PCB Cleanup - Vitrification

While DNR and EPA have specified landfilling as the chosen method for dealing with sediment dredged from the Fox River, they have also allowed for the consideration of alternative approaches. Vitrification is one of those alternatives. It is a relatively new technology that involves melting sediment at very high heat and turning it into a glassy material, which can then be used in road construction projects and in the making of concrete and shingles. Melting the contaminated sediment from the Fox River at such high temperatures has been shown ina demonstration project to destroy the PCBs in it.

While vitrification is in many ways an attractive option, there are some drawbacks that could make it difficult to use in the Fox River project. First, it has only been tested on a small scale, and the technology is unproven at the much larger scale that would be necessary for the Fox River cleanup. In addition, there are no vitrification facilities in Wisconsin that can handle sediment, and it could take up to three years to obtain the necessary permits, find a suitable site, and design and build a new full-scale facility. Finally, the final cost of this alternative is still in question. The greater cost of vitrification instead of landfilling for sediment disposal may be offset by permanently removing the PCBs from the environment.

For more information on this interesting technology, read the Glass Furnace Technology Fact Sheet or visit the Reports & Documents section and scroll down to the section on vitrification.