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Status of nZVI Technology Lessons Learned from North American and International Implementations Michael J. Borda, Ph.D., Ramesh Venkatakrishnan, Ph.D., P.G., Florin Gheorghiu, C.P.G., P.G. Golder Associates Inc., Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, USA, 08054
With nearly ten years of experience, Golder Associates Inc. (Golder) is a leader in the manufacture and implementation of nano-scale zero-valent iron (nZVI) for environmental remediation applications under licensing agreement with Lehigh University. Golder has designed and implemented nZVI injections in the United States, Canada and across Europe at twenty sites, either as the lead consultant or in partnership with Universities and other contractors. In addition, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and state regulatory agencies have participated actively in providing comments and feed-back on proposed nZVI injections, resulting in the further development and understanding of this maturing technology. Golder’s global experience has led to realization of the state-of- thetechnology including: determination of the importance of a well-developed Site Conceptual Model (SCM); verification of the need to include surface modifiers to enhance the mobility of nZVI in the subsurface; verification of the need to include a catalyst for in situ treatment using mechanically crushed material; and, determination of the enhanced treatment potential from combination nZVI/enhanced bioremediation applications. The following chapter expands on these advancements and looks forward to the future needs of this maturing technology.
© 2009 American Chemical Society
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In Environmental Applications of Nanoscale and Microscale Reactive Metal Particles; Geiger, C., et al.; ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2009.
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Introduction The use of zero-valent iron (Fe0) to treat sites impacted by chlorinated solvents is a well-established technology in the environmental remediation industry and is considered an accepted technology. Research over the last fifteen years began to focus on the possibility that using smaller particles of zero-valent iron (ZVI) may be effective at treating chlorinated solvents more rapidly in situ, as well as, potentially treating more recalcitrant chlorinated compounds due to increased reactivity of particles as a function of size. Nano-scale zero-valent iron (nZVI) entered the sector of contaminated site remediation over a decade ago, and research is actively conducted around the world to better understand the advantages of using nano-scale particles versus their micro-scale counterparts. nZVI consists of sub-micron (
