Remedial Techniques
Our firm develops affordable, site-specific remedial approaches which encompass all environmental project objectives. As part of our life-cycle evaluation, we determine whether or not a particular in-situ technology is applicable for a given site.
Enhanced Reductive Dechlorination (ERD)
ERD facilitates and expedites the biological reductive dechlorination of contaminants by stimulating indigenous microbiological organisms. This is accomplished through the engineered addition of electron donors, which contain degradable organic carbon sources. ERD can be an effective method for degrading various chlorinated solvents dissolved in groundwater chloroethanes, chloroethanes and chloromethanes.
Hydraulic and Pneumatic Fracturing
These technologies are used for the in situ treatment of contaminant-impacted sediments. Fracturing techniques can effectively increase the flow of vapors and liquids through low permeable formations and reduce remediation time requirements. This remedial approach can further extend the applicability of in-situ technologies to a low permeable environment and deliver supplements to a fractured formation (e.g., oxygen, organisms and nutrients).
In-Situ Air Sparging/Biosparging
An attractive remedial option when volatile and/or easily biodegradable organic contaminants are present in the groundwater, this process involves injecting compressed air at controlled pressures and volumes in the groundwater table below the deepest known point of contamination. A distinguished air sparging expert in the environmental engineering field, our firm has successfully modified the technology to overcome geologic and hydrogeologic limitations.
In-Situ Chemical Oxidation
Our firm has used chemical oxidation compounds including potassium permanganate, hydrogen peroxide mixtures, and Fenton’s Reagent at industrial sites to treat petroleum- and chlorinated hydrocarbon-affected soils and groundwater and significantly reduce contaminant mass. Remedial goals can be achieved much faster using oxidation in lieu of bioremediation under the right circumstances.
In-Situ Permeable Reactive Zones
These emerging technologies are gaining widespread attention due to the ability to implement most of the treatment processes used in an above-ground system in an in-situ environment and considering the limitations of conventional pump and treat systems. In-situ permeable reactive zones are inexpensive, unobtrusive, do not require water/waste disposal and provide deep-site remediation if needed.
Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA)
The best remedial system may be no system. Many factors influence the migration and control of groundwater plumes. When biodegradable organics are present, naturally-occurring biogeochemical reactions should be taken into account in designing a remediation system. Biogeochemical reactions may be occurring at the same rate as other factors (such as diffusion), which are releasing the contaminants to the groundwater, thus resulting in monitored natural attenuation (MNA) and some degree of control of the contaminant plume. MNA can be an integral part of a remediation strategy, applied to remediate hydrocarbons, chlorinated organics, and metals.
Phytoremediation
Also referred to as "vegetative remediation," this technology that has proven effective in numerous full- and pilot-scale studies for in-situ treatment of soil and groundwater. The technology utilizes plant species to accumulate or break down organic and inorganic contaminants through natural biochemical processes. Many inorganic compounds that are environmental contaminants are vital plant nutrients used for growth and development by the vegetation. These nutrients are absorbed by the root system from the surrounding soil and groundwater media.
Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE)
A typical SVE system couples vapor extraction wells with blowers or vacuum pumps to remove vapors from the vadose zone, thus reducing residual levels of soil contaminants. Our firm has employed the SVE technology at many different sites to provide remediation of petroleum hydrocarbons, PAHs, organic compounds, and hydrogen sulfide in the subsurface media. We have performed numerous investigations concerning the evaluation, testing, and installation of pilot and full-scale SVE systems.
Vacuum Enhanced Recovery (VER) (dual-phase extraction or bio-slurping)
This technology applies a vacuum, or negative pressure, to a well and formation in order to enhance the liquid yield of that well by increasing the total net drawdown. VER also increases the mass removal of the contaminants. VER systems can be applied to enhance the overall recovery of liquid contaminants; dewater contaminated zones; or remove liquid contaminants and volatilize or biodegrade the soil residuals.
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