Remtech Enzyme Bioremediation Accelerator
Soil and Groundwater remediations may be accelerated using a specially formulated blend of bioremediation enhancing agents to stimulate native microbes to reduce biological reaction kinetics to less than seven (7) weeks, and sometimes less than three (3) weeks.
Over 2,000,000 tons of contaminated soil have been treated with HCZyme on multiple field projects for hydrocarbon and chlorinated hydrocarbon cleanups without generating toxic byproducts. This product is non-toxic, contains no bacteria or genetically engineered microbes, and has been approved by the EPA for use in surface water, groundwater and soil remediations.
Most soil, groundwater, and free product contaminated sites have native microorganisms present that are acclimated to destroy the contaminates. To accelerate the breakdown process, addition of a blend of enzymes, wetting agents, oxygen, and moisture control is all that is required to compress bioremediation times from years to weeks.
HCZyme may be used with Remtech's BioVent, BioSparge, and Low-Profile Strippers for insitu and exsitu treatment. The following are examples of bioremediation projects were HCZyme has been used effectively:
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HOW HCZYME WORKS:
HCZyme, like many enzyme groups, has been produced through a special biofermentation process utilizing the 26 bacteria and fungus. The critical part of the process is the autolysis stage, where the cell wall and the cytoplasmic membrane are dissolved. The resulting group of enzymes are in a class known as oxygenesses, which activate oxygen and convert it to a form in which the oxygen atom can be incorporated directly into the hydrocarbon compound (thus breaking the long-chain bonds). As this process repeats, the hydrocarbon compound is quickly broken down to the corresponding alcohol, aldehyde and finally to the monobasic fatty acids. These simple "easy hydrocarbons" are then readily assimilated by the indigenous bacterial population.
In simple terms, the enzymes (i.e., HCZyme) tend to attach themselves to the hydrocarbon materials (soils, free-floating or miscible). The enzymes then attract the bacteria (surrounding the cell surfaces) to catalyze the breakdown reactions. Once the reaction is completed the enzyme breaks free to attach to another hydrocarbon source in order to repeat the same reaction. This is often referred to as the "lock and key" nature of enzymes, since the enzyme "key" is utilized many times over. Injection of the enzymes in the matrix of the petroleum compounds, along with a continuous aerobic environment, will ensure completion of the biodegradation process.
In a water environment, hydrocarbon compounds tend to separate into three phases: 1) the floating or free-product phase; 2) the soluble or miscible phase; and 3) the sludge (heavier than water) phase. When HCZyme is applied topically, it will tend to attach to the top of the floating hydrocarbon layer first. Some of the HCZyme will pass through (once saturation of the top layer is completed) and will solubilize in the miscible and sludge layer. NOTE THERE ARE NATIVE MICROORGANISMS IN ALL THREE LAYERS. If an accelerated inoculation of the miscible and/or sludge layer is desired, the HCZyme should be injected into these phases using injection well or probe techniques. Another inoculation approach, commonly used in industrial wastewater treatment, is to pump the sludge/water to surface, adding the enzymes (and oxygen) to the materials as they are pumped to the surface of a treatment area.
If sufficient HCZyme is applied to the three phases of petroleum product in a subsurface situation, the HCZyme complex will stay with the hydrocarbon materials until they are broken down into "simple" molecules. Obviously, the recommended weekly doses will ensure a continual reaction process without interruption of the reaction kinetics. If the groundwater body proves to be very dynamic (i.e., free-flowing), it is strongly suggested to directly inject the HCZyme into the aquifer zone so it can penetrate and attach to the petroleum molecules as they mobilize in the miscible zones.
Remtech EngineersTM