Brief

Along an active railway in a remote region of Northern Quebec, an historic spill was discovered during environmental investigations. The groundwater impacts required remediation to mitigate potential negative impacts on local receptors. The location, on an active railway line, required careful planning and execution to ensure employee safety without disrupting rail schedules ad to ensure safe conditions for staff.

An environmental consultant hired by the railway characterized the site and determined that the groundwater was impacted with chlorinated ethenes. The consultant sub-contracted IRSL based on their expertise, health & safety training, and experience in remote regions.

Process

In-Situ Adsorption with Abiotic and Biotic Dechlorination using PlumeStop, Plume Fe and Hydrogen Release Compound (HRC).

To treat the chlorinated ethenes with minimal disruption to the surrounding area, IRSL implemented a Direct Push injection program that used PlumeStop® Liquid Activated Carbon™ along with PlumeStop Fe™ and Hydrogen Release Compound (HRC®) to stimulate adsorption and break down the contaminants through abiotic and biotic dechlorination.

The Direct Push Injection program consisted of one injection of a combination of PlumeStop, PlumeStop Fe and Hydrogen Release Compound (HRC) to stimulate adsorption and abiotic and biotic dechlorination. This combination effectively reduced the contaminants within the groundwater to below the regulatory limits. It also created a geochemical environment that enhanced biological degradation reactions that resulted in the re-generation of the activated carbon itself.

Results

To develop an optimal injection design, IRSL used their proprietary analytical and numerical models, which incorporated contaminant concentrations, groundwater flow rates, reaction rates, temperature and inorganic parameters, within the subsurface. Through this process, they discovered the required mass and injection pattern that led to the successful remediation of the remaining impacts.

The remedial program was executed in one week with one injection and no environmental footprint.

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