A+ Environmental Solutions, LLC

Enhanced anaerobic bioremediation is the practice of adding hydrogen (an electron donor) to groundwater and/or soil to increase the number and vitality of indigenous microorganisms performing anaerobic bioremediation (reductive dechlorination) on any anaerobically degradeable compound or chlorinated contaminant. The most commonly targeted chlorinated groundwater contaminants are primarily used in industry as degreasing agents and include:

  • Perchloroethylene (PCE)
  • Trichloroethylene (TCE)
  • Dichloroethylene (DCE)
  • Vinyl Chloride (VC)

Other anaerobically degradeable compounds include: carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, methylene chloride, certain pesticides/herbicides, perchlorate, nitrate, nitroaromatic explosives (TNT, RDX), dyes and chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s).

Reductive dechlorination is a term used to describe the widely documented, biologically mediated process by which chlorinated hydrocarbons are degraded under anoxic or aerobic conditions. During this naturally occurring process, anaerobic microbes (dehalogenators) substitute hydrogen (H) for chlorine (Cl) on chlorinated contaminant molecules, thus dechlorinating the compound.

diagram_Reductive_Dechlorination.jpg
The Reductive Dechlorination Process

Since reductive dechlorination (bioremediation) is a natural process, it can proceed at a very slow rate. The use of an electron donor such as Hydrogen Release Compound (HRC®) or 3D Microemulsion (3DMe®), can increase the rates of reductive dechlorination up to several orders of magnitude. This rapidly moves the contaminant through the enhanced reductive dechlorination (ERD) process that ultimately results in the production of non-toxic compounds such as ethene and ethane. Under the influence of controlled-release HRC or 3DMe, the ERD process can be sustained for periods of up to two to four years depending upon subsurface conditions.

Enhanced anaerobic bioremediation is the practice of adding hydrogen (an electron donor) to soil and groundwater to increase the number and vitality of indigenous microorganisms performing bioremediation (reductive dechlorination). The use of Regenesis injectable compounds to facilitate this process offers the following benefits:

The use of Regenesis’ controlled-release, injectable substrates for enhanced reductive dechlorination offer the following benefits:

  • Environmentally safe and easy to handle and apply materials
  • Viscous to semi-viscous injectable materials are easily injected and pumped into the subsurface using readily available equipment
  • Decreased time to site closure, as degradation rates accelerate faster than the intrinsically slow natural pace
  • In-situ treatment can last anywhere from 18 to 60 months, maintenance free
  • Experience and a proven track record of success (more than 2,500 sites worldwide)
  • Lower costs than engineered mechanical systems, and greater efficiency than high volume, rapidly consumed, liquid donors
  • No long-term operations and maintenance
  • Minimal waste generation
  • Maximized electron donor distribution and wider spacing between injection points/wells can be achieved using 3D Microemulsion over emulsified oils
  • Easily combined with RegenOx® chemical oxidation for a complete chemical oxidation to enhanced bioremediation treatment regimen.
  • Regenesis’ world-class technical support and application design assistance