Multi-Media Environmental Remediation After a Hazardous Chemical Train Derailment

A train derailment involving vinyl chloride and several other hazardous chemicals — specifically ethylene glycol, ethylhexyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, and isobutylene — caused a multi-faceted environmental contamination event.

• Primary impacts: Soil, groundwater, surface water, and air quality
• Key environmental concerns: Air pollution from fire, and contamination of aquatic and soil systems from chemical spills.
• Response focus: Remediation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other hazardous organics in air and water.

Remediation Approaches Using Hydrosil Filter Media

1) Soil Vapor Extraction / Air Stripping

Goal: Remove volatile compounds (e.g., vinyl chloride, hydrocarbons) from contaminated groundwater and prevent vapor-phase migration.

System Components:

• Air Stripper: Transfers VOCs from groundwater into the air stream.
• Treatment Media (in series): 
  • HS-600 (potassium permanganate-impregnated zeolite): 
    • Oxidizes chlorinated VOCs like vinyl chloride and other reduced organic compounds.
  • HS-AC (activated carbon): 
    • Adsorbs remaining VOCs, hydrocarbons, or oxidation byproducts that weren’t fully oxidized.

2) Pump-and-Treat System

Goal: Treat contaminated surface water, groundwater, and drainage water onsite to make it non-hazardous before disposal or further treatment.

Process Summary:

1. Collection: Contaminated water pumped from rivers, groundwater wells, and ditches.
2. Containment: Stored in temporary treatment systems for evaluation.
3. Treatment: Flowed through multiple pressure vessels filled with Hydrosil’s filter media.
4. Evaluation: Effluent tested to confirm safe levels of target contaminants.

Treatment Media Used:

• HS-100 (Zeolite): Targets ammonia 
• HS-200 (Organoclay): Targets oily substances, lightweight hydrocarbons and heavy metals.
• HS-300 (Organoclay): Targets anionic species such as nitrates, sulfates, phosphates, etc. 

Together, these treatment systems demonstrated an effective, multi-barrier approach for reducing VOCs and other hazardous organics across air, soil, and water pathways.