Successful Procedures for Composting Pentachlorophenol Contaminated Soils, 2000 Environmental Conference Proceedings

- J. Andrews, B. Vogt -- Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (L-P) initiated a pilot study in 1997 to evaluate the feasibility of composting contaminated soil to reduce pentachlorophenol levels to regulatory levels. Five different composting mixtures were evaluated using a total of 1,000 cubic yards of pentachlorophenol contaminated soil excavated from a former sawmill facility. Each mixture consisted of approximately 200 cubic yards of contaminated soil and predetermined amounts of wood fines, steer manure, fertilizer and water. Once mixed, the contaminated soil and soil additives were placed in three foot high windrows and covered with plastic. Pentachlorophenol levels in three out of five mixtures decreased from 160 mg/kg to less than 10 mg/kg in 16 weeks. The procedures developed during this pilot study have been used to cost-effectively compost more than 10,000 cubic yards of pentachlorophenol contaminated soil excavated from three former sawmill sites in California.