High Retention, Slow Release Electron Donor
Newman Zone HRO
Self-Emulsifying Electron Donor
Newman Zone HRO is a neat-oil blend designed for anaerobic bioremediation of chlorinated solvents, nitrated explosives, perchlorate, nitrate, and selected metals. It is emulsified on-site with water and then injected into the subsurface.
Unlike pre-emulsified EVO products, Newman Zone HRO forms a field emulsion with larger droplet sizes that enhance oil retention in coarse soils, fractured bedrock, and high groundwater flow conditions. Once injected, the oil slowly ferments to hydrogen and volatile fatty acids, supporting biodegradation for up to five years.
Why Newman Zone HRO
Newman Zone HRO is designed for sites where retention is critical. When emulsified in the field, it produces droplets significantly larger than factory-emulsified EVO products, allowing the oil to remain in place in high permeability formations and fractured systems.
This makes it particularly effective in conditions where smaller droplet emulsions may move too far or fail to remain in the treatment zone. It should not be used in low permeability soils such as silts and clays, where smaller droplet emulsions provide better mobility (see Newman Zone 55).
On-Site Emulsification
Forms an oil-in-water emulsion with low shear mixing or during injection, eliminating the need for specialized equipment.
Flexible Application
Can be injected neat with chase water or pre-emulsified prior to injection. Compatible with direct push, injection wells, and recirculation systems.
Enhanced Retention in Course Soils
Larger droplet sizes improve retention in sand, gravel, and fractured bedrock, even under high groundwater flow conditions.
Long-Term Performance
Slow fermentation generates hydrogen for sustained anaerobic biodegradation, supporting treatment for years after application.
Technical Details
How it Works
1. Forms a Field Emulsion
Newman Zone HRO is a neat oil blend that is emulsified on-site using low shear mixing or during injection with chase water. The product blooms into an oil-in-water emulsion, producing a distribution of droplets with a median size of approximately 3 microns, with most droplets under 10 microns.
2. Retention in High Permeability Media
The larger droplet size compared to factory-emulsified EVO products promotes retention on soil grains and within fractures in coarse materials such as sand, gravel, and fractured bedrock. This reduces advective transport and helps maintain the electron donor within the treatment zone, particularly in high groundwater velocity conditions.
3. Sustained Electron Donor Release
Once retained in the subsurface, the soybean oil and soybean oil esters undergo fermentation, generating hydrogen and volatile fatty acids. These serve as electron donors for anaerobic microbial processes, supporting reductive dechlorination and other biodegradation pathways for extended periods—often up to five years after injection.
Application & Handling
- Can be injected neat and emulsified with chase water, or pre-mixed prior to injection
- Typical application concentrations: 1% to 5% oil by volume
- After dilution, the emulsion remains stable and pumps easily like water
Suitable for:
- Direct push injection
- Injection wells
- Tank mixing and recirculation systems
Emulsion Characteristics
- Forms oil-in-water emulsion immediately when mixed with water
- Low shear mixing produces a median droplet size of ~3 microns
- 90% of droplets are under 10 microns
Packaging & Storage
Available in:
- 5-gallon pails (38 lb net)
- 275-gallon totes (2,000 lb net)
Storage:
- Up to 1 year on-site without refrigeration
- Store above 40°F to maintain low viscosity
- Freezing does not damage product but may cause temporary gelling
USDA Certified Biobased
All components are food grade or GRAS-listed. No protective equipment required under normal use conditions
It is also a USDA Certified Biobased Product, supporting sustainable remediation practices.
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