temperatures which need to be reached. Indeed, if temperatures are too high it will
cause excessive energy consumption without necessarily improving the remediation
rates and yields. And if they are too low they will not enable proper extraction of the
pollutants and may even lead to the formation of undesirable by-products (i.e.,
dioxins or furans).
Research should also include determining the optimum spacing between heating
points and extraction wells, and the flow rates associated. The cold points located
mid-way between the heating points must be particularly studied (reduction of
mobility, condensation, etc.). Other research and development actions should be
carried out in order to better appreciate heat migration and multiphase flows in
heterogeneous porous media. The phenomena of phase changes and chemical transformations of complex mixtures at different temperatures (co-solubility, co-boiling,
co-viscosity) need to be investigated as well to find a sustainable approach to further
reduce residual saturation and associated discharges. Efforts should also be made to
better understand the physical/chemical/biological interactions at different temperatures, as well as soil shrinkage caused by ISTT.
Other avenues of research include studying issues inherent to upscaling (pilot-tofield scale transfer) particularly as it relates to heterogeneities at different temperatures. Further studies should also include numerical model calibration with experimental data. Finally, additional investigation should be carried out into thermal
remediation of polluted soils in fractured media and karst aquifers.
Acknowledgments This research was carried out as part of the SILPHES project funded by
ADEME (French Environment and Energy Management Agency). The authors acknowledge the
BRGM/D3E division for its financial support during the writing of this chapter as part of the
MULTISCALEXPER PSO3 project. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided to
the PIVOTS project by the Centre—Val de Loire region (ARD 2020 program and CPER
2015–2020) and the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research (CPER 2015–2020 and
public service subsidy to BRGM). This operation is co-funded by the European Union. Europe is
committed to the Centre-Val de Loire region with the European Regional Development Fund. The
authors thank Mr. Mathias Broquaire, an expert hydrogeologist at Solvay, for allowing us to
disclose this study.
References
Acierno D, d’Amore M, Barba A, Pinto I, Fiumara V (2004) Microwaves in soil remediation from
VOCs. 2. Buildup of a dedicated device. Am Inst Chem Eng J 50(3):722–732
Adamson A, Gast A (1997) Physical chemistry of surfaces, 5th edn. Wiley-Interscience, New York,
NY, 755 p. isbn:0-471-14873-3
Aichlmayr H (1999) The effective thermal conductivity of saturated porous media. Master’s thesis.
University of Minnesota, MN, 199 p
Aines R, Newmark R, Udell K (1995) Dynamic underground stripping project. Innovative technology summary report DOE-EM-0271. U.S. Department of Energy – Hazardous Waste
Remedial Actions Program, Oak Ridge, TN, 39 p
Alaee M, Whittal R, Strachan W (1996) The effect of water temperature and composition on
Henry’s law constant for various PAHs. Chemosphere 32(6):1153–1164
3 In Situ Thermal Treatments and Enhancements: Theory and Case Study
201
cause excessive energy consumption without necessarily improving the remediation
rates and yields. And if they are too low they will not enable proper extraction of the
pollutants and may even lead to the formation of undesirable by-products (i.e.,
dioxins or furans).
Research should also include determining the optimum spacing between heating
points and extraction wells, and the flow rates associated. The cold points located
mid-way between the heating points must be particularly studied (reduction of
mobility, condensation, etc.). Other research and development actions should be
carried out in order to better appreciate heat migration and multiphase flows in
heterogeneous porous media. The phenomena of phase changes and chemical transformations of complex mixtures at different temperatures (co-solubility, co-boiling,
co-viscosity) need to be investigated as well to find a sustainable approach to further
reduce residual saturation and associated discharges. Efforts should also be made to
better understand the physical/chemical/biological interactions at different temperatures, as well as soil shrinkage caused by ISTT.
Other avenues of research include studying issues inherent to upscaling (pilot-tofield scale transfer) particularly as it relates to heterogeneities at different temperatures. Further studies should also include numerical model calibration with experimental data. Finally, additional investigation should be carried out into thermal
remediation of polluted soils in fractured media and karst aquifers.
Acknowledgments This research was carried out as part of the SILPHES project funded by
ADEME (French Environment and Energy Management Agency). The authors acknowledge the
BRGM/D3E division for its financial support during the writing of this chapter as part of the
MULTISCALEXPER PSO3 project. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided to
the PIVOTS project by the Centre—Val de Loire region (ARD 2020 program and CPER
2015–2020) and the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research (CPER 2015–2020 and
public service subsidy to BRGM). This operation is co-funded by the European Union. Europe is
committed to the Centre-Val de Loire region with the European Regional Development Fund. The
authors thank Mr. Mathias Broquaire, an expert hydrogeologist at Solvay, for allowing us to
disclose this study.
References
Acierno D, d’Amore M, Barba A, Pinto I, Fiumara V (2004) Microwaves in soil remediation from
VOCs. 2. Buildup of a dedicated device. Am Inst Chem Eng J 50(3):722–732
Adamson A, Gast A (1997) Physical chemistry of surfaces, 5th edn. Wiley-Interscience, New York,
NY, 755 p. isbn:0-471-14873-3
Aichlmayr H (1999) The effective thermal conductivity of saturated porous media. Master’s thesis.
University of Minnesota, MN, 199 p
Aines R, Newmark R, Udell K (1995) Dynamic underground stripping project. Innovative technology summary report DOE-EM-0271. U.S. Department of Energy – Hazardous Waste
Remedial Actions Program, Oak Ridge, TN, 39 p
Alaee M, Whittal R, Strachan W (1996) The effect of water temperature and composition on
Henry’s law constant for various PAHs. Chemosphere 32(6):1153–1164
3 In Situ Thermal Treatments and Enhancements: Theory and Case Study
201