While ozone is most commonly used for water treatment, it is also very effective against soil and groundwater pollutants and can be used for groundwater remediation. Ozone has been used to treat a wide variety of soil and groundwater contaminants and can sometimes even be used against contaminants that cannot be removed by any other technology. Ozone breaks down these contaminants leaving only carbon, oxygen, and water as by-products, making it an environmentally safe solution while removing pollutants as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Below is a list of groundwater contaminants that are commonly treated using ozone
- MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether)
- TBA (tert-Butanol, or tert-Butyl alcohol)
- BTEX
- Benzene
- Toluene
- Ethylbenzene
- Xylenes
- Hydrocarbons
- Diesel fuel
- TCE (trichloroethylene)
- Pesticides
- Chlorinated Solvents
- VOC’s (Volatile Organic Carbons)
- Aliphatic Hydrocarbons
- Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons
- 1,4 Dioxane
- PCE (Perchloroethylene)
Of these substances, one of the most common to be treated by ozone is BTEX. BTEX is a term that refers to mixtures of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers. These aromatic hydrocarbons contaminate groundwater leaving, polluting it with unpleasant odors and, causing a variety of health concerns ranging from mild headaches and nausea to unconsciousness and even death. In fact, benzene has been categorized by IARC as a group one carcinogen and exposure to this chemical has been linked to cancer.
Ozone is great at purifying groundwater because it is highly soluble in water and one of the strongest and fastest acting oxidants available. Ozone has become a popular solution for in-situ BTEX removal because it offers a quicker clean-up time and lower overall costs for remediation.
Oxidation Technologies has conducted some of its own testing to determine the effectiveness of in-situ removal of BTEX and other pollutants using ozone. The diagrams below feature data gathered from a bench test we performed to evaluate ozone demand for a pump and treat system which we later implemented.
Because benzene is so dangerous, we also ran some tests for benzene specifically. The following diagram was generated using data from two separate wells and shows how quickly benzene can be removed when exposed to ozone.
Click here for additional site data using ozone for in-situ remediation.
At Oxidation Technologies, we offer a wide variety of ozone systems that are great for in-situ chemical oxidation. Most common among them are the complete turn-key trailers. Our modular systems allow you to install our system in an existing enclosure on-site. We also offer ozone injection systems which work by dissolving ozone gas in water while off-gassing excess ozone in the process. Many of our systems are available to pilot test which can help guarantee you get the right ozone system to suit your needs.
 Trailer mounted ozone systems |
 Modular ozone systems |
 Cabinet mounted ozone systems |
All new ozone systems for remediation applications
Pilot systems currently available
Ozone remediation is safe, efficient, and cost-effective. More information on groundwater remediation and our ozone remediation products can be found on our website or by contacting us directly.
