ExCAL Limited were commissioned by Purolite International to undertake various works at their facility in Pontyclun. The site was to investigated to determine if any contamination was present and if so to what extent.

The facility was used to manufacture a range of ion exchange resins based either on styrene/divinylbenzene copolymers or polyacrylates. The styrene/divinylbenzene copolymers were treated to produce cationic or anionic resins by sulphonation or chloromethylation/amination respectively.

A desk study report was compiled on the site which encompassed site history, geology, hydrology and hydrogeology and ecology.

Bases on the results of the desk study ExCAL were then commissioned by Purolite International to undertake a site investigation.

A site investigation was then undertaken and consisted of sixteen window sample boreholes and six rotary auger boreholes.

Soil samples were collected from all the boreholes to ensure that the extent and nature of the contamination present was identified. Groundwater monitoring wells were installed in some of the rotary auger boreholes to allow collection of groundwater samples. A number of the window sample boreholes were also fitted with groundwater monitoring wells.

Selected soil samples and all the groundwater samples from the boreholes were tested for a range of chemical contamination.

Following the site investigation an assessment of the current and future level of chemical risk posed by the Purolite International site was undertaken.

Development of the site is planned and due to its past industrial use it may require remediation to reduce identified contaminants to a safe level.

Following the results of the risk assessment a remediation strategy was developed and is was implemented with full-time supervision by ExCAL staff.