Chemical oxidation

Also known as ISCO (in-situ chemical oxidation), this describes a process where a particular type of chemical (an oxidant) is mixed with contaminants to cause a reaction that results in the rapid breakdown of the contaminant, ideally into harmless end products such as carbon dioxide and water, or less toxic compounds such as salts.

Often a train of reactions produces a series of daughter products before eventual breakdown. There are a range of different oxidants in use (including Potassium/Sodium Permanganate, Hydrogen Peroxide, Ozone and Sodium Persulphate, as well as proprietary formulae), which are deployed according to the contaminants, geology and site conditions.