation
4
Amount of debris with waste
5
Characteristics of soil (classification, permeability)
6
Moisture content of soil
7
Utility/fuel rates
Full-Scale Cleanups
Number of full-scale cleanups using this technology which has been initiated or completed.
0
Number of full-scale cleanups by other firms using this technology.
0
Pilot Scale Equipment/Capabilities:
Pilot-Scale Facility is:
Fixed facility location:
Number
of
Transportable
Fixed
In situ
,
Pilot-Scale
Systems
Number planned/in design
4
Number constructed
1
Projected completion (MM/DD/YY)
Number of times this technology has been used at the vendor facility or at other locations to
conduct pilot-scale studies on actual wastes. Multiple studies pertaining to the same site has
been counted only once, regardless of the number of different wastes or tests. Tests on
surrogate wastes are not included.
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Pilot-scale treatability studies on some types of waste can be conducted :
At vendor location
At a contaminated site
Prorated capacity of batch processes.
5
to
50
gallons/minute (units)
Not Applicable
Quantity of Waste Needed for Pilot-Scale Treatability Study. Estimated range of quantity of
waste needed to test, at the pilot scale, the feasibility of this technology on a specific waste.
300
to
500
gallons/batch (units)
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Pilot Scale - Major Unit Process:
Same description as a full-scale treatment system.
Bench Scale Equipment/Capabilities:
Bench-scale treatability studies can be conducted on some types of waste at the vendor
location.
Estimated total number of bench-scale studies conducted on actual waste from different
sources or sites. Multiple studies pertaining to the same site counted only once, regardless of
the number of different wastes or tests. Did not count tests on surrogate wastes.
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Bench Scale - Major Unit Process:
Bench-scale testing of the electron beam process involves the use of a radioactive cobalt60 source. Greater that 20 years of research has demonstrated the reduction of chemical
and microbial contaminants from aqueous solutions.
Gamma rays eminating from the cobalt-60 produce a decomposition of water similar to the
electron accelerators employed by HVEA, resulting in the formation of aqueous electron,
hydrogen atom, and hydroxyl radical.
The cobalt-60 reactor used for bench scale studies is a 5000 Ci gamma source located at
the University of Miami Radiation Control Center. Aqueous solutions, of the hazardous
waste to be treated, are transferred to several 47 mL teflon-lined screw cap glass vials. The
samples are then placed at a series of predetermined distances from the cobalt source and
irradiatiated for a predetermined time. By placing the vial at different distances from the
cobalt source, each vial receives a different dose rate and thus a different dose. Each vial
then undergoes analytical measurements specific to the contaminant(s) of interest. The
analytical data is then used to develop radiation dose vs. destruction profiles, which is then
used to estimate a full-scale application profile.
Literature and Technical References:
Author(s):
Kurucz, C.N., et. al.
9
Title:
Disinfection of Wastewaters: High Energy Electron vs Gamma Irradiation
Journal/Conference:
Water Research, 27:1177-1184
Date:
1993
Author(s):
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Title:
Electron Beam Technology, High Voltage Environmental Applications, Inc.
Journal/Conference:
DOE Savannah River - EPA SITE Field Demonstration (in print)
NTIS/Document Number(s):
EPA/###/AR-95/###
Author(s):
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Title:
Emerging Technology Bulletin - Electron Beam Treatment for Removal of
Date:
10/92
NTIS/Document Number(s):
EPA/540/F-92/009
Author(s):
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Title:
Emerging Technology Bulletin - Electron Beam Treatment for the Removal
Date:
04/93
NTIS/Document Number(s):
EPA/540/F-93/502
Author(s):
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Title:
Emerging Technology Bulletin - Removal of Phenol from Aqueous Solutions
Date:
08/93
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NTIS/Document Number(s):
EPA/540/F-93/509
Author(s):
Kurucz, C.N., et. al.
Title:
Emperical Models for Estimating the Destruction of Toxic Organic
Journal/Conference:
Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 45(5)805-816
Date:
1995
Author(s):
Kurucz, C.N., et. al.
Title:
Full-Scale Electron Beam Treatment of Hazardous Wastes - Effectiveness
Journal/Conference:
Proceedings of the 45th Annual Purdue University Industrial Waste
Date:
1991
Author(s):
Nickelsen, M.G., et. al.
Title:
High Energy Electron Beam Generation of Oxidants for the Treatment of
Journal/Conference:
Water Research, 28(5):1227-1237
Date:
1994
Author(s):
Kurucz, C.N., et. al.
Title:
High Energy Electron Beam Irradiation of Water, Wastewater, and Sludge.
Journal/Conference:
Advances in Nuclear Science, Volume 23, pp 1-43.
Date:
1991
Author(s):
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Cooper, W.J., et. al.
Title:
High Energy Electron Beam Irradiation: An Advanced Oxidation Process
Journal/Conference:
Water Pollution Research Journal of Canada, 27:69-95.
Date:
1992
Author(s):
Cooper, W.J., et. al.
Title:
High Energy Electron Beam Irradiation: An Innovative Prcess for the
Journal/Conference:
Journal of Environmental Science And Health, A27(1):219-244.
Date:
1992
Author(s):
Waite, T.D., et. al.
Title:
Oxidant Reduction and Biodegradability Improvement of Paper Mill
Journal/Conference:
Water Research, 28:237-241
Date:
1994
Author(s):
Nickelsen, M.G., et. al.
Title:
Removal of Benzene and Selected Alkyl Substituted Benzenes from Aqueous
Journal/Conference:
Environmental Science and Technology 26:144-152
Date:
1992
Author(s):
Cooper, W.J., et. al.
Title:
Removing THMs from Drinking Water Using High Energy Electron Beam
Journal/Conference:
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Journal of the American Water Works Association, 85:106-112.
Date:
1993
Author(s):
Lin, K., et. al.
Title:
The Decomposition of Aqueous Solutions of Phenol Using High Energy
Journal/Conference:
Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 46(12)1307-1316.
Date:
1995
Author(s):
Kurucz, C.N., et. al.
Title:
The Miami Electron Beam Research Facility: A Large Wastewater Treatment
Journal/Conference:
Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 45(2):229-308
Date:
1995
Author(s):
Cooper, W.J., et. al.
Title:
The Removal of Tri- (TCE) and Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) from Aqueous
Journal/Conference:
Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association, 43:1358-1366
Date:
1993
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