Did you know petroleum spills biodegrade?
Due to the common presence of petroleum-like compounds in the environment, a petroleum spill triggers the awakening of soil microbes with the ability to degrade petroleum. Collectively, these contaminant biodegradation processes are called Natural Source Zone Depletion (NSZD).
Ultimately, NSZD processes result in the mass depletion of organic contaminants.
Our Fossil Fuel Traps capture CO₂ from NSZD processes to quantify contaminant degradation rates.
E-Flux’s patented CO₂ trap method provides all you need to map LNAPL sources, quantify NSZD rates, and monitor NSZD remediation efforts. Our traps include:
Time-integrated average flux measurements to account for diurnal and daily fluctuations.
Patented dual-sorbent layer technology to avoid interference with the normal soil gas respiration regime and avoid atmospheric CO₂ interference.
¹⁴C analysis to differentiate fossil fuel-generated CO₂ from modern CO₂ interference.
What do industry-leading organizations think about NSZD and the CO₂ Trap Method?
Our Fossil Fuel Traps are the industry standard.
“Currently, it (E-Flux method) is the most common method to obtain NSZD (Natural Source Zone Depletion) rates.”
Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC)
E-Flux CO₂ traps are the only NSZD rate measurement option that consistently uses ¹⁴C analysis to measure NSZD rates.
“The use of ¹⁴C is arguably the best, most quantitative means for background correction, and it should be considered of utmost reliability.”
API NSZD guidance document
Thanks to the ¹⁴C analysis, our technology is the only method that does not require a background location.
“The challenge of finding and applying suitable background sites for NSZD rate correction in all methods except E-Flux was evident across all five out of six sites and this can have a profound effect on estimated rates.”
CRC Care, Technical Report 47
Rather than a “do nothing” approach, NSZD might be a viable alternative for some sites, if supported with sound data.
“NSZD may be perceived as a "do nothing" approach; stakeholder and public education and a robust monitoring program are critical to facilitating acceptance.”
Federal Remediation Technologies Roundtable (FRTR)
