SBIR-STTR Award

Chlorinated solvents and toxic metals used at Tinker AFB have contaminated sub-surface groundwater. These contaminants pose a threat to the local aquifers where exposed individuals could be subjected to adverse health effects. Traditional remediation protocols are either too expensive or not practical for addressing the contaminants at this and other facilities. Recently methodologies have emerged that treat these toxic substances directly in the subsurface. One such technique involves injecting very small and highly reactive metal particles into the ground where they react with and convert trichloroethylene and other toxic compounds to innocuous products. While showing promise on a pilot scale, these nanocrystalline materials are prohibitively expensive and often difficult to produce in large quantities. To address the market need and in accordance with Presidential Executive Order 13229, Encouraging Innovation in Manufacturing, OnMaterials has developed a domestic source for lower cost, injectable zero valent metal. The Phase I program will identify contaminated sources at Tinker AFB, inject nanopowder into the subsurface, and monitor the changes in groundwater properties and composition. If successfully demonstrated in the Phase I program and scaled in subsequent efforts the concept will provide an innovative solution for decontaminating groundwater at both military and industrial facilities

Tinker Air Force Base contains a large trichloroethylene (TCE) contaminant plume that threatens public drinking water supplies. Zero valent iron (ZVI) rapidly reacts with and eliminates TCE and thus, provides great potential for in-situ remediation. Implementing a successful remediation solution requires the metal particles be brought into contact with the contaminant phase. The Tinker site is difficult because the contaminated water is located in fine, silty sand and siltstone. At this and other low-permeability locations, ZVI remediation requires using a product with a sub-micrometer particle size. OnMaterials has developed enabling materials and injection processes to deliver nanocrystalline iron (NZVI) particles into challenging lithologies, including that present at Tinker. The Phase I program demonstrated the ability of injected NZVI product to accomplish the rapid and near-complete elimination of TCE at the injection well and nearby monitoring wells. The Phase II program will build upon these results and will implement a larger remediaiton system capable of accomplishing the cost-effective elimination of the TCE plume. The Phase II work will also provide technology foundation for decontaminating toxic groundwater plumes at many other military and private sector locations.

Keywords:
Groundwater Remedition, Nanomaterials, Nanocrystalline Zero Valent Iron, In-Situ Remediation, Trichloroethylene,