BioTech Restorations

BioTech Restorations and GeoSolve, Inc., BioTech Restorations’ West Coast Affiliate, are pleased to announce the successful remediation of three (3) properties in California using our Factor, to bio-remediate chlorinated compounds detected on the properties listed in our Success Stories area.  The contaminants of concern (COC) remediated at these properties include DDT, DDE, DDD, Toxaphene, Dieldrin, Endrin, PCBs and Endosulfan II. 

GeoSolve’s business model includes working with other consulting firms on behalf of BioTech Restorations, as clients to supply Factor and to support our clients with application and monitoring of Factor treated properties.

Factor Description
Factor is a proprietary soil amendment consisting of a synthesized protein biologically similar to specific bacteria species living within the soil at the site.  Every site requiring Factor treatment requires a bench study using soil from the representative site.  The bench study is an exhaustive micro-biological and bio-chemical analysis of a representative soil sample from a perspective site in the BTR laboratory.  The protein within the Factor will be similar to the protein originally destroyed by the chlorinated compounds beneath the site and added to the soil, thus genetically crippling the indigenous bacteria from metabolizing the chlorinated hydrocarbons (consuming the chlorinated hydrocarbons and bio-chemically breaking down the pesticides into inert substances).  Factor restores the indigenous bacteria back to their near original condition, enabling the bacteria to metabolize the pesticides into inert substances (chloride salt, carbon dioxide and water) and bio-remediate the site. The indigenous bacteria present at this site, which are responsible for breaking-down the chlorinated hydrocarbons include Xanthomonas and Actinomycetes and are not pathogenic in the environment.  The bacteria colonies terminate and/or are reduced to background levels after irrigation is ceased. 

The Factor is a California EPA approved remedial technology based on our work through the Department of Toxic Substances and Control (DTSC) and the Regional Water Quality Control Board – Region 2 (Water Board).  Our Factor was successful in bio-remediating elevated concentrations of toxaphene (up to 6.2 parts per million), dieldrin (up to 0.9 parts per million), DDT and DDE (up to 9 parts per million) and PCBs (up to 156 parts per million) to below State action levels on three different properties within California.  Each property was formerly closed by either the DTSC or the Water Board for unrestricted site use.  Factor is successful in bio-remediating all chlorinated hydrocarbons, including PCBs, organochloride pesticides and VOCs.

GeoSolve and BioTech Restorations know the economics of Factor treatments will continue to motivate property owners to efficiently and effectively turn their environmental liabilities into assets.  Based on our previously Factor treated projects, up to 70% savings were realized compared to conventional remedial options.

Historical Factor Performance Summary
In July 2005, BioTech Restorations applied Factor to the Borello Property, a 14-acre parcel contaminated with Toxaphene and Dieldrin down to 2 feet below ground surface in Morgan Hill, California under a DTSC approved RAW.  Toxaphene concentrations were detected greater than 6 ppm and Dieldrin concentrations were detected up to 0.48 ppm.  By August 2005, Toxaphene was not detected and Dieldrin concentrations were below 0.017 ppm.  The property was formerly closed by the DTSC in October 2005 as an “unrestricted use site.” 

In November 2005, BioTech Restorations applied Factor to a 4.5-acre parcel contaminated with Aroclor 1254 and Aroclor 1260 (PCBs) up to 156 ppm in Milpitas, California under a Water Board RAP.  The contamination extended down to 5 feet bgs.  As of January 2007, remedial performance sampling indicated this property attained a statistical PCB average over the site of 0.5 ppm.  The property was closed by the Water Board for unrestricted use in February 2007. 

In May 2006, BioTech Restorations applied Factor to the Mantegani Property, a 0.81-acre parcel contaminated with DDT and Dieldrin in South San Francisco under an approved DTSC RAW.  DDT was detected up to 5 ppm and Dieldrin was detected up to 0.98 ppm.  Remedial performance sampling was conducted on June 12, 2006.  Results indicated significant reduction in DDT and DDE from 8.8 ppm to 0.43 ppm and dieldrin was reduced from 0.97 ppm to 0.49 ppm.  The property was closed by the DTSC in January 2007 for unrestricted use.

The table below illustrates the results of the four Factor Treatment tests. Each test involved a single Factor Treatment incorporated into the test soil as a dry powder. The test soils were amended to increase organic carbon content and an average moisture level of 23% was maintained during the course of testing. Except in the anaerobic studies, soils were turned every ten days and monitored for microbial activity, pH; moisture content and chloride ion production. In the anaerobic studies, flooding the test chambers with de-gassed water maintained an anaerobic condition. The target contaminants were degraded in a two-step process, the first of which was microbial de-chlorination of the compound followed by rapid destruction of the residual constituent compounds. Because de-chlorination occurs as a first step in the treatment process (confirmed in chloride ion production studies), no problematic intermediate compounds were created during the treatment process.

Please visit our BioTech Restorations Complete Project List in our Downloads address for a historical summary of all Factor projects to date.

Factor Cost
Once the lateral and vertical extent of the chlorinated compound contamination is known on a specific property, BioTech Restorations estimates the quantity of impacted soil for bio-remediation.  Our Factor enhanced bacteria metabolically transforms chlorine attached to hydrocarbon molecules into inert substances.  Factor is non-hazardous and is applied with other soil amendments, such as lime, organic matter (manure, charcoal, etc.) and fertilizers.  Once thoroughly mixed in the soil, the soil is irrigated for approximately two months at least twice a day during warm days and every other day during cooler days until confirmation sampling indicates that the chemicals of concern have been metabolized.   

Prior to producing Factor, a bench study must be performed on site-specific soil collected from a potential bio-remediation site.  This soil consists of approximately 3 gallons of soil, submitted to BioTech Restorations laboratory for analysis.  Detailed soil-chemistry, biological oxygen demand, biologically available carbon, indigenous bacteria survey and contaminants are analyzed and determined prior to conducting the bench study.  A variety of Factors are used on the soil to determine the most cost effective and efficient Factor compared to the other Factors.  The initial cost for conducting a bench study is $30,000.00.   If a prospective client wishes to bio-remediate a potential site, this cost will be refunded in the total cost for the Factor.  Factor costs range from $30.00 to $60.00 per ton of contaminated soil, depending on site access, chemicals of concern and site complexity.

Please visit our Contact Us address for more information.