GES has emerged as a leader in developing innovative chemical oxidation techniques to aggressively clean up impacted sites. Patented Max-Ox® technologies are continually enhanced and developed to provide the safest, most aggressive, and most cost effective chemical oxidation technologies in the industry. In fact, Max-Ox technologies are used at more than 100 different remediation sites per year, and that number is growing rapidly.
Enhanced injection techniques include the installation of Max-Ox injection wells and our Six-Phase Chemical Oxidation™ process. Many different equipment resources are available based on site-specific need, including HypeAir® trucks and skids for short-term, mobile remediation events, or PulseOx cabinets or trailers for 2 to 15 lb/day ozone injection. We also fabricate custom units, such as the 80 lb/day ozone system developed for a large brownfields site in the
Max-Ox®—chemical oxidation with maximum distribution—is GES’ patented in-site chemical oxidation method. Max-Ox has been shown to aggressively remediate many contaminants at costs significantly below conventional methods, often within weeks or months. Max-Ox incorporates several different advanced oxidation methods, delivering liquid (usually hydrogen peroxide and/or persulfate) and gas (air, oxygen, and/or ozone) into the subsurface at relatively high flow rates via nested injection wells for maximum oxidant distribution.
Max-Ox injection wells maximize the results achieved from hydrogen peroxide, air, and ozone injection. GES utilizes several standard injection well designs, along with custom-designed wells for use with PulseOx and HypeAir equipment. Each nested well contains both hydrogen peroxide and ozone injection points to ensure that the reaction occurs not only near the well borehole, but also in the formation where impact is located. Single points are used primarily for HypeAir events in which ozone and hydrogen peroxide are injected simultaneously or in an alternating manner.
HypeAir® equipment is used in short-term remediation events. Remediation usually consists of three to six events, each of two to three days duration. The HypeAir vehicle is a self-powered mobile treatment unit that injects hydrogen peroxide, ozone, oxygen, and air. Six-Phase Chemical Oxidation enhances the remediation event at select sites through the addition of persulfate injection to the process. This HypeAir method increases the radius-of-influence of each injection point and supports the effective reactant distribution in the subsurface. Costs may be reduced through the use of existing monitoring wells, air sparge points, or soil vapor extraction wells to supplement Max-Ox injection points. As always, safety is our first consideration: HypeAir is a controlled process that does not result in highly exothermic reactions, and we use only properly-trained personnel and dedicated technicians and scientists to perform HypeAir injection events. GES innovators are developing additional vehicles and smaller skid-mounted platforms to meet the growing demand for HypeAir technology.
PulseOx is a Max-Ox technology developed jointly by GES and Applied Process Technology Inc. for the continuous long-term injection of ozone and hydrogen peroxide. PulseOx uses three powerful oxidizers (ozone, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radicals) and combines the ozone stream with compressed atmospheric air and oxygen for maximized reactant distribution and effects. A programmable logic controller continuously cycles injection wells and flow rates for maximum effectiveness and oxidant distribution. High dissolved oxygen levels enhance bioremediation, typically as far as 200 to 300 feet from the injection area, and air injection supports mass transfer of organic compounds. The PulseOx system is typically used at sites with large amounts of contaminant impact or where dissolved phase plumes are greater than 200 feet in length or width.
Six-Phase Chemical Oxidation™ is GES’ newest development in advanced oxidation. Six-Phase Chemical Oxidation uses six oxidizing species – oxygen, ozone, hydrogen peroxide, persulfate, hydroxyl radicals, and sulfate free radicals – to further enhance the Max-Ox process. During a Six-Phase HypeAir event, GES injects hydrogen peroxide, ozone, oxygen, and air to create hydroxyl radicals. Following these injections, GES injects persulfate throughout the treatment zone to stimulate a continued reaction with the formation of hydroxyl radicals and sulfate free radicals and elevation of oxygen concentrations. This enhanced bioremediation has been found to address both downgradient dissolved-phase impact and also reduce the need for off-site remediation.
To learn more, click here to read a white paper on chemical oxidation written by Charles B. Whisman, GES’ senior vice president of engineering.
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