Low temperature thermal treatment

A method for the low-temperature remediation of contaminants in a target volume comprised of at least one material, the method comprising:

• determining a volatile temperature of at least one of the at least one material in the target volume;
• determining an optimum temperature at which a contaminant in the at least one material in the target volume's degradation will be accelerated where such optimum temperature is below the boiling point of water where the target volume is being remediated;
• inserting a plurality of heaters into the target volume and wherein the plurality of heaters are configured to heat the target volume below the volatilization point of at least one contaminant but sufficient to enhance biotic and abiotic destruction or mineralization of the at least one contaminant;
• inserting one or more temperature sensors into one or more points in target volume wherein the one or more temperature sensors are configured to send temperature data to a central control unit;
• connecting the plurality of heaters to a power supply capable of delivering sufficient current and voltage to the heater and configured to be monitored from a power monitoring system;
• activating the heater such that it emits heat into the target volume;
• monitoring the temperature of the one or more points of the target volume;
• reducing the heat emitted by the heater if the temperature of one or more points of the target volume exceeds a volatile temperature of at least one of the at least one materials in the target volume or the optimum temperature;
• deactivating the heater after a specified interval;
• repeating the steps of activating the heater through reducing the heat emitted by the heater until the contaminant in the target volume have been remediated.

A system for the low-temperature remediation of a target volume comprised of at least one material, located at a location, and contaminated by at least one substance, the system comprising:

• a plurality of low output, low temperature heaters, wherein the heaters are configured to connect to a power source and emit heat into their surrounding area at substantially slow, uniform rates below the boiling point of water at the location of the target volume and the plurality of heaters are substantially embedded into the target volume and arranged to provide substantial uniformity of heating throughout the target volume at an amount that will increase the degradation of the at least one substance contaminating the target volume and wherein the plurality of heaters are configured to heat the target volume below the volatilization point of at least one contaminant but sufficient to enhance biotic and abiotic destruction or mineralization of the at least one contaminant;
• a power control and monitoring system configured to deliver voltage and current to the plurality of heaters at a substantially uniform rate;
• the power source configured to deliver voltage and current to the power control and monitoring system for distribution;
• a temperature monitoring system comprised of a plurality of temperature sensors and at least one temperature monitoring device wherein the plurality of temperature sensors are substantially embedded in the target volume at positions to ascertain a plurality of temperatures in the target volume;
• and
• a control system that is communicably coupled to the temperature monitoring system and the power control and monitoring system, wherein the control system is further configured to control the flow of power to the plurality of heaters and output data from the temperature monitoring system.