In Situ Chemical Reduction vs. Enhanced Reductive Dechlorination

Comparison of In Situ Chemical Reduction (ISCR) to Enhanced Reductive Dechlorination to treat trichloroethene in an aerobic aquifer.

Products
Contaminants Treated

Trichloroethene (TCE)

Location

Concord, CA

Type of site

Naval Weapons Base

SITUATIONAL SUMMARY

In Situ Chemical Reduction (ISCR) using ELS® Microemulsion was compared to Enhanced Reductive Dechlorination (ERD) to treat groundwater affected by trichloroethene (TCE). Two pilot tests were conducted that compared the rates of contaminant degradation as well as other biogeochemical processes of both processes.

RESULTS

The ISCR process was demonstrated to degrade the TCE substantially faster than the ERD process while minimizing the generation of vinyl chloride. ISCR is currently being applied to treat the extended TCE plume.