Product

FerroBlack®

Advanced In-Situ Remediation for Dissolved Metals and Mixed Contaminants

Target Contaminants:

Dissolved heavy metals, Mixed contaminant sites, Metals in groundwater, saturated soils, and sediment porewater.

Delivery Method:

Direct-push injection, Injection wells, Soil mixing or sediment blending

Ideal Use Cases:

Groundwater plumes, Sites with mixed waste streams, PRBs (permeable reactive barriers)

How It Works

FerroBlack is a family of reactive, abiotic form of ferrous sulfide (FeS) mineral with a “mackinawite” structure. It is formulated in a controlled reactor system which produces high-reactivity and high-surface area FeS compounds. Fe and S molar ratios are modified within the reactor, or other additives introduced, to produce different product formulations. These formulations can then be aligned with specific metals and contaminants of interest for bench scale testing and selection, using one or more formulations in the dosage array.

Mechanism of Action:

  • Reductive Precipitation: Reactive FeS phases convert soluble metals (e.g., Cr(VI) to Cr(III)) to stable and/or insoluble forms.
  • Long-Term Stability: Mineral phases formed during reaction remain stable under a wide range of groundwater geochemical conditions, reducing rebound and migration risks.
  • Co-Contaminant Capture: Black carbon can be introduced to the product during manufacturing to aid in absorption of dissolved metals and hydrophobic organic compounds, reducing mobility and promoting interaction with the FeS.

Performance Results

  • Hexavalent Chromium Plume Treatment: >95% reduction in dissolved Cr(VI) within 90 days; stable Cr(III) minerals confirmed in soil cores
  • Arsenic Immobilization: Significant concentration drops and plume stability confirmed over 4+ years
  • Mixed Waste Success: Confirmed metals and VOC treatment in single application

Common Applications

  • Single or mixed metal treatment
  • Mixed contaminant (organic and inorganic) groundwater
  • Source zone treatment
  • PRBs for dissolved metal plume containment

Typical Site Types

  • Industrial plating and finishing facilities
  • Metal fabrication plants
  • Superfund and RCRA corrective action sites
  • Active and legacy mining properties
  • Industrial brownfields with legacy disposal areas
  • Mining and ore processing sites
  • Landfill leachate plumes with metal contamination

For metals sites, AST always recommends a bench scale evaluation using site groundwater and soil to match the product and dosage rate(s) to the project.



FAQ's

A high-performance in-situ amendment for immobilizing and reducing dissolved metals while providing additional adsorption capacity for organic co-contaminants.

Hexavalent chromium, arsenic, lead, cadmium, and other toxic metals in groundwater and saturated soils.

By direct injection, well delivery, or mechanical soil mixing—depending on site access and lithology.

Yes. The carbon component provides sorption for hydrophobic organic contaminants in mixed-waste scenarios.

Field data show multi-year stability, with treated metals remaining immobilized under typical groundwater chemistry.

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