Bragg Street Area B Treatment

This Bragg Street project demonstrates IET's combined-remedy approach — integrating Emulsified Zero-Valent Iron (EZVI) with enhanced bioremediation (ERD) amendments in a single injection program. The 600 gallons of EZVI provides the abiotic component: nanoscale ZVI particles within a biodegradable emulsion directly contact and dechlorinate DNAPL chlorinated solvents in the source zone. The 10,063 lbs of ZVI, 6,555 lbs of Provect-IR and calcium propionate, plus Vitamins B2 & B12, red yeast rice, and sodium sulfite provide the biological component.

The 19 treatment points in Area B were completed over a 2-day injection program, reflecting the efficiency of IET's injection trailer system for combined-remedy delivery. The trailer maintains both the EZVI emulsion and the ERD substrate slurry in suspension during delivery, enabling both amendments to be injected in a single field event — reducing mobilization costs and ensuring the abiotic and biological treatment mechanisms are co-located in the subsurface.

The red yeast rice component contains monacolins (particularly Lovastatin) that inhibit methanogenesis — a patented IET capability (US 9,221,699) that ensures dechlorinating bacteria outcompete methanogens for available hydrogen. Vitamin B12 catalyzes the rate-limiting vinyl chloride → ethylene conversion step, while Vitamin B2 acts as an electron shuttle. This multi-amendment formulation represents the state of the art in combined abiotic + biological treatment for chlorinated solvent sites.

The 1175 Bragg Street site is located in New York, likely within the glaciated region where shallow geology consists of Quaternary glacial till and outwash deposits overlying sedimentary or metamorphic bedrock. The glacial deposits create moderate-permeability conditions suitable for direct push injection, with a shallow water table that enables treatment of both the vadose and saturated zones.

The January 2026 completion date and the scale of the amendment formulation (10,063 lbs ZVI + 600 gallons EZVI + 6,555 lbs substrates + vitamins) indicate a substantial chlorinated solvent treatment program — likely at a former dry cleaner or industrial site with PCE/TCE contamination. Client James Environmental Management coordinated the project, with the combined EZVI + ERD approach designed to address both the DNAPL source zone (via EZVI) and the dissolved-phase plume (via sustained biological treatment from the ERD amendments).