CARBON FRACTIONATION APPROACH TO CLEAN-UP STANDARDS FOR SOILS CONTAMINATED WITH HYDROCARBONS

Rafael G. Rivera*

Alta Technical Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 5542
Oak Ridge, TN 37831
Voice: 865-388-4238
Fax: 610-584-6680
E-mail: rgrivera@comcast.com

Laura Georgina Calva Benitez
Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana
Mexico City, Mexico

Curtis Travis
Alta Technical Services, Inc
Knoxville, TN

Dennis Miller
BWXT-Y12
Oak Ridge, TN

This paper outlines the methodology for the development of risk-based cleanup criteria that were proposed as the basis for the new clean up standards for the restoration of petroleum contaminated soils in Mexico. The study applies a carbon fractionation methodology to derive a risk-based cleanup criteria for soils contaminated with hydrocarbons for a limited set of land-use categories. The methodology was applied to four different regions of Mexico and recommendations on limits were based on the most restrictive levels defined. The calculation methods were based on standardized risk assessment algorithms. In general, the fractionation methodologies separate petroleum into several fractions (based on molecular weight) that exhibit similar environmental transport characteristics. Available toxicity data (individual compounds and mixtures) are used to evaluate the non-carcinogenic toxicity of each petroleum fraction, and these toxicity values are used to develop different cleanup criteria for each fraction.