In-Situ Soil and groundwater remediation
EHC® Reagent
EHC® Reagent is a high-performance remediation product designed for in-situ treatment of polluted groundwater and contaminated soils. Its advanced formulation combines controlled-release organic carbon, zero-valent iron (ZVI), and essential nutrients. These components work together to stimulate both biological and chemical reduction processes, effectively targeting a wide range of pollutants including heavy metals, chlorinated solvents, pesticides, and persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
Globally recognized for its effectiveness, EHC® Reagent is successfully used in the remediation of legacy contamination sites and industrial pollution sources across various environmental conditions.
Advanced In-Situ Remediation for Persistent Groundwater Contaminants
EHC® Reagent is specifically designed to activate chemical in-situ reduction (ISCR), offering a powerful solution for the sustainable removal of persistent organic pollutants from groundwater. Once injected into the subsurface, EHC® initiates a synergistic blend of physical, chemical, and microbiological processes that create highly effective reducing conditions.
These conditions accelerate the complete dechlorination of chlorinated solvents and other recalcitrant compounds such as explosives and organochlorine pesticides. Proven in numerous applications, EHC® Reagent is a trusted choice for complex groundwater remediation challenges.
Ground Contamination: A Global Environmental Concern
Soil and groundwater pollution remain critical environmental issues worldwide. According to the European Environment Agency, approximately 250,000 sites across Europe are classified as contaminated, with an estimated 1.8 million additional properties suspected of pollution. To repurpose these areas for residential or commercial development, extensive remediation efforts are essential.
Traditional Methods vs. Innovative In-Situ Solutions
In Germany and many other European countries, conventional remediation techniques like “dig and dump” (excavation and disposal) and “pump and treat” (groundwater extraction and purification) still dominate, accounting for around 90% of the remediation market. However, these methods are often costly and lack long-term sustainability.
A forward-thinking alternative is in-situ remediation, where specialized reagents are directly injected into the soil. These substances destroy, bind, or neutralize contaminants on-site—without excavation. In the United States and Canada, EHC® Reagent by Evonik has been successfully used for years to remediate sites contaminated with chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHCs). This innovative approach was also implemented in Hanau’s Pioneer Park to efficiently remove CHCs from groundwater.
KEY BENEFITS
- Stimulates both abiotic and biotic reductive dechlorination
- Proven longevity of 4–5 years under field conditions
- Minimizes harmful byproducts like DCE and VC
- Balanced pH through ZVI corrosion and fermentable carbon interaction
- Non-hazardous and safe to handle
EXAMPLE CONTAMINANTS
- Chlorinated solvents
- Chlorobenzenes
- Energetic compounds
- Most pesticides
- Haloalkanes
- Nitrate compounds
Application Methods
- Direct push injection
- Hydraulic fracturing
- Pneumatic fracturing
- Permeable reactive barriers (PRBs)
What is IN SITU CHEMICAL REDUCTION (ISCR)?
In situ chemical reduction (ISCR) is the combination of abiotic chemical reduction, using zero valent iron(ZVI) and/or reduced minerals (magnetite, pyrite), coupled with anaerobic bioremediation for the effective treatment of chlorinated solvents, pesticides, and energetics. Physical, chemical, and biological processes combine to create an extremely reduced environment that stimulates chemical and microbiological dechlorination of otherwise persistent compounds.
Key Benefits of In-Situ Remediation for Soil and Groundwater
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Benefits |
Description |
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Cost Savings |
Avoid expensive transportation and landfill fees. In-situ methods eliminate the need for excavation and off-site disposal, significantly reducing overall project costs. |
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Minimal Site Disruption |
No large-scale construction zones or heavy earth-moving operations required. This approach keeps the site intact and minimizes impact on surrounding areas |
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Environmentally Friendly |
Lower CO₂ emissions thanks to reduced transport and landfill activities. In-situ remediation supports sustainable environmental practices. |
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Targeted Contaminant Treatment |
Pollutants are treated directly at the source. Technologies like ISCR with EHC® Reagent enable precise and effective remediation of chlorinated solvents, pesticides, and other persistent compounds |
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Time Efficiency |
Faster project timelines due to the elimination of excavation and material transport. In-situ solutions streamline the remediation process. |
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Ideal for Developed Areas |
Can be applied beneath buildings or in densely populated zones. In-situ remediation is suitable for urban environments and complex site conditions. |
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A SHOWCASE PROJECT |
In situ groundwater remediation in the Pioneer Park residential area in Hanau
Our team of soil and groundwater remediation experts successfully removed volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons (VCHC) from the groundwater at the Pioneer Park residential development in Hanau. This site, previously a military base, is being transformed into a new neighborhood designed to accommodate 5,000 residents. The remediation process involved addressing two contaminated sites using our EHC® Reagent product, in collaboration with leading environmental consultants AECOM and Sensatec's innovative application technologies. On May 16, 2024, this significant project was honored with a bronze award in the “Particularly Sustainable” category at the prestigious Brownfield Award 2024.
Technical bulletins
Commercial sources of fermentable carbon will increase the activity of hydrogen-utilizing microbes. However, EHC® contains zero-valent iron, which enables in situ chemical reduction reactions (ISCR).
EHC® Reagent is a combination of controlled-release carbon and zero-valent iron (ZVI) particles designed to stimulate reductive dechlorination of otherwise persistent organic compounds in groundwater. EHC® is specially formulated for easy injection into the subsurface.
Extensive testing of EHC® for the treatment of 1,2 DCA has demonstrated its superior efficacy compared to ZVI.
Technical Overview and White Papers
We present an overview of the different properties, mechanisms, and key attributes of our various reductive soil remediation and groundwater purification technologies.
Using US EPA criteria, Maul Foster & Alongi, Inc. reviewed four potential green remediation technologies (EHC® Reagent, emulsified oil, electrical resistive heating, and pump & treat).
EHC® application guides
We show you the guidelines for EHC® slurry preparation and backfill, PRB, injection applications. The choice of your application method will depend on your site-specific soil conditions.
Prior to injecting EHC® Reagent into the soil, we will provide you with baseline sampling recommendations for critical and non-critical parameters.
We demonstrate several core examination methods which could be used to evaluate reagent placement after injection. The distribution of injected EHC® Reagent into the soil depends both on site conditions and the used equipment.
EHC® webinars
Josephine Molin shares lessons learned from a number of EHC® injection projects where subsurface distribution validation has been performed. She shows the different soil remediation methods used to verify ROI and observations in different lithologies, as well as about recommended injection equipment and approaches to limit surface formation during injection at difficult sites.
This presentation will introduce biological and chemical groundwater remediation processes in situ, make field comparisons between the biotic approach (ERD) and the ISCR approach, and show how ISCR enhances biological processes in sulfate-rich aquifers.
We explain the physical, chemical, and microbiological processes promoted by METAFIX® and EHC® Reagents and how they work in the removal of soluble heavy metals from soil and groundwater, focusing on arsenic, chromium, lead, and mercury. The potential for simultaneous removal of soluble heavy metals and degradation of chlorinated solvents will also be discussed.
Brianna Desjardins and Brant Smith discuss the laboratory-scale tests our Environmental Solutions Laboratory typically performs on EHC® Reagent, ELS® Microemulsion, KLOZUR® persulfate, METAFIX® Reagent, and hydrogen peroxide that are used to successfully implement soil and groundwater remediation technologies.
