BATH, United Kingdom--(BUSINESS WIRE)--REGENESIS Ltd. and BAE Systems Real Estate Solutions, Environmental Services (Bishopton) have been awarded the prestigious 2010 Chairman’s Bronze Award for Innovation by BAE Systems, UK. The award recognizes the first use in Scotland of Hydrogen Release Compound (HRC®), an advanced, non-toxic bioremediation technology developed and marketed by REGENESIS Ltd (Bath, UK), to provide in situ remediation of groundwater impacted with chlorinated solvents at a BAE Systems’ former industrial site.
BAE Systems carried out the voluntary remediation of a chlorinated hydrocarbon plume to remove any potential environmental risk on a site at Glasgow Prestwick Airport. The specific objective, according to Craig Watson, a Senior Geo-Environmental Consultant with BAE Systems, was to achieve cost-effective, demonstrable reductions in trichloroethene (TCE) concentrations, and to do so with minimal site disturbance. TCE, a highly toxic chlorinated hydrocarbon solvent, was widely used by industry to clean metal components.
Targeting the core of the TCE plume, the cleanup project involved the injection of HRC®, a honey-like, viscous liquid, directly into the contaminated zone. Once in contact with the groundwater HRC produces dissolved, controlled-release hydrogen, which in turn stimulates the growth of microbes that naturally degrade chlorinated contaminants. “In effect, this process simply allows nature to take its course, but at a much accelerated pace,” Craig Watson said. Because HRC closely resembles honey in color and consistency, the engineers nicknamed the project site “The Honey Trap.”
To assure complete coverage of the target area, HRC was applied across the site at injection points spaced 4 metres apart. The injection of HRC was completed in three days using a small, portable direct-push drilling rig.
“Traditional techniques could create their own problems in terms of how to dispose of the waste by-product, but with this approach there are no harmful wastes to deal with,” Craig Watson said. "HRC itself is non-toxic; it’s also cheaper, less intrusive, quicker – and there are no environmental side effects,” he added.
Following the HRC application, a 98% reduction in TCE concentrations was observed during the next three months, together with corresponding production and degradation of daughter products. No contamination reached the boundary boreholes and no “rebound” in contaminant concentrations was observed during 18 months of post-application monitoring. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency confirmed that the remediation objectives and licensing requirements had been achieved.
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems Real Estate Solutions, Environmental Services offers an integrated approach to the environmental management, investigation, assessment and remediation of contaminated land and water. BAE Systems is a global defence and security company with approximately 100,000 employees worldwide. The Company delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and support services.
About REGENESIS
Since incorporation in 1994, REGENESIS has been a world leader in the development and commercialization of innovative technologies to promote the efficient, cost-effective remediation of problematic groundwater contaminants from soil and groundwater. REGENESIS products have been used on over 17,000 remediation projects in 26 countries worldwide, including more than 1,000 projects in the UK and mainland Europe. For more information visit the REGENESIS website (www.regenesis.com) or contact Gareth Leonard, UK and Scandinavia District Manager, REGENESIS Ltd., at gleonard@regenesis.com or +44 (0) 1833 630 411.