Intermittent Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE) for VOC Removal: A Full‐Scale Case Study

The present study investigates the field‐scale application of a soil vapor extraction (SVE) system operated under intermittent conditions for the remediation of an industrial site contaminated with ethylbenzene and xylenes. The contamination, originating from a release from an underground storage tank, affected the entire thickness of the unsaturated zone down to approximately 24 m below ground surface. Following groundwater containment through a pump‐and‐treat system, an SVE system consisting of four extraction wells was installed, with operational configurations varying over time. The system was monitored over a 3‐year period, and the collected data were used to evaluate vapor phase concentration trends, mass removal rates, and cumulative extracted mass. The results show a progressive decrease in volatile organic compound concentrations, with a total extracted mass of approximately 12,700 kg. By the end of the study period, concentrations had decreased to approximately 0.1% of their initial values, indicating the likely presence of residual contamination that could be further addressed by transitioning to alternative technologies, such as bioventing.