Illinois Manufacturing Plant
This former manufacturing plant had at least four degreasing pits within the facility including underground piping and outside underground storage tanks (USTs), previously removed, for fresh and spent TCE solvent.
Some vadose zone soil was impacted, which was remediated through soil vapor extraction while groundwater was impacted in multiple locations extending to 70 ft depths. The highest groundwater solvent concentrations were located at MW-674, adjacent to a former degreaser, where TCE concentrations above 2,000 mg/L were measured.
Two zones of groundwater are present: the shallow, starting typically between 12 and 20 ft bgs, and a deeper zone between 45 and 70 ft bgs.
A total of 164,500 pounds of EZVI was injected over two periods:
- Shallow injections in April 2007 (8-22 feet depth)
- Deeper injections in November 2007 (extending to 70 feet via direct injection)
West Side Wells:
- Very rapid reductions in TCE concentration
- Subsequent spikes and reductions in degradation products
- Essentially no rebound observed
Source Area (MW-674):
- TCE concentrations above 2,000 mg/L initially
- TCE rapidly declined - source area effectively eliminated
- c-DCE increase in 2011 declined rapidly after 2012
East Side Truck Dock:
- Similar trend to west side, slower rate due to tighter soils
- Limited EZVI volume in deeper aquifer still achieved significant results
Deeper Aquifer Wells:
- DW-301: Void of contaminants
- DW-813: TCE and VC eliminated, c-DCE spike eliminated
Key Success Factors
Illinois Manufacturing Plant Remediation — Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about IET's chlorinated solvent remediation at a former Illinois manufacturing plant.
What was the Illinois manufacturing plant remediation?
IET remediated a former Illinois manufacturing plant with four degreasing pits and TCE solvent USTs, treating vadose zone soil via soil vapor extraction and groundwater via in-situ technology across depths of 8–70 feet.
What contaminants were treated?
The site contained trichloroethylene (TCE), cis-1,2-DCE, and vinyl chloride, with TCE concentrations above 2,000 mg/L measured at the most impacted monitoring location adjacent to a former degreaser.
What technology did IET use?
IET applied EZVI (emulsified zero valent iron) source-area treatment for the chlorinated solvent source zone, combined with soil vapor extraction for vadose zone soil, targeting two groundwater zones (shallow and deep).
Was the treatment effective?
Yes — the program achieved no rebound in the treatment areas and proved effective in tight geology, with multi-depth treatment from 8 to 70 feet below ground surface.
Can IET remediate TCE DNAPL source zones?
Yes. IET specializes in chlorinated solvent DNAPL source zones using EZVI, ISCR, and ISCO technologies, as demonstrated at this Illinois manufacturing site.