ABC+
Anaerobic BioChem Plus (ABC® +)
ABC+ is an enhanced version of our industry-proven Anaerobic Biochem (ABC® ) formula, promoting anaerobic biodegradation and reductive dechlorination of halogenated solvents in groundwater. Anaerobic Biochem Plus (ABC+) is a mixture of our ABC® formula and Zero Valent Iron (ZVI). Formulated and mixed on a site-by-site basis, up to fifty percent (50%) by weight of ZVI can be added. ZVI has been proven and widely accepted as an effective in situ remediation technology of chlorinated solvents such as TCA, PCE, TCE, and daughter products. The degradation process using ZVI is an abiotic reductive dechlorination process occurring on the surface of the granular iron, with the iron acting as an electron donor.
Adding ZVI to the ABC® mixture provides enhanced reductive dechlorination (ERD) advantages. The ZVI will provide an immediate reduction. The ABC® will provide short-term and long-term nutrients to anaerobic growth, which assists in creating a reducing environment. ABC® contains soluble lactic acid and a phosphate buffer that provides phosphates, a micronutrient for bioremediation, and maintains the pH in a range that is best suited for microbial growth. In addition, the corrosion of iron metal yields ferrous iron and hydrogen, both of which are possible reducing agents. The hydrogen gas produced is also an excellent energy source for various anaerobic bacteria.
The ABC® and ZVI are mixed with potable water and emplaced in the subsurface simultaneously. The dilution factor, or water content, can be adjusted to achieve optimal dispersion and distribution. This is based on site-specific parameters such as well spacing, the permeability of the formation, and contaminant concentrations. The solution can be emplaced by a variety of techniques, including injection through wells or drill rods (for permeable geologic environments such as sands and fractured rock), hydraulic fracturing (for lower permeable environments like silt and clay), and through soil blending (for all unconsolidated shallow depth applications less than 20 ft bgs). All of these techniques are part of Redox Tech’s service offerings.
Benefits of ABC+ include:
- The presence of ZVI allows for the rapid and complete dechlorination of target compounds. Degradation rates using ZVI are several orders of magnitude greater than under natural conditions. As a consequence, the process does not result in the formation of daughter products other than ethane, ethane, and methane.
- ABC® will last up to 12-24 months in the subsurface environment due to slow-releasing compounds, allowing for long-term anaerobic biodegradation
- By creating a reducing environment, ABC+ can provide long-term immobilization of heavy metals (Ni, Zn, Hg, As)
- Does not require direct contact to act on target constituents.
- Does not divert groundwater flow. ABC is typically mixed at a 15% by-weight solution with water. The viscosity of the solution is similar to sugar water and therefore does not measurably influence groundwater flow paths. Due to the relatively low volume of ZVI used, it does not measurably lower the bulk permeability of the formation.
- Price advantage. The cost of the ABC+ formula is a highly competitive approach in relation to other ERD products on the market.
- ABC+ produces a significantly lower redox potential of approximately –600 mV
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