Throughout its history, RTG has developed a reputation as a leader in the performance of treatability studies and process design. We have utilized our strong process engineering experience to design and construct state-of-the-art facilities which meet all applicable regulatory requirements. Our experience allows us to interpret treatability study data and correctly scale up small test facilities to full size facilities.

RTG scientists and engineers have performed process design and development tasks for a variety of applications. The process design work has included: designing laboratory test programs to produce process design criteria; conducting laboratory evaluations of process parameters; developing flowsheets for test and full-scale operating facilities; performing bench-scale pilot studies to develop criteria for scale-up of unit operations and process equipment; and conducting optimization studies of unit operations in processing plants.

A key factor in providing treatability study and process design services is the availability of the necessary equipment and facilities. RTG has the ability to simulate all primary chemical, physical, and biological processes commonly in use in industrial, hazardous, and radioactive waste treatment. A partial list of equipment/processes available to RTG includes the following:

RTG can perform treatability studies in either of three Denver area laboratories. Two of these laboratories possess Radioactive Materials Licenses and can accept hazardous waste samples. The choice of laboratory depends primarily on the quantity of material to be received. In all cases, RTG prepares required planning documents, and RTG scientists and technicians perform the actual work. The third laboratory is dedicated to biological wastewater treatment using micro pilot continuous systems for treatability under either aerobic or anaerobic conditions.

RTG’s treatability studies have ranged from simple jar tests to complex pilot-scale system tests. The studies have always sought to identify performance characteristics for technologies that are considered to be implementable and cost effective. We routinely develop and implement sampling and analysis plans as part of our treatability studies. Sampling and analysis plans guide the collection of information, which must be collected properly in order to support an accurate assessment of a technology’s performance.

RTG uses treatability study data to prepare treatment process flow diagrams, mass balances, piping and instrumentation diagrams, and general arrangement drawings. The completion of treatability studies provides information that is essential to the design and construction of a full-scale treatment facility.

RTG has extensive experience in designing processes for the remediation of sites harboring multiple contaminants in various media. We have conducted remedial process designs for sites that have contaminants such as petroleum hydrocarbons, metals, organic solvents, and radionuclides in surface water, groundwater, and soils. Site evaluation (e.g., contaminant plume definition and identification of potential human and environmental exposure pathways), regulatory interpretation, treatability studies, cost analysis, and conceptual and detailed engineering design comprise the services RTG can provide in completing a remedial system design project.

RTG’s past remedial system design projects have included both in-situ and ex-situ remediation of surface water, groundwater, industrial wastewater, and soils. RTG has made use of conventional and advanced treatment technologies, always taking into consideration site-specific factors such as effectiveness, implementability, and cost.