Pesticides

What are Pesticides ? 

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are persistent synthetic chemicals historically used to control insects, weeds and disease vectors. They include compounds such as DDT, DDE, DDD, lindane, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, chlordane, heptachlor, endosulfan, mirex and hexachlorobenzene.

They are commonly found on:

• Former pesticide manufacturing plants
• Agricultural storage and distribution facilities
• Pesticide formulation and blending sites
• Chemical production facilities
• Former spraying and treatment areas
• Waste disposal and landfill sites
• Contaminated sediments and dredged materials
• Industrial brownfields with historical pesticide use
• Military facilities and depots
• Agricultural land impacted by historical pesticide applications

Because many organochlorine pesticides are highly persistent, contamination can remain in soils and sediments for decades after their use has ceased.

Why are Pesticides a concern?

OCPs are resistant to natural degradation, poorly soluble in water and strongly adsorbed to soil and organic matter. They can bioaccumulate in living organisms and move through the food chain.

Potential impacts include:

🧠 Neurological effects

🛡️ Immune system effects

🧬 Reproductive and developmental risks

⚠️ Potential carcinogenic effects

💧 Long-term soil and groundwater contamination

Remediation Strategies - State of the Art

Historically, PAH-contaminated soils have been managed through excavation and disposal, bioremediation or containment measures. While these approaches can reduce risk, they often require long treatment periods or leave residual contamination behind.

Thermal desorption has become one of the most effective remediation technologies for PAH-contaminated soils because it physically removes contaminants from the soil matrix and significantly reduces long-term liabilities.

OCPs are stable because of strong carbon-chlorine bonds. Natural degradation is slow, but thermal treatment provides enough energy to volatilize, degrade or destroy these compounds. Treatment are correct temparture provides up to 99% or reduction of those compounds. 

🔥 1. Controlled Heating

Smart Burners™ circulate hot gases through a network of steel heating pipes installed within the contaminated soil.

The heat is transferred directly into the soil, ensuring homogeneous treatment and precise temperature control.

🌡️ 2. Pesticides become volatile or decompose

As temperature increases, OCP volatility rises significantly, allowing contaminants to desorb from the soil matrix. 

Target temperature aat cold point are fixed between 150°C and 400°C.

💨 3. Vapor Extraction Under Vacuum

The treatment area is maintained under controlled negative pressure.

This ensures that pesticides vapors are continuously extracted while preventing fugitive emissions and protecting workers and nearby communities.

🧪 4. Advanced Vapor Treatment

Extracted vapors are safely treated using technologies such as:

✅ Condensation

✅ Activated carbon adsorption

The selected treatment train is adapted to the site-specific contaminants.

Key Benefits

🎯 Permanent Source Removal

Pesticides are removed from soil rather than contained or transferred.

📈 High Removal Efficiency

Thermal treatment can reduce OCP concentrations by more than 99.6% under optimized conditions.

⚡ Fast Remediation

Treatment is completed in days or weeks instead of years of natural degradation.

🛡️ Reduced Long-Term Liability

Removes persistent contamination and limits future migration risks.

🏭 Suitable for Complex Industrial Sites

Applicable to pesticide production sites, storage areas, sediments and mixed-contaminant brownfields.

You want to learn more ? 

Used cases