Case Studies - BEL001 - Chemical Oxidation

Manufacturing Facility - Belgium

ARS conducted its first project in Europe. The project was at a large manufacturing facility in Belgium. The work performed by ARS included Pneumatic Fracturing of the soils in combination with the liquid atomized injection of 350 kilograms of sodium persulfate and 45 kilograms of ferrous iron from depths of approximately 1.5 meters to 8 meters. Persulfate reacts with ferrous iron to produce persulfate free radicals, which are strong oxidizing agents.

The objectives of the project were to:

  • Confirm the applicability of Pneumatic Fracturing for a residential area.
  • Develop the engineering characteristics of large-scale Pneumatic Fracturing and oxidation that would be applied.
  • Estimate oxidation rates for a given injection area.
  • Estimate optimal injection rate and dose.
  • Reduce chlorinated VOCs to less than 2 ppb.
Concentrations of VOCs in the immediate injection vicinity were reduced from approximately 20,000 ppb to less than 5 ppb one month after injection. However, a leaky underground storm drain in the water table caused some difficulties. The injected reactants preferentially flowed to the storm drain and reduced the radius of influence. The client is currently reviewing engineering methods to seal the leaking drain line in the area before expanding the project to full-scale.

 

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