What Can ZVI Treat?

Contaminants Treatable with ZVI

Zero valent iron is capable of reducing chlorinated compounds to harmless components. The chlorinated compounds are reduced through multiple mechanisms: direct reduction at the metal surface, further oxidation of Fe²⁺ to Fe³⁺, and hydrogen gas produced in the corrosion reaction with water. In addition to chlorinated organics, ZVI effectively treats heavy metals and inorganic anion contaminants.

Organic Compounds

ZVI treats a comprehensive range of chlorinated organic compounds:

• Methanes: tetrachloromethane, trichloromethane, dichloromethane
• Ethanes: hexachloroethane, 1,1,1-TCA, 1,1,2-TCA, 1,1-DCA
• Ethenes: PCE, TCE, cis-1,2-DCE, trans-1,2-DCE, 1,1-DCE, vinyl chloride
• Propanes: 1,2,3-TCP, 1,2-DCP
• Aromatics: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene
• Other: hexachlorobutadiene, 1,2-dibromoethane, Freon 113, NDMA

Inorganic Compounds

ZVI reduces and immobilizes heavy metals and other inorganic contaminants:

• Heavy metals: chromium, nickel, lead, uranium, technetium, iron, manganese, selenium, copper, cobalt, cadmium, zinc
• Anion contaminants: sulfate, nitrate, phosphate, arsenic