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Campbell Taggart Inc. December 14, 1990 202/029000-390 Page 6 soil will be placed over the treatment cell and then sprayed with nutrients. After final spraying, the treatment cells will be covered with a HDPE liner. Blank pipe will then be connected to the uncapped ends of the slotted pipe, manifolded into a single pipe-line, and connected to a high-vacuum blower, and carbon filter (if needed). If required, future application of nutrients could be accomplished by injection through the slotted pipe. 7.0 SYSTEM OPERATION 7.1 AIR TREATMENT Air will be drawn through the treatment cell by the blower, serving to extract the volatile fraction of the contamination from the soil and to draw a steady flow of fresh air through the soil treatment cell for the biological degradation reactions to occur. If required by the regulatory agency, the discharged air will be passed through two carbon filters (in series) to remove any of the volatilized components that may be present. An appropriate electricity source will also be required for this phase of treatment. This could be accomplished by connecting with an existing source at the site and running a shallow, underground line to the soil treatment cell location. Due to the presence of possible explosive hydrocarbon vapors in the soils, all electrical installation work will include the use of explosion-proof blowers and conduits. 7.2 BIOLOGICAL DEGRADATION Biological degradation of organic material by aerobic organisms within the soil is limited by the availability of nitrogen (N), carbon (C), inorganic salts -- mostly phosphorus (P), and oxygen (0), for the aerobic organisms. In the facilitated treatment of hydrocarbon-contaminated soil, the hydrocarbons serve as the carbon source. N and P (commonly scarce in soil) are introduced through spraying/injection, and oxygen is renewed by air movement generated by the high-vacuum blowers. As the hydrocarbons degrade biologically, they are converted into carbon dioxide (CO2) and water. The reactions occur at a maximum rate as long as all reactants are available. As the hydrocarbon contamination level decreases, the reaction rate decreases until the availability of carbon reaches a minimum. The population of organisms decreases concurrently with the reduction of carbon-based food source, and return to their normal, natural levels. GROUNDWATER '.._ TECHNOLOGY, INC.