4/11/2005 - Asia Pulse TOKYO - Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co. hasbegun promoting a new method of soil remediation that uses vegetable oilto stimulate soil bacteria and advance the decomposition of volatileorganic compounds (VOCs).

This so-called VegOil process, developed by the U.S. company ParsonsCorp., involves pumping vegetable-oil-derived substances into holes dug inthe contaminated soil. The substances activate anaerobic soil bacteria andfoster reductive dechlorination of VOCs, lowering VOC levels below theenvironmental standard value in one to three years.

The VegOil process uses natural compounds that are safe to theenvironment. They are also less expensive than the chemicals used insimilar reductive dechlorination methods, and the process works faster.

In addition, it is also less than one-fifth the cost of excavating andreplacing VOC-contaminated soil and does not require the temporaryshutdown of factory operations.

Mitsui Engineering will partner with soil inspection companies andconstruction companies to promote the use of the VegOil process by makersof chemicals and electronics as well as large-scale dry cleaners.

It aims to make this a new pillar of its soil remediation business, whichalso includes a process to remove oil from groundwater near places likegas stations.

(Nikkei)