P-OX® is a self-activated ISCO material that uses ferric iron (Fe(III)) to activate persulfate safely in the subsurface, targeting chlorinated solvents, petroleum hydrocarbons, chlorinated pesticides and other recalcitrant organics.
How It Works
Persulfate generates sulfate free radicals that oxidise organic contaminants. In parallel, microbes reduce Fe(III) to Fe(II), which reacts with sulfides to form pyrite — a reducing mineral that keeps regenerating Fe(III) and re-activating fresh persulfate.
Oxidation-degradation intermediates then serve as electron donors for continued bioremediation, so the two pathways — oxidation and biological degradation — sustain each other from a single application rather than the oxidant being consumed in one pass.
Applications
- Chlorinated solvent plumes
- Petroleum hydrocarbon and BTEX contamination
- Chlorinated pesticide contamination
Advantages
- Self-activating — no external heat, UV, chelated metals or extreme pH required
- Dual oxidation + bioremediation pathway from one application
- Mild reaction conditions with no secondary metal-organic pollution