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    $1 Million Dollar Savings for Insurance Funded Remediation Project through Use of In Situ Chemical Oxidation and Enhanced Reductive Dechlorination

    Combined Remedies Treat PCE Contamination at Active Dry Cleaner

    Project Highlights

    • Combined Remedies Approach (ISCO & ERD) implemented in unison near and below active dry cleaning facility.
    • Sustained reduction of contaminants below clean-up levels observed 20 months after initial application.
    • ISCO & ERD approach approximately $1,000,000 less expensive than proposed dual-phase extraction system option.
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    Project Summary

    An active dry cleaner site located within a multi-use commercial development strip mall was impacted with high levels of PCE vapors. A subsequent investigation revealed groundwater impacts below the building and outside the building in a former filter storage area.

    The original remediation plan involved a dual-phase extraction system with an estimated cost of approximately $1.3 million. An alternative approach consisting of in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) coupled with enhanced reductive dechlorination (ERD) was proposed by KERAMIDA and ultimately selected by the funding source. To date, the ISCO/ERD approach has cost less than $200,000, including 2 years of monitoring and multiple indoor air/sub-slab vapor sampling events. $50,000 – $75,000 in additional remediation/monitoring is anticipated to achieve closure, resulting in an estimated total savings of $1,000,000 for this project being funded by insurance companies.

    Remediation Approach

    KERAMIDA developed a remediation work plan consisting of an ISCO injection into the permeable fill material directly beneath the floor of the dry cleaning space (Source Area), combined with a plume-wide ERD injection.

    Injection points for both RegenOx® and 3-D Microemulsion® were installed inside the dry cleaner because there was insufficient clearance for the drilling equipment. The remainder of the ERD injection points outside the building were advanced using direct push technologies.

    After approximately six months of post-injection monitoring, the data suggested insufficient bacteria were present to promote accelerated reductive dechloriation. Consequently, the bioaugmentation substrate BDI Plus was applied within the ERD treatment area. Graph to the right shows results from key well within this area.

    As indicated above, the bioaugmentation substrate rapidly reduced the daughter products generated as a result of the initial electron donor injection. Two years of groundwater monitoring has been performed since the initial injection and CVOC concentrations in all of the wells, except one source-area well, are below the onsite remedial standard (groundwater migration to indoor airscreening level). In addition, two downgradient wells just outside the treatment area have slightly elevated TCE and VC concentrations.

    A small supplemental injection is currently planned for the source area (to further reduce the VC concentration to below the screening level) and around the two off-site wells to reduce the minor cVOC concentrations to below residential levels so that deed restrictions are not required.

    Technology Description

    3-D Microemulsion is an engineered electron donor material that offers a novel 3-stage electron donor release profile, pH neutral chemistry and is delivered on-site as a factory-emulsified product.

    RegenOx is an advanced chemical oxidation technology that destroys contaminants through powerful, yet controlled chemical reactions and not through biological means. This product maximizes in situ performance while using a solid alkaline oxidant that employs a sodium percarbonate complex with a multi-part catalytic formula.

    Bio-Dechlor INOCULUM Plus is an enriched natural microbial consortium containing species of Dehalococcoides sp. (DHC). This microbial consortium has since been enriched to increase its ability to rapidly dechlorinate contaminants during in situ bioremediation processes.
    After approximately six months of post-injection monitoring, the data suggested insufficient bacteria were present to promote accelerated reductive dechloriation. Consequently, the bioaugmentation substrate BDI Plus was applied within the ERD treatment area. Graph to the right shows results from key well within this area.

    As indicated above, the bioaugmentation substrate rapidly reduced the daughter products generated as a result of the initial electron donor injection. Two years of groundwater monitoring has been performed since the initial injection and CVOC concentrations in all of the wells, except one source-area well, are below the onsite remedial standard (groundwater migration to indoor airscreening level). In addition, two downgradient wells just outside the treatment area have slightly elevated TCE and VC concentrations.

    A small supplemental injection is currently planned for the source area (to further reduce the VC concentration to below the screening level) and around the two off-site wells to reduce the minor cVOC concentrations to below residential levels so that deed restrictions are not required.

    About the Consultant


    KERAMIDA Inc. is an engineering and consulting firm that serves industries, businesses, cities, and governments worldwide. They provide strategy and implementation services in: Sustainability, Green House Gases, Energy, Environmental Compliance, Remediation, Environmental Due Diligence, Brownfield Redevelopment, Plant Decommissioning, Health & Safety, Training, Risk Management, and ISO Management Systems. Established in 1988, KERAMIDA is headquartered in the historic Lockerbie Square district of Indianapolis, Indiana. The firm employs over 70 technical experts and support personnel in offices throughout the U.S., including Chicago, IL; Pittsburgh, PA; New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA, Sacramento, CA. KERAMIDA’s many principals have worked for over 25 years in the sustainability, environmental, health & safety, and remediation arenas, and are recognized leaders in their fields. Their engineers, scientists, and planners are renowned for delivering creative, integrated EHS solutions to a broad range of clients throughout the U.S. and abroad.