In Situ Destruction of Chlorinated Solvents

Injection of oxidizing agents is an effective technology for in situ destruction of chlorinated solvents under the conditions found at Lowry AFB. Because the oxidizing reagents are injected into the aquifer, the areas of low groundwater flow and high concentrations of absorbed mass can be targeted. 

Since October 2004, two rounds of KMnO₄ injections have been completed in the on-base and the off-base portion of OU5. 

The first round of injections was conducted between October 2004 and April 2005 and includes locations both on-base and off-base.  During the first round of injections, 517,819 gallons of 2.8%  KMnO₄  solution were injected into the Main TCE plume, the Headquarters TCE Plume and the FTZ TCE Plumes at 404 locations.  The results of the first injection event were monitored through monthly monitoring of oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) measurements from 81 wells; semi-annual groundwater sampling for VOCs from 43 wells; and limited groundwater and soil gas sampling for dissolved metals and VOCs, respectively. 

The second round of treatment involved injection of KMnO₄ at both on-base and off-base locations. During the on-base portion of treatment, the KMnO₄ injections focused on those areas of higher TCE concentration, including bedrock water-bearing zones of the Building 1432 Plume and the SARS cell, as well as areas of higher silt and clay content.  The on-base portion of injections was completed in November 2006 and included 366 injection points and approximately 44,000 pounds of  KMnO₄   The off-base portion of the injections (north of 11th Avenue) was completed in December 2007 and included 299 injection points and approximately 99,216 pounds of KMnO₄.  The off-site injection work is described in the
Off-site Permanganate Workplan and are shown in Figure 1 (North of 11th Ave. ) and Figure 2 (North of 16th Ave.).

An additional round of on-base injections began in April 2008 and is described in the  On-base Permanganate Injection Workplan .