abstract |
A method and apparatus for on-site remedial soil restoration activity of a work site contaminated with volatile organic compounds. Soil is removed from the ground and hauled to an initial feed hopper whereat it is conveyed to an inlet end of a hollow rotating cylinder having plural flights therein for effecting a moving of the contaminated soil lengthwise of the rotating cylinder toward an outlet end. The soil is heated as it tumbles about in the cylinder and the volatile orgainc compounds (VOCs) are volatilized inside the rotating cylinder. The hot gases drawn from the cylinder are filtered for the purpose of removing dry soil fines. The soil exiting the outlet end of the cylinder is then recirculated through the rotating cylinder and thereafter fed to a conveying mechanism, whereat the cleaned soil is delivered to a selected location. The cleaned soil is then placed into the ground. The hot gases are scrubbed to remove therefrom any organics, acids and phosgenes. The gases are thereafter fed to a bed of activated carbon for the purpose of extracting the remaining volatile organic compounds (VOCs) therefrom and allowing the now clean air to escape into the atmosphere. |