34.  Venting

Other key words: SVE (Soil Vapor Extraction), vacuum extraction

The extraction of air from the vadose zone by means of vacuum or negative pressure (venting) is used as a remediation process for volatile compounds. This technique extracts gases from contaminated soil. The vapors are treated on the surface by incineration or activated carbon (figure 34 ). Venting is the most widely used technique, and is most often applied to the remediation of oil and petrochemical sites (gas stations, depots, storage facilities, etc.).