Abstract: Regulations, Environmental Characteristics, and Cleanup of Perchloroethylene

Mark F. Pearson

Perchloroethylene (perc) is primarily used in dry cleaning and textile processing. Media contaminated with perc in the environment may be regulated as hazardous waste or with respect to the human health drinking water standard.

Perc is very mobile in the subsurface environment due to its high vapor pressure and low water solubility. Perc is classified as a Dense Nonaqueous Phase Liquid (DNAPL) in groundwater because of its low solubility and density greater than water. Perc is a persistent environmental contaminant because of its resistance to chemical and biological degradation. Perc degradation products are also classified as hazardous waste.

Current soil and groundwater cleanup technologies/alternatives for perc contamination include vapor extraction, groundwater air sparging, removal and treatment of soil and groundwater, and biodegradation. Cleanup technologies under study include the use of aerobic/anaerobic biofilm, combined bioremediation with air sparging, solar detoxification, contaminant stripping using steam, and thermal enhanced vapor extraction.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90952©1996 AAPG Rocky Mountain Section Meeting, Billings, Montana