PCB Remediation
What Are PCBs and Why Are They a Problem?
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are synthetic chemical compounds historically used in transformers, capacitors, hydraulic fluids, paints, and various industrial equipment. Due to their chemical stability and lipophilic nature, PCBs are highly persistent in the environment and strongly adsorb to organic-rich soils and sediments. They were often released and may still occur in the subsurface as components of NAPLs (LNAPL and DNAPL). Once released, they resist natural degradation and bioaccumulate in food chains, posing significant long-term risks to human health and ecological systems.
Exposure to PCBs has been linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, neurological effects, and immune system impairments. Regulatory cleanup standards are highly stringent, often requiring remediation down to parts-per-million or even parts-per-billion levels depending on land use and risk pathways.
Common Sites with PCB Contamination
- Former electrical equipment manufacturing and servicing facilities
- Transformer and capacitor storage or spill areas
- Industrial and manufacturing facilities
- Legacy disposal and landfill sites
- Brownfield redevelopment properties
Thermal Remediation: An Effective and Permanent Solution
Traditional remediation methods, such as chemical oxidation, often struggle with PCBs due to their chemical stability and strong affinity for soil, and excavation with landfill disposal or stabilization presents long-term liability risks. TerraTherm’s thermal remediation technologies offer a proven alternative by heating soils to sufficiently high temperatures to mobilize and extract PCBs, followed by controlled thermal destruction. While some in situ degradation is possible at elevated temperatures, the majority of destruction typically occurs during vapor treatment in above-ground systems.
Our Solutions
Thermal Conduction Heating (TCH)
TCH is the only thermal technology that can heat soil and sediment to temperatures in the range required to effectively treat PCBs (350 to 400°C). Heating soil and sediment to these temperatures facilitates the volatilization and in situ destruction of PCBs. TCH relies on thermal conduction of energy from a heater into the surrounding soil or rock. TCH provides highly uniform and predictable heating because the thermal conductivity of most sites only varies by a factor of 2 to 3. Vapor extraction wells are required to maintain pneumatic control and recover volatilized COCs during treatment
In-Pile Thermal Desorption (IPTD®)
IPTD uses TCH to provide ex-situ thermal remediation of soil and sediment, treating any organic contaminant, including PCBs, and streamlining material handling while eliminating the need for off-site disposal of contaminated soils and sediment.
IPTD is highly flexible and easily customizable to optimize treatment of any soil volume, large or small. It involves placing contaminated soil and/or sediment within an engineered above-ground, fully covered and insulated treatment pile structure, and then heating the soil to the required temperature to destroy and/or remove the contaminants over periods of several weeks to several months. The design temperature and treatment period depend on the contaminants and remedial goals. For treatment of soil contaminated with PCBs, treatment temperatures between 350 and 400°C are typically required.
IPTD is a good fit for shallow soil contamination, excavated soil, or IDW when off-site disposal is not an option. On-site IPTD can be a cost-effective option for the total treatment of contaminants such as PFAS, PCBs, dioxins, furans, TPH, SVOCs, and PAHs, eliminating the long-term liability of landfill disposal of the soil. Importantly, stringent soil standards can be achieved even for recalcitrant contaminants like dioxins and furans.
IPTD has been used to treat soil volumes as low as 50 cy and up to 70,000 cy. The size of the pile depends on the volume of material to be treated, space available, electrical power available, and desired schedule.
Thermal methods have demonstrated combined subsurface and vapor treatment PCB removal efficiencies exceeding 99.9999 percent under well-controlled conditions. In ex-situ settings, treatment can often achieve non-detect levels as required by TSCA or site-specific regulatory goals.
How Does Thermal Compare to Other Methods?
Choosing the Right Solution
Every PCB remediation project requires a tailored approach. TerraTherm’s team evaluates key site characteristics, including:
- PCB concentration and congener profile
- Presence of co-contaminants and TPH
- Soil type, permeability, and organic content
- Contamination depth and extent
- Presence of groundwater and potential for surface water influx
- Applicable regulatory frameworks (such as TSCA or state standards)
- Redevelopment plans and land use objectives
In situ application of TCH is typically the preferred technology for recalcitrant contaminants like PCBs with high boiling points and high concentrations when present above the water table. IPTD provides an excellent option when the contamination is shallow or present beneath the water table, and excavation is feasible and rapid site closure is desired.
Regulatory Trends and Cleanup Standards
The United States regulates PCBs under TSCA, CERCLA, and various state programs. Standards typically require cleanup to 1 ppm or lower, depending on exposure scenarios. TerraTherm’s thermal solutions are capable of meeting these strict requirements. Recent EPA rule changes (2023 through 2025) have introduced greater flexibility in allowable treatment methods, opening the door for innovative thermal technologies that support permanent removal and site reuse.
Ready to Remediate PCBs at Your Site?
TerraTherm brings deep technical expertise, proven thermal systems, and a track record of high-performance remediation. Our solutions are designed to eliminate PCB risks permanently, reduce liability, and help site owners move forward with confidence.
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TCH Technology Applicability
