Bio-slurping is the process for removal of free phase product from the surface of groundwater without the costly removal of large volumes of water.  Bio-slurping also induces SVE on the unsaturated soil zone simultaneously.

Bio-slurping is the adaptation and application of vacuum-enhanced dewatering technologies to remediate hydrocarbon-contaminated sites. Bio-slurping utilises elements of both, bio-venting and free product recovery, to address two separate contaminant media. Bio-slurping combines elements of both technologies to simultaneously recover free product and bioremediate the vadose zone soils. Bio-slurping can improve free-product recovery efficiency without extracting large quantities of ground water. In bio-slurping, vacuum-enhanced pumping allows LNAPLs to be lifted off the water table and released from the capillary fringe. This minimises changes in the water table elevation which simultaneously minimises the creation of a smear zone. Bio-venting of vadose zone soils is achieved by drawing air into the soil by withdrawing soil gas via an installed recovery well. The system is designed to minimise environmental discharge of ground water and soil gas. When free-product removal activities are completed, the bio-slurping system can be easily converted to a conventional bio-venting system to continue the remediation where necessary.

Applicability

Bio-slurping can be successfully used to remediate soils contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons. It is a cost-effective in situ remedial technology that simultaneously accomplishes LNAPL removal and soil remediation within the vadose zone. Bio-slurping is very applicable at sites with a deep ground water table (>10m).

Please call or e-mail to discuss the applicability of this technique to one of your sites.