Virtual-Permeable Reactive Barrier™
IEG's patented vertical Groundwater Circulation Well™ (IEG GCW™) technology significantly
enhances the ability to effect the simultaneous containment and provide accelerated biodegradation
of persistent organic compounds under aerobic, as well as the systematic removal of inorganic
contaminants like ammonia, nitrate and heavy metals.
When a GCW™ is situated within the body of a groundwater contamination plume, this creates
effective hydraulic control across a large diameter spherical capture zone within the aquifer. The
polluted upstream groundwater is systematically captured by the GCW™ and treated in the well
and within the aquifer. Due to mass conservation, the same quantity of groundwater is released
by the well down-gradient. The natural groundwater flow field is only locally influenced because
no groundwater is extracted from the system.
In situ Virtual-Permeable Reactive Barrier™ with Overlapped Circulation Cells
If the width of a plume is larger than the capture zone of a single GCW™, several systems can be arranged
in one line perpendicular to or along the length of a groundwater pollution plume. When applied as multiple
systems arranged in this way, the capture zone of each well can be interlocked thus transforming the aquifer
within this zone into a series of reactive cells. The distance between each system can be determined from
site hydrogeological measurements in order to ensure that no groundwater can pass the systems without
being caught and treated.
Thus, a line of several GCW's™ represents a Virtual-Permeable Reactive Barrier™ (IEG's V-PRB™) and
no contamination coming from upstream can pass the V-PRB™ without first being treated.
Sequential in situ Virtual-Permeable Reactive Barrier™ with Overlapped Aerobic and Anaerobic Circulation Cells for Removal of Nitrate and Ammonia
IEG's V-PRB™ systems can be specifically designed and uniquely configured for a particular site to provide
accelerated aerobic, enhanced anaerobic, or sequential anaerobic and aerobic reactions facilitating terminal
destruction of persistent organics, appropriately coupled with the removal of inorganic constituents where
needed. IEG's V-PRB™ technology can simultaneously provide in situ treatment of soil (unsaturated zone)
and the aquifer (saturated zone) without removing groundwater from the aquifer.
In situ Virtual-Permeable Reactive Barrier™ with Additional In-well Reactive Zones
Given the unique ability to engineer, monitor and control critical operating parameters of IEG's Groundwater
Circulation Well™ systems, these have been proven to be the most effective way to distribute liquid-based
chemical treatment systems in the subsurface. Consequently, IEG's GCW V-PRB™ technology may be combined
with a variety of innovative proprietary chemical remediation systems, to produce significantly enhanced
treatability and foreshorten remediation times.
Advantages
Other significant economic and environmental advantages of the GCW include:
System treats soil and groundwater simultaneously
Capable of operating in standard, reverse and closed-loop circulation modes
Patented in-well pumps uniquely provide engineering controls to ensure effective operation.
Low operation and maintenance costs.
Effective technology for control of air:water ratio for regulated in-well physical stripping or groundwater aeration.
Can be combined with a variety of treatment systems, including zero valent iron and molecular adsorbents
Easy low impact installation - no barrier wall required, easy to decommission
More than 30 patents and over 200 scientific publications from 15 years of continued development and GCW™ technology applications.
More than 450 full-scale GCW systems installed throughout the world.
