EPA,5<1G, a-95/512 July 1995 n CONTAMINANTS AND REMEDIAL OPTIONS AT SELECTED METAL-CONTAMINATED SITES by Battelle Columbus Division Columbus, Ohio 43201-2693 Contract No. 68-CO-0003 Work Assignment 41 Project Officer Michael D. Royer Technical Support Branch Superfund Technology Demonstration Division _ National Risk Management Research Laboratory Edison, New Jersey 08837 NATIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT RESEARCH LABORATORY OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY CINCINNATI, OHIO 45268 $& Printed on Recycled Paper NOTICE This review'of contaminants and remedial options at selected metal-contaminated sites summarizes information collected from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) programs, peer-reviewed journals, industry experts, vendor data, and other sources. A variety of potential candidate treatment technologies are described as advisory guidance to assist in identifying feasible treatment technologies. The information in this document has been funded in part by EPA under Contract No. 68-CO-0003, Work Assignment 41, to Battelle (Columbus Division). It has been subject to the Agency's peer and administrative review, and it has been approved for publication as an EPA document. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. Compliance with environmental and occupational safety and health laws is the responsibility of each individual site manager and is not the focus of this document. FOREWORD The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is charged by Congress with protecting the Nation's land, air, and water resources. Under a mandate of national environmental laws, the Agency strives to formulate and implement actions leading to a compatible balance between human activities and the ability of natural systems to support and nurture life. To meet these mandates, EPA's research program is providing data and technical support for solving environmental problems today and building a science knowledge base necessary to manage our ecological resources wisely, understand how pollutants affect our health, and prevent or reduce environmental risks in the future. The National Risk Management Research Laboratory is the Agency's center for investigation of technological and management approaches for reducing risks from threats to human health and the environment The focus of the Laboratory's research program is on methods for the prevention and control of pollution to air, land, water, and subsurface resources; protection of water quality in public water systems; remediation of contaminated sites and groundwater, and prevention and control of indoor air pollution. The goal of this research effort is to catalyze development and implementation of innovative, cost-effective environmental technologies; develop scientific and engineering information needed by EPA to support regulatory and policy decisions; and provide technical support and information transfer to ensure effective implementation of environmental regulations and strategies. This publication has been produced as part of the Laboratory's strategic long-term research plan. It is published and made available by EPA's Office of Research and Development to assist the user community and to link researchers with their clients. E. Timothy Oppelt, Director National Risk Management Research Laboratory ABSTRACT This document provides information that facilitates characterization of the site and selection of treatment technologies at metal-contaminated sites that are capable of meeting site-specific cleanup levels. The document does not facilitate the determination of cleanup levels. This document will assist Federal. State, or private site removal and remedial managers operating under Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), or state regulations. This document focuses mainly on the metalloid arsenic and the metals cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury. Other metals are discussed, particularly those that have a strongly favorable or unfavorable influence on the performance of a treatment technology. The remedial manager faces the challenge of selecting remedial options that meet established cleanup levels. A wide range of physical, chemical, and thermal process options are available for remediation of metal-contaminated sites. These options can reduce mobility, reduce toxicity, or allow separation and concentration of metal contaminants. No single process option can remediate an entire metal-contaminated site. The remedial manager must combine pretreatment and posttreatment components to achieve the best performance by the principal process option. This document Is designed for use with other remedial guidance documents issued for RCRA, CERCLA, and/or State-mandated cleanups to accelerate the remediation of metal-contaminated sites. Sections describing contaminants at metal-contaminated sites and the behavior, fate, and transport of metals in the environment are provided to assist the remedial manager in identifying the matrix and chemical species likely to be present. The section on remedial options outlines the arrangement of treatment trains to achieve performance levels. Technology performance data provided can help the remedial manager narrow options to those most likely to achieve site-specific cleanup goals. The descriptions of remedial options cover innovative and emerging technologies, as well as proven treatments. Some standard information sources on containment and water treatment technologies are indicated. These technology areas are not covered in this document because they are thoroughly discussed in other documents. This report was submitted in fulfillment of Contract No. 68-CO-0003, Work Assignment 41, by Battelle (Cdumbus.Division) under the sponsorship of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This report covers a period from October 1,1991 to January 31,1994. Work was completed in May 1995. Final revisions were performed by Foster Wheeler Environmental Services, Inc., under Contract 68-C9-0033 and Science Applications International Corporation under Contract No. 68-CO-0048. IV TABLE OF CONTENTS Section • Page Notice .................................................................... ii Foreword .................................................................. iii Abstract ..................................................................... iv Figures ..................................................................... viii Tables ...................................................................... ix Abbreviations and Symbols ...................................................... xi Acknowledgments .............................................................xvi 1 Introduction ............................................................. 1-1 1.1 Purpose .......................................................... 1-1 1.2 Scope and limitations ................................................. 1-1 1.3 Organization ....................................................... 1-3 1.4 References ........................................................ 1-6 2 Origins, Uses, and Matrices of Selected Contaminants at Metal-Contaminated Sites ........ 2-1 2.1 Origin and Major Industrial Uses of Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, and Mercury . 2-1 2.1.1 Arsenic ..................................................... 2-1 2.1.2 Cadmium ................................................... 2-1 2.1.3 Chromium ................................................... 2-2 2.1.4 Lead ....................................................... 2-2 2.1.5 Mercury .................................................... 2-2 2.2 Overview of Sources of Contaminants at Metal-Contaminated Sites ................ 2-2 2.2.1 Stack Emissions .............................................. 2-3 2.2.2 Fugitive Emissions ............................................. 2-3 2.2.3 Process Solid-Phase Waste Materials ............................... 2-4 2.2.4 Sludges .................................................... 2-6 2.2.5 Soils ....................................................... 2-6 2.3 References ........................................................ 2-7 3 Contaminant Behavior, Fate, Transport, and Toxicity ............................... 3-1 3.1 Chemical Forms and Speciations ......................................... 3-1 3.1.1 Arsenic ..................................................... 3-2 3.1.2 Cadmium ................................................... 3-3 3.1.3 Chromium ................................................... 3-3 3.1.4 Lead ....................................................... 3-3 3.1.5 Mercury .................................................... 3-4 TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) Section Page 3.2 Environmental Fate and Transport ...................................... 3-4 3.2.1 Arsenic ................................................... 3-7 3.2.2 Cadmium ................................................. 3-8 3.2.3 Chromium ................................................. 3-9 3.2.4 Lead ................................................... 3-11 3.2.5 Mercury ................................................. 3-12 3.3 Toxicity ........................................................ 3-13 3.3.1 Arsenic .................................................. 3-15 3.3.2 Cadmium ................................................ 3-16 3.3.3 Chromium ................................................ 3-16 3.3.4 Lead ..................................................