Soil and groundwater remediation
EHC® Reagent
EHC® Reagent is composed of controlled-release carbon, zero valent iron (ZVI) particles and nutrients used for the in situ treatment of groundwater and saturated soil impacted by heavy metals and persistent organic compounds such as chlorinated solvents, pesticides and energetics.
EHC® Reagent is used for stimulating in situ chemical reduction (ISCR) of otherwise persistent organic compounds in groundwater.
Following placement of EHC® into the subsurface environment, a number of physical, chemical and microbiological processes combine to create very strong reducing conditions that stimulate rapid and complete dechlorination of organic solvents and other recalcitrant compounds (e.g., explosives and organochlorine pesticides).
Reference
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.
KEY BENEFITS
- Stimulation of both abiotic and biotic reductive dechlorination
- Demonstrated longevity of 4-5 years in field conditions
- Combined approach minimizes the production of problematic daughter products, such as DCE and VC
- ZVI corrosion (alkaline) and fermenting carbon (acidic) are balanced producing circumneutral pHs in contrast to either alone
- Non-hazardous and safe to handle
EXAMPLE CONTAMINANTS
- Chlorinated solvents
- Chlorobenzenes
- Energetic compounds
- Most pesticides
- Haloalkanes
- Nitrate compounds
Key functions
- Direct push injection
- Hydraulic fracturing
- Pneumatic fracturing
- Permeable reactive barriers
IN SITU CHEMICAL REDUCTION
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.
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.
