Edmiston, P.L., Absorbent Materials Company, LLC, Wooster, OH. Ohio Brownfield Conference, 12-14 May 2009, Wilmington. 46 slides, 2009

This presentation covers a new class of chemically inert, nano-engineered, silica-based material that swells to eight times its dry volume in organic liquids and describes how the technology can be used for in situ remediation of chlorinated solvent contamination in groundwater. Osorb (trademark and patent pending) is a silica-based glass that instantaneously swells when it comes in contact with organic molecules, such as those found in gasoline, natural gas, acetone, ethanol, pharmaceuticals, and solvents. Although Osorb does not swell in water, it swells in the presence of organic gas or liquid, including organics dissolved in water. Osorb floats on water, which makes is useful for recovery of oil spills. Organics trapped in the Osorb matrix can be recovered by exposing the product to heat, upon which the sorbed compounds evaporate. Nanoscale zero-valent iron can be incorporated into Osorb to create Iron-Osorb for effective treatment of chlorinated contaminants, such as trichloroethene (TCE). Iron-Osorb can be injected directly into aquifers. Founded in 2008, ABS Materials has completed laboratory tests of a revolutionary class of reactive glass and engineered sands that are highly stable, hydrophobic, and capable of capturing and recovering a range of hydrocarbons and pervasive solvents. The first group of field-ready products is now in pilot testing for TCE remediation and recovery. For more information about the Osorb product family--Iron-Osorb TCE, Osorb Water Mesh, Osorb Air Mesh--contact ABS at Information@absmaterials.com or (330) 234-7999.