Tetrachloroethene (PCE)

About PCE Contamination

Tetrachloroethene (PCE), also known as perchloroethylene or “perc,” is one of the most widely studied and commonly detected groundwater contaminants in the United States. PCE was historically used in dry cleaning operations, metal degreasing, and textile manufacturing. It is a dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) that tends to sink below the water table, making source zones particularly challenging to remediate.

Source Zone Treatment

PCE source zones often contain high concentrations of the compound, sometimes as DNAPL. Sodium permanganate (NaMnO4, 40% liquid) is particularly well-suited for high-concentration injection in DNAPL source areas, while Ferox Target ZVI is engineered for source-area injection and saturated source-area treatment.

Ferox Plus emulsified ZVI (eZVI) is especially effective in source zones, combining the reactivity of ZVI with the distribution advantages of an emulsified carrier and long-term biological activity from the vegetable oil component.

Plume Treatment

For dissolved-phase PCE plumes downgradient of source zones, Ferox Flow ZVI and Ferox PRB provide in situ chemical reduction. Permeable reactive barriers with Ferox PRB offer passive long-term treatment lasting 3 to 15+ years. Permanganate oxidation via injection is also effective for plume treatment.

Daughter Product Management

Unlike some treatment approaches where PCE is stepwise reduced through TCE → DCE → vinyl chloride, ZVI treats PCE abiotically, avoiding the accumulation of regulated daughter products. This is one of the key advantages of using Hepure’s Ferox ZVI for PCE treatment.