Products

microMAX™
Activated Carbon Suspension for In-Situ Immobilization

microMAX™ is an injectable activated carbon suspension for the in-situ immobilization of mobile organic contaminants in the aquifer. By forming an adsorptive barrier within the pore space, the mass flux of contaminants is reduced directly in the subsurface, controlling the spread of contamination plumes. The system is particularly suited for PFAS, chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHCs), BTEX, and other mobile organic contaminants in groundwater.

Mass Flux Reduction Instead of Treating Large Water Volumes

Modern remediation strategies increasingly focus not solely on treating large volumes of water, but on reducing the contaminant mass flux in the aquifer (Mass Flux Reduction, MFR). In many groundwater contamination scenarios—especially PFAS cases—large quantities of water must be extracted and treated to remove comparatively small amounts of contaminants. In-situ adsorption barriers based on an activated carbon suspension, however, allow contaminants to be retained directly in the subsurface. This allows the mass flux of a contamination plume to be reduced directly within the aquifer before contaminants can spread further. This strategy can alleviate the long-term burden on existing pump-and-treat systems and significantly increase the efficiency of remediation measures.

Technology

microMAX™ is an injectable system based on a specially formulated activated carbon suspension developed for the in-situ remediation of groundwater contamination. The activated carbon suspension is applied into the aquifer via injection wells or direct-push methods and distributes in a controlled manner within the pore space of the aquifer. An adsorptive zone is created in the subsurface where dissolved contaminants are bound and retained in the aquifer over the long term. This reduces the expansion of contaminant plumes and controls the transport of mobile contaminants in the groundwater. microMAX™ can be applied as an in-situ adsorption barrier, for mass flux reduction within the aquifer, or as a supplement to existing remediation measures.

Areas of Application

microMAX™ is particularly suitable for the treatment of mobile organic contaminants in groundwater, including:

The system can be deployed for downstream plume control, mass flux reduction in the aquifer, as well as within the framework of combined remediation strategies.

Mechanism of Action

• Adsorptive Immobilization: Dissolved contaminants are adsorbed onto the highly porous surface of the activated carbon suspension and immobilized in the subsurface.
• Formation of an Adsorption Barrier: A permanent adsorptive zone is established in the aquifer, reducing the transport of the contaminant plume and controlling the contaminant mass flux in the groundwater.
• Biofilm Carrier Function: The activated carbon suspension provides a large specific surface area for the growth of naturally occurring or augmented contaminant-degrading microorganisms.
• Site-Specific Formulation: The formulation and particle size distribution of the activated carbon suspension are customized based on chemical analysis results and the hydrogeological boundary conditions of the site.

Advantages of microMAX™

• High adsorption capacity for PFAS, CHCs, and BTEX
• Long-term immobilization of mobile contaminants in the aquifer
• Reduction of mass flux in groundwater
• No active influence on groundwater redox conditions
• Support of microbial degradation processes through biofilm formation
• Suitable for containment measures as well as combined remediation strategies
• Site-specific formulation for optimal hydraulic distribution in the subsurface