Get to the Source with NASA's Emulsified Zero-Valent Iron
Through the direction and guidance of Dr. Jacqueline Quinn (NASA-KSC), in conjunction with professors from the University of Central Florida (UCF) and collaborative efforts with DOE, DOD, EPA, GeoSyntec, Inc. and the SBIR/STTR program, an environmental cleanup technology has been developed called Emulsified Zero-Valent Iron (EZVI) (Patent Application Serial No. 09/972,296). This invention employs the use of zero-valent iron in an emulsion formula to reductively dechloronate dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPL ) sources in polluted water. If left untreated DNAPL can contaminate drinking water.

The KSC Technology Transfer Office successfully licensed the technology to Weston Solutions, Inc. of West Chester, Pennsylvania (www.westonsolutions.com). Abraham Thomas, Weston Solutions Senior Vice President, said, "Weston Solutions is very excited about the prospects for this technology and we feel that it will provide a cost effective in-situ option for treating sites with chlorinated DNAPL conditions." Mike Corbin, Weston Solutions Vice President-Technical Director, added, "Currently, there is not a feasible means for treating these source areas." Weston Solutions learned of the technology through the NASA and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Remediation Technology Tour & Demo in November of 2002 at Kennedy Space Center.

Based on Engineering News Records, Weston Solutions is ranked second among all-environmental firms and the ninth largest among hazardous waste design/construction remediation firms. Weston Solutions has several project sites where EZVI could provide cost effective remediation, and they plan to have a commercial product ready to market in early 2004.

NASA Involvement

Social/Economic Benefit

Industry Partner
Weston Solutions, Inc.

NASA Partner
Kennedy Space Center

Point of Contact Mike Corbin
Weston Solutions, Inc.
1400 Weston Way
West Chester, PA 19380
Phone: (610) 701-3723
Fax: (610) 701-7401
m.corbin@westonsolutions.com