Expert contractors in land and groundwater remediation
TRM was formed in 2003 specialising in the management and implementation of environmental engineering and contaminated land remediation projects. TRM adopts an integrated approach to environmental engineering and land reclamation, involving conventional engineering in the form of civil, mechanical and electrical engineering allied to physical, biological and chemical treatment processes. TRM utilises engineering and scientific knowledge as well as practical experience gained over 20 years in contaminated land and environmental engineering contracting. TRM’s objective is to provide cost-effective, site-specific solutions to problems of land and groundwater contamination.
• TRM is an expert contractor in land and groundwater remediation
• TRM prides itself on a proven track record of delivering successful solutions to
the problems of brownfield contamination
• TRM works with all clients to ensure the job required is completed to
satisfaction
A wide range of contracts can be accommodated as TRM combine civil engineering skills with the electrical and mechanical expertise necessary to assemble and install specialist plant and equipment. TRM operates throughout the UK and Ireland and has experienced staff to deal with the individual elements of remediation contracts. Holding Environmental Permit EAWML 30248 (Mobile Treatment Licence) from the UK Environment Agency enables TRM to perform remediation on site. On all contracts TRM offer a Quality Assurance and Quality Control regime in line with agreed parameters to Quality Management Scheme BS EN ISO 9001:2008 and Environmental Procedures in accordance with BS EN ISO 14001:2004. TRM is a Registered Waste Carrier, licence CB/NM3082UD; is a member of Constructionline (certificate number 59913), and is certified under the CHAS scheme. TRM is also a CL:AIRE Technical Member and employs COTC, SPA forecourt and CSCS trained staff.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Environmental engineering and remediation projects can be relatively complex to organise and operate, particularly if a variety of techniques are to be considered in order to provide the most economical solution. Staff at TRM have expertise in multi-million pound engineering projects and this expertise is fully utilised in the creation of bespoke solutions on land remediation schemes. The management, engineering and scientific skills are available to undertake all aspects of a project from initial feasibility through each stage to successful completion of contract works.
THERMAL REMEDIATION
ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE HEATING
(ERH)
TRM offers the thermal remediation technique, Electrical Resistance Heating (ERH) in partnership with Dutch remediation specialists HMVT and US experts TRS Inc.
ERH uses the flow of alternating current electricity to heat soil and groundwater and evaporate contaminants. Electric current is passed through a targeted soil volume between subsurface electrode
elements. The resistance to electrical flow that exists in the soil causes the formation of heat, resulting in an increase in temperature until the boiling point of water at depth is approached. After reaching this temperature, further energy input causes a phase change, forming steam and removing volatile contaminants. TRS has completed successful projects in the USA targeting the following contaminants:
Trichloroethene (TCE) 34 sites Tetrachloroethene (PCE) 14 sites Diesel, gasoline, kerosene, grease 5 sites Methylene chloride (MeCl2) 4 sites
BTEX 4 sites
1,1,1-Trichloroethane (TCA) 3 sites Dichloroethene (DCE) multiple
Vinyl chloride (VC) multiple 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane (TeCA) 2 sites 1,2-Dichloroethane (DCA) 1 site Ethylene dibromide (EDB) 1 site 1,2-Dichlorobenzene and 1,4-dioxane 1 site Naphthalene, oil tar 1 site
ERH:
Safe, effective, and proven technology in all lithologies and most contaminants
Economical when compared to life cycle costs of alternative technologies
Safety record includes no OSHA recordables in 250,000 hours and an EMR of 0.90
Provides Guaranteed Fixed Price Remediation (GFPR)
Operations conducted beneath buildings, in active facilities, and public right-of-ways
SPECIALIST PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Due to the nature of environmental and remediation projects there is often a need for specialist plant and equipment. Much of this
equipment is not readily available in configured form. TRM has the expertise to design, manufacture and assemble specialist plant and equipment to meet the requirements of each individual project.
BIOREMEDIATION
Under controlled conditions naturally occurring bacteria are encouraged to propagate within soils and groundwater by the introduction of quantities of nutrients, surfactants, microbial support media and water. This system is then engineered on site to support the efficient degradation of the organic pollution. Systematic chemical and microbiological analysis of the treatment material during the works ensures ongoing performance monitoring and ultimate compliance with the specification. Final validation of the degradation process is usually carried out by independent consultants; this is welcomed by TRM to ensure customer satisfaction.
Bioremediation generally takes two forms:
Ex-Situ Bioremediation
The contaminated soils are excavated, screened, often pre-treated, and formed into above ground treatment beds. These beds are typically around 600mm deep, although in some cases deep beds may be used depending on the type of contamination, the specific treatment and the site conditions. These beds are worked, monitored and on completion of the treatment, to pre-agreed levels, the material is made available as fill.
TRM undertake job-specific design and fabrication of equipment in-house at our Ilkeston facility. TRM boasts a vast range of operational vessels
ranging from 0.5 to 50m3 holding tanks, separators, sedimentation tanks and GAC
This type of treatment has several advantages over simply excavating and removing the contaminated material:
• No requirement for off-site transportation
of contaminated materials, nor for the importation of clean fill.
• Significant cost saving as no expenditure
incurred through disposal to landfilling, incineration or importation of clean fill.
• Provision of a permanent solution to the
problems of contamination, with the return of the soil to its former condition.
TRM has carried out a wide range of such ex-situ bioremediation projects in the UK. Contaminants that can generally be dealt with by this technique are petroleum hydrocarbons, oils, tars, phenols, creosote and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Ex-situ bioremediation projects may form all or part of an overall remediation strategy. TRM has vast experience of biotreatment in beds/landfarming, windrows and biopiling.
In-Situ Bioremediation
In-situ bioremediation systems may be utilised where the contaminated land is not to be excavated. Typical examples of these circumstances are in dealing with pollution on operating sites such as factories, works and commercial premises where demolition is not possible. TRM has also employed this technique where contamination is treated whilst building work is in progress. In-situ
bioremediation can be carried out in a number of ways. Bioventing involves the installation of wells that are used to introduce oxygen to the unsaturated and/or saturated zone of the contaminated area. This may be used in conjunction with extraction equipment to ensure adequate gaseous exchange within the soil matrix. Nutrients and support media may also be injected to optimise the biodegradation process.
Integrated groundwater treatment systems allow for the introduction of hydrocarbon-degrading micro-organisms, along with air, nutrients and surfactants. This results in the whole soil volume effectively becoming a bioreactor causing degradation of the contaminants within the soil matrix. Advantages of this system in addition to those for ex-situ works are:
• System can be employed where excavation of the contamination is not possible or desired. • May allow for the effective containment and treatment of land pollution whilst normal
commercial activities are maintained.
VACUUM EXTRACTION
Vacuum extraction is an
in-situ technology which is particularly useful at removing volatile organic compounds from permeable soils. A negative pressure is applied to the ground which results in enhanced volatilisation of organic contaminants and removal from the soil. The application of the process is site-specific, the spacing and type of vapour extraction wells and selection of vacuum
pumps depending on subsurface conditions. Vacuum extraction works are often undertaken in combination with a groundwater treatment scheme. Typical applications for this technology are service stations with petrol spills, premises where manufacturing processes have spilled solvents and volatile chemical manufacturing and handling plants. Vacuum enhanced recovery can also be used to remediate free-phase hydrocarbon spills in conjunction with above ground oil/water separators. TRM provides ATEX compliant equipment for projects in explosive atmospheres such as operational petrol stations.
GROUNDWATER TREATMENT
In many cases polluted soil results in contamination of the groundwater. TRM routinely carries out groundwater treatment for the removal of organic compounds. Both free-phase and dissolved contamination is treated by a range of technologies both biological and physical. Free-product hydrocarbons may be removed from abstracted groundwater by passing through oil water separators; volatile hydrocarbons are removed by air stripping. Additional polishing of the treated groundwater can be carried out using bioremediation or activated carbon technology, if necessary. Even where conventional dig and dump remedies are employed for the reclamation of contaminated land there is still often a persistent groundwater contamination problem. TRM have employed specifically designed groundwater treatment systems for use both in specialist treatment installations and as part of conventional reclamation schemes. Systems are generally provided in containerised units and operate automatically requiring the minimum of supervision and maintenance.
ENHANCED IN-SITUCHEMICAL TREATMENTS
TRM can undertake in-situ treatments to degrade hydrocarbon and other biologically degradable contamination by the addition/injection of specially formulated electron donor or acceptor and nutrient release compounds. This can enhance the natural degradation of contamination without the need for a continuous presence of plant and equipment on-site.
Chemical treatments can be used to address recalcitrant contamination in-situ by the application of techniques such as in-situ chemical oxidation. These are specifically designed to suit the requirements of the site and formulations are injected into the desired stratum at pre-determined rates and concentrations in order to effect a treatment which may be a single application or a series of specific injections.
STABILISATION SOLIDIFICATION TECHNOLOGY (SST) AND SOIL WASHING
Stabilisation and Solidification Technology, known as SST, utilising specially developed and formulated cements and binders is now finding economic use in the treatment of difficult contaminated sites and TRM has specific expertise in these treatment techniques. Where applicable these processes can produce stabilised material which exhibits a permanent reduction in leachability. The SST process can also provide treated soils with improved physical properties making the material suitable for use as engineered fill. SST may be applied ex-situ
but, with specialist plant can be used in-situ
Soil washing is a cost-effective solution for the removal of contamination from soils. It is suitable for use with granular material which has soluble or adsorbed contamination associated with it. The process can provide good quality material, suitable as fill, with a minimum of residual contamination requiring further treatment or disposal. Soil washing is generally suitable for larger projects where the cost of mobilisation and installation of the equipment can be off-set against the quantity of material to be treated.
COMBINED TREATMENTS
Contaminated land and groundwater problems are often complex; frequently there is no single solution or technology which is able to address every aspect of the problem. TRM has an in-depth understanding of environmental processes and is able to utilise combinations of treatments to the best advantage.
Where appropriate, schemes are organised to employ a variety of reclamation technologies; TRM are able to design, organise and project manage these works. All specialist plant is owned and operated by the Company; chemical analysis is carried out by our approved MCERTS Accredited laboratory.
Excavation and disposal to landfill of both economically or technically non-treatable contaminated material is organised and supervised in accordance with current legislation and good practice. All site works comply with Health & Safety and other regulatory requirements. In order to establish treatability or to optimise treatment performance, TRM may suggest feasibility studies which include laboratory and pilot-scale tests. Well-equipped laboratories are available for carrying out these tests, the results of which can be used to assess the preferred treatment option, likely treatment times and associated costs.
SITE INVESTIGATION AND PILOT TRIALS
TRM also offers site characterisation services and bench- and pilot- scale studies into treatability of soils, e.g.- for chemical oxidation suitability and remedial cost assessments.
TRM has recently brought to market Gertie, a mobile unit for groundwater treatment, mounted on our flatbed truck, and also our specially designed and built solar powered remedial treatment kit, SolaRem™. This innovation can be used on sites where there is no power available and only a low level of remediation assistance is required.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
TRM are continually developing and improving existing processes and systems. Alternative and additional treatment practices, such as thermal treatments, chemical reagents and micro-encapsulation techniques, are being investigated and researched. Where considered commercially viable these technologies are developed by either in-house programmes or by partnering arrangements with other specialist remediation companies.
TRM strive to refine and improve their remediation technologies and applications including recent research into pH influenced leachability of PAHs and the suitability of surfactants for ex-situ
cleaning of soils, enhanced telemetry reporting and value added sustainable remedial solutions. 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 U S E P A P A H s (m g /l )
WEB DATA
TRM offer advanced datalogging systems including web access, real time monitoring, remote access, downloadable data files in CSV or Excel formats, historic datalogging and SMS/e-mail telemetry alerts.
All systems are password protected allowing various levels of access.
Clients can log into their system to view real-time system performance in tabular format or in schematic mimics (per photo). TRM has the capability to produce bespoke screens to client specification.
TRM can log-in to make system adjustments on behalf of the client based on real time observations. Remote downloading of data in CSV or Excel format can be carried out. System alarms and customer requested parameters are communicated by SMS or e-mail.
Well Level (mAOD)
TRM manufactures equipment, management systems and data-reporting functionality in full compliance with MCERTS accreditation.
88.8 88.9 89 89.1 89.2 89.3 89.4 89.5 07/10/2013 07:55 07/10/2013 08:09 07/10/2013 08:24 07/10/2013 08:38 07/10/2013 08:52 07/10/2013 09:07 07/10/2013 09:21 07/10/2013 09:36 07/10/2013 09:50
For further information please contact any of the following key commercial and contracting experts:
Jon McCluskey TRM Managing Director [email protected] Mobile: 07702 327291 Dr Neil Everitt Contracts Manager [email protected] Mobile 07725 201708
Recent TRM Client List
Local Authorities
Kent County Council Cambridge County Council Cornwall County Council
Government Agencies
MOD: Aspire Defence Services EA & Natural Resources Wales
Petrochemical Companies and Distributors BP (UK) Ltd Co-operative Chevron Texaco (UK) Ltd Major Consultancies URS Corporation Ltd SLR Consulting OPUS International MLM Industrials Johnsons Apparel
Civil Engineering & Housebuilders
May Gurney Galliford Try Gladman LLP • TRM is an expert contractor in land and
groundwater remediation
• TRM prides itself on a proven track record of
delivering successful solutions to the problems of brownfield contamination
• TRM works with all clients to ensure the job required is completed to satisfaction
• TRM provides competitive and innovative tenders
