Emergency-Ready Technology for PFAS & Hydrocarbon Remediation
Environmental emergency response teams depend on advanced remediation technology to mitigate oil and PFAS chemical spills as swiftly and effectively as possible to restore affected areas in a cost-efficient manner that meets regulatory criteria.
Iron Creek Group offers environmental teams next-level remediation technology designed to comply with the most stringent environmental standards around the globe. From oil spills to PFAS contamination, the patented designs of Iron Creek’s emergency ready technologies have minimal emissions and small carbon footprints. They are nimble, scalable and ready to solve complex environmental issues at a moment's notice— even in some of the world’s most remote and challenging environments.
Emergency Cleanup of Hydrocarbon and PFAS Contaminants
Most headlines cover big coastal oil spills, but the bulk of petroleum-based emergencies occur on land. While contamination can result from natural disasters like tornadoes and wildfires, more commonly it stems from transportation accidents, leaking fuel tanks or damaged infrastructure.
As of December 2021, there were 62,000 leaking underground storage tanks in the U.S., including the Red Hill Naval Base Bulk Fuel Storage facility in Oahu, Hawaii, that reportedly leaked 14,000 gallons of jet fuel into the surrounding area. The leak made more than 5,000 people sick, contaminating water tables and forcing people to leave their homes.
But petroleum isn’t the only pollutant making news. An emerging group of contaminants, PFAS or Polyfluoroalkyl substances that include chemicals like GenX, PFOA, PFOS, and PFNA, are also becoming an increasingly prevalent and urgent topic of discussion. These pervasive chemicals that have been in use since the 1940s are contaminating wells and water tables, farmland, food, livestock and more.
There are a number of sources, like some biosolid fertilizers and fire suppressant aqueous-film-forming foams, that have unknowingly helped escalate the proliferation of PFAS contamination across the United States.
Emergency response protocol requires immediate containment of these chemicals to minimize environmental impact. Once contained there are deficiencies with traditional remediation technology that can impede cleanup and delay restoration. In response to these shortcomings, Iron Creek Group’s developed efficient environmental remediation applications proven to eliminate organic contaminants within limits of detection.
Innovative Environmental Remediation Technologies
Unlike traditional, cumbersome in-situ and ex-situ technologies, Iron Creek's patented designs are nimble, easy to transport and quick to assemble. The technology can be operational in a few days, in any type of climate. Further, only a small operation team is required to oversee the treatment process. These advantages make cleanup safer and more sustainable by reducing the carbon footprint of the remediation phase of cleanup.
Enhanced Thermal Conduction (ETC), one of Iron Creek’s patented thermal desorption technologies, has been deployed to remediate legacy oil and gas contamination as well as emergency pipeline leaks. Soil is treated via a static, ex situ process that captures the hydrocarbon elements from the contaminated material and uses the vapors to fuel the soil remediation process. ETC technology can be powered by a range of fuels that include propane, biomass, hydrogen, electricity and solar.
Once complete, the soil exceeds environmental regulations making it safe for residential and commercial use. The treatment process maintains the soil structure. This means the soil can be backfilled to naturally revegetate with the help of rainwater.
Being able to reuse soil is immensely valuable, especially for remote places like Red Hill in Oahu, HI, where reusing native soil maintains local ecosystems and reduces the expense and carbon footprint of having to ship in non-native replacement material. It also reduces the contingent liability associated with trucking or shipping contaminated soil to a landfill where it will continue to contaminate the environment in a new location.
Tech Zero is another patented piece of emergency-ready technology developed by Iron Creek Group. It utilizes zero oxygen conduction and infrared heat to treat contaminated soil through conduction and convection. Tech Zero functions as a thermal oxidizer, destroying organic vapors at temperatures in excess of 1,300°C, or sorption to vapor-phase granular-activated carbon, which is then returned to the vendor for high temperature reactivation.
Tech Zero is ideal for small and large batch treatments of contaminated soils and sludges within urban areas or at fixed facilities. Tech Zero supports a number of emergency response operations, including PFAS contamination where it is proven to eliminate 99.9% of pervasive “forever chemicals”.
Both ETC and Tech Zero treat all types of soils and sludges in a sustainable manner. There is minimal, if any, residual reject material to landfill. In the event that soil is contaminated by both petroleum and PFAS because of a fuel fire, the technology is compatible, removing contaminants and restoring affected environments.
The Future of Emergency Environmental Remediation
Despite calls to reduce fossil fuel usage, society is exceptionally dependent on petroleum. As a result, oil spills and fuel leaks are part and parcel to the industry. Now that PFAS is recognized as an emerging contaminant and holds the attention of the EPA and policymakers, there are increasing initiatives to eliminate PFAS from manufacturing as states like Colorado move to outlaw the chemicals. But like America’s slow move away from fossil fuels, it will take decades to phase out the use of PFAS substances while manufacturers seek alternatives for production and policymakers create contingency plans for disposal.
Iron Creek Group created ETC and Tech Zero technologies to support environmental emergency-response operations. Their commitment to developing advanced technology stems from extensive experience in the environmental remediation industry. They are proud to serve national associations like the Spill Control Association of America, where they seek to offer paramount support to corporate partners, governments, militaries and contractors.
About Iron Creek Group
Serving North America, Iron Creek Group specializes in developing innovative, nimble technology that solves complex environmental issues. Learn how they’re leveraging technology to challenge the existing remediation paradigm by visiting, https://www.ironcreekgroup.com
For questions and further information, please email Ken Bell: ken@ironcreekgroup.com.