Use of In-Situ Oxygen Curtain Technology in Enhanced Bioremediation of Groundwater

Abstract

In-Situ Oxygen Curtain (iSOC™) is an ingenious oxygen delivery technology based on inVentures’ patented Gas inFusion™ technology - a unique method of infusing supersaturated levels of dissolved gas into liquids. At the heart of the iSOC™ is the proprietary structured polymer mass transfer device. A microporous hollow fiber provides an enormous surface area for mass transfer- in excess of 7000 m² per m³- and it is hydrophobic. Maintaining a gas at lower pressure than liquid ensures that ultra efficient mass transfer takes place without the formation of bubbles. When suspended in existing monitoring wells, the iSOC™ infuses high levels of oxygen into groundwater, without bubbles, and with a very low decay rate at atmospheric pressure. By simply connecting a regulated supply of compressed oxygen to a small diameter flexible tube leading to the iSOC™, high levels of supersaturated, nascent oxygen transfer takes place in the surrounding groundwater. For example, a regulated iSOC™ can infuse over a pound of dissolved oxygen per month at a supersaturated, bubbleless 70 ppm when the saturated depth is 20 feet, with resultant significantly increased oxygen concentration for bioremediation down gradient. Once oxygen is introduced into the groundwater, the laws of mass transport generally apply. The greatly enhanced level of dissolved oxygen in groundwater addresses dissolved-phase petroleum hydrocarbon contamination as well as sorbed material in the saturated, capillary fringe, and smear zones. The iSOC™ can create an enhanced O₂ curtain or barrier to prevent contamination migration or it can be used for the treatment of so-called “hot spots”.