ISGS Pilot Injection — Douglas St, Brooklyn NY

Project Overview

IET executed a pilot-scale In Situ Geochemical Stabilization (ISGS) injection at Douglas Street, Brooklyn, New York for ECD NY Inc. The pilot program delivered 13,080 pounds of ISGS amendment combined with a hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) feed system, utilizing IET's proprietary chemical mixing and injection trailer system.

The program was personally supervised by IET President Mike Scalzi (30 hours on-site) and VP of Field Operations Ian Connor (3 days), reflecting the technical complexity and strategic importance of this urban New York pilot test. The ISGS technology — licensed exclusively by IET in North America from Evonik Corporation — uses modified permanganate solutions for NAPL stabilization and flux reduction in dense urban subsurface environments.

Bentonite chips, neutralization materials, and a compressor/header system were deployed to ensure effective delivery, containment, and pH management during the 3-day field program.

Program Components

• IET Injection Trailers (×2) — Chemical Mixing & Injection System
• 13,080 lbs ISGS Amendment (IET patented/licensed formulation)
• Compressor and Header with H₂O₂ feed system for enhanced oxidation
• Bentonite chips for borehole completion and containment
• Neutralization materials for pH management and geochemical control
• On-site supervision: Mike Scalzi (President) + Ian Connor (VP Field Ops)
• 3-man crew with full per diem and mob/demob

Project Details

Technical Approach & ISGS Chemistry

In Situ Geochemical Stabilization (ISGS) is a patented remediation technology licensed exclusively to IET in North America by Evonik Corporation. ISGS uses a modified permanganate-based formulation that is injected into NAPL (non-aqueous phase liquid) source zones to chemically oxidize and polymerize the organic contaminants in place — transforming mobile NAPL into a stabilized, low-solubility mass that dramatically reduces contaminant flux to groundwater. Unlike conventional ISCO, which aims to fully destroy contaminants, ISGS focuses on source zone stabilization and flux reduction.

For this Brooklyn pilot, IET delivered 13,080 pounds of ISGS amendment combined with a hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) feed system. The H₂O₂ enhancement provides supplementary oxidation capacity — generating hydroxyl radicals that extend the treatment's oxidative reach beyond the permanganate-only reaction pathway. The dual-oxidant approach is particularly effective in dense urban subsurface environments where NAPL is trapped in heterogeneous fill material and utility corridors common to Brooklyn's industrial history.

IET deployed two injection trailers — self-contained chemical mixing and injection systems with dual 220-gallon conical tanks, lightning mixers for maintaining 30% solids suspensions, on-board generators, and stainless steel piping. The compressor and header system with H₂O₂ feed enabled precise delivery pressure control and reagent distribution. Bentonite chips were used for borehole completion and containment, while neutralization materials managed pH and geochemical conditions during the 3-day pilot program.

Urban NAPL Site Context & Pilot Objectives

The Douglas Street site in Brooklyn, NY represents a class of urban NAPL contamination challenges common to former industrial properties in New York City. Brooklyn's subsurface consists of variable fill material (historic demolition debris, ash, and native sediment) overlying glacial till and outwash deposits, with a shallow water table typically at 5–15 feet below ground surface. Historic industrial operations — including former manufactured gas plant (MGP) sites, dry cleaners, metal working shops, and chemical storage facilities — have left legacy NAPL contamination in these fill materials.

The pilot-scale approach on this project — 13,080 lbs over a 3-day program — is designed to generate performance data (pre- and post-injection groundwater monitoring, NAPL flux measurements, and geochemical parameter tracking) that supports a decision on whether to scale to a full-site ISGS deployment. IET President Mike Scalzi (30 hours on-site) and VP of Field Operations Ian Connor (3 days) personally supervised the pilot, reflecting the technical complexity and strategic importance of demonstrating ISGS efficacy in this dense urban setting. The pilot data will inform design parameters for a potential full-scale program, including amendment dosing, injection point spacing, and treatment duration.