The AMTS technology consists of an activated metal within a solvent system and a thickening agent to form a paste. The technology extracts PCB’s from materials such as paints and soils. The extracted PCB’s react with the activated metal and are degraded into benign by-products. Current physical removal methods (e.g., media blasting) are able to strip PCB-laden paints from surfaces. However, these methods typically create a new waste stream that must be treated according to Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) regulations. In contrast, AMTS extracts PCBs and breaks them down into benign by-products while on the structure. Therefore, no additional PCB-treatment step is required. Also, because the treated surface can be reused or recycled following application, AMTS has advantages over methods like incineration, which destroys the underlying material.

TEA is scheduled to implement a pilot study on a site in the Northeastern United States in early 2010 for painted steel structures and we are currently conducting treatability studies for soil, concrete and oil. TEA is also exploring the potential application of AMTS to remediate other constituents of concern, such as dioxins and pesticides.

Advantages:

• Effective – Laboratory and field-scale tests have demonstrated the removal of approximately 80% of PCBs from paint within 4 hours and approximately 100% of PCBs within 48 hours.
• Removes & destroys PCBs from surfaces without creating a waste product or destroying the surface
• Allows for reuse or recycling of the structure being treated
• Safer and better for the environment than other alternatives
• Useful for a variety of applications
• Cost competitive
• In-situ or ex-situ

Applications:

• Painted structures such as buildings, ships and machinery
• Concrete surfaces contaminated with PCB oils
• Caulks and other adhesives
• Electrical equipment
• Soils
• Other PCB-contaminated debris

For more information on this new technology, contact Dr. Greg Booth ( gbooth@teainconline.com ) or Dr. Brad Droy ( bdroy@teainconline.com ) at 225-767-3880. You can also access the following NASA link to learn more about AMTS http://nasaksc.rti.org/Bimetallic.cfm.