Millennium Projects
Technical Details
Millennium Project Number: M-2010-003
Project Title: PCB Absorption in PE Pipe Testing
Project Start Date: 2010
Projected End Date: 2012
Technical Details:
This project was developed to reveal the interactive material science between PCBs and PE pipe. The need for this project emerged out of a desire for developing the ability, if possible, to decontaminate PCBs from PE pipe for options to service retirement.
Until the effects of PCBs on PE pipe are understood, LDCs will continue to remove and relocate all PCB contaminated PE pipe to a controlled hazardous waste landfill. The EPA currently does not recognize
PE pipe as non-porous, non-absorbing material capable of being cleaned and rehabilitated.
Under the EPA regulation of PCBs in pipelines, there is no recognition of effective cleaning methods
PE pipe. This project proposes to reveal PE pipe characteristics that would result in interaction with PCB. This includes revealing the sensitivity of variables most influential to the PE pipe porosity and
PCB absorption. The presence and reaction to PCBs in PE pipe material will determine if there can be safe and effective decontamination cleaning methods.