🌱 Bioremediation · ISCO · Landfarming · MNA · SVE · Phytoremediation · RBCA · Phase I–IV

Remediation of Contaminated Sites

From site characterisation and risk assessment through technology selection, construction and closure certification — a complete, results-oriented service.

Most industrial activities generate environmental damage — caused by inadequate waste management, improper raw material storage or accidental spills — allowing pollutants to reach soil and groundwater. Biogroup has 35 years of uninterrupted experience in site diagnosis, risk assessment, remediation project design, construction management and site closure.

Our Engineering Area integrates field investigation, our own certified laboratory, RBCA risk assessment and the full range of in situ and ex situ corrective action technologies — delivering on time and within budget with proactive regulatory dialogue.

9 technologies
In situ + ex situ
Own laboratory
Integrated field–lab–engineering
RBCA · Phase I–IV
Full project cycle
+35 years
Contaminated site expertise
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Customer-aligned strategy
Remediation strategy tailored to the client's land-use objectives, timeline and budget — not a one-size-fits-all technology prescription.
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Proactive regulatory dialogue
Constructive engagement with environmental authorities that satisfies both technical requirements and regulatory expectations.
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Cost-effective corrective action
Realistic plans that minimise costs and maximise effort allocation — applying the right technology at the right scale for the specific site conditions.
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On time and within budget
Delivery against the original proposal, schedule and budget — with transparent reporting throughout the project lifecycle.
Engineering area services — the complete project cycle
Biogroup's Engineering Area — from the first site visit to regulatory closure certification
A single team manages all phases — investigation, risk assessment, remediation design, construction supervision and analytical monitoring — eliminating the coordination failures that arise when multiple independent consultants work in sequence.
I
Phase I — Historical Study
Review of historical uses, aerial photographs, regulatory databases and prior site records to identify Recognised Environmental Conditions (RECs). ASTM E1527 methodology. No intrusive work.
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Baseline Determination
Pre-project or pre-construction environmental baseline — soil and groundwater quality before any contamination-generating activity. The reference point for all subsequent impact and remediation assessments.
II
Phase II — Site Characterisation
Design and execution of intrusive sampling programmes for soil and groundwater. Sampling plan design, field investigation (borings, phreatimeters), analysis at Biogroup's own laboratory, contaminant mapping.
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Preliminary Site Reports
Rapid preliminary assessment reports for regulatory notifications, transaction support or emergency response — summarising available data against applicable screening criteria before full characterisation is complete.
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Periodic Monitoring Reports
Scheduled analytical monitoring reports during active remediation — documenting contaminant concentration trends, remediation system performance and progress toward cleanup goals.
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Biotreatability Studies & Pilot Trials
Laboratory-scale and pilot-scale feasibility studies to determine the treatability of site-specific contaminated soils and groundwater using biological and chemical technologies before committing to full-scale remediation.
III
Phase III — Remediation Project
Risk assessment (RBCA), cleanup goal establishment (NGR/GRL), technology selection, engineering design, cost-benefit analysis and regulatory submission. ASTM E1739/E2081 framework.
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Infrastructure Construction
Construction management for all physical remediation infrastructure — landfarming cells, biopile structures, ISCO injection systems, SVE well networks, pump-and-treat systems and ex situ treatment units.
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In-house Analytical Laboratory
All soil, water and subsoil gas samples analysed at Biogroup's own certified and accredited laboratory. Full contaminant panel per Ley 24.051 Table 9 — GC-MS, ICP-MS, HPLC-MS/MS. No outsourcing.
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RBCA Risk Assessment
Risk-Based Corrective Action under ASTM E1739/E2081 — establishing site-specific maximum admissible concentrations and Generic Reference Levels (NGR) that define legally defensible cleanup targets.
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Environmental Due Diligence
Phase I/II assessments for purchase-sale transactions — environmental liability identification and quantification for price adjustment, indemnification clause and transaction risk management.
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Site Closure Certification
Preparation of closure dossier, demonstration that cleanup goals have been achieved, regulatory submission and formal site closure certification from environmental authorities.
Remediation technologies — in situ and ex situ
Technology selection is the most critical decision in contaminated site management
No single technology works for all contaminants and site conditions. Biogroup selects the technology — or combination of technologies — that best matches the specific contamination type, matrix properties, cleanup goal, timeline and budget. Selection is always preceded by treatability studies and pilot trials.
🦠 Biological technologies — harnessing microbial metabolism
Best for: petroleum hydrocarbons (BTEX, TPH) · PAHs · chlorinated solvents (reductive dechlorination)
🌿 Bioremediation
Enhancement of indigenous microbial degradation of organic contaminants under monitored conditions — temperature, oxygen/electron donor supply, nutrients, pH. Applied to petroleum-contaminated soils and groundwater in situ or ex situ.
🧬 Bioaugmentation & Biostimulation
Biostimulation: addition of electron donors, acceptors (O₂, nitrate, sulphate) or nutrients to stimulate indigenous microbial populations.
Bioaugmentation: inoculation with specialised bacterial cultures (e.g. Dehalococcoides for reductive dechlorination of TCE/PCE).
🌡️ Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA)
Documented reliance on naturally occurring physical, chemical and biological processes to achieve cleanup goals. Requires robust monitoring network and quantitative evidence of active attenuation. The most cost-effective option when contaminant mass and flux support the case.
🏗️ Ex situ soil technologies — excavate and treat
Best for: surface soil contamination · accessible source zones · limited area / high-concentration hot spots
🌾 Landfarming
Excavation and spreading of contaminated soil in a lined treatment cell. Periodic tilling to aerate and mix soil, with addition of nutrients and moisture as required. Biodegradation by indigenous aerobic microorganisms. Effective for petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH, DRO, MRO) at moderate concentrations.
📦 Composting & Biopiles
Excavated contaminated soil is piled and amended with bulking agents (straw, wood chips), nutrients and moisture. Aeration through perforated pipe network. Higher treatment intensity than landfarming — suitable for higher-concentration petroleum hydrocarbon contamination. Enclosed variants provide VOC emission control.
⚗️ In situ chemical technologies — treat without excavation
Best for: NAPL source zones · deep contamination · chlorinated solvents · rapid mass reduction
🔴 In Situ Chemical Oxidation (ISCO)
Direct injection of chemical oxidants into the subsurface to destroy organic contaminants in place. Common oxidants: permanganate (KMnO₄), persulphate (activated with heat, alkali or Fe²⁺), hydrogen peroxide / Fenton's reagent, ozone. Effective for BTEX, PAHs, chlorinated solvents and NAPL source zones. Rapid mass reduction.
🔵 In Situ Chemical Reduction (ISCR)
Injection of zero-valent iron (ZVI), emulsified ZVI (EZVI) or other reducing agents. Drives reductive dechlorination of chlorinated solvents (PCE→TCE→DCE→VC→ethene) abiotically. Also applied to hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) reduction to non-toxic Cr(III). Can be combined with bioaugmentation for enhanced biotic/abiotic pathways.
🌿 Additional technologies
Phytoremediation · soil vapour extraction (SVE) · solidification/stabilisation · pump-and-treat
🌳 Phytoremediation
Use of plants to extract, degrade or immobilise contaminants. Phytoextraction of metals (Cd, Zn, Ni), rhizodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons, phytostabilisation of arsenic.
💨 Soil Vapour Extraction (SVE)
In situ extraction of volatile and semi-volatile contaminants from the unsaturated zone through vacuum-applied wells. Effective for petroleum GRO, BTEX, chlorinated solvents in vadose zone soils.
🧱 Solidification / Stabilisation
Immobilisation of contaminants (metals, semi-volatile organics) by mixing with binders (Portland cement, lime, fly ash). Reduces leachability and mobility — applied to materials that cannot be treated by biological or chemical methods.
💧 Pump-and-Treat
Extraction of contaminated groundwater, above-ground treatment (air stripping, activated carbon, biological) and discharge or re-injection. Hydraulic containment of plume expansion while mass removal proceeds.
Technology selection — matching the right approach to contaminant and site
Primary contaminants and preferred remediation technologies
Contaminant type Primary technology Secondary / combination Key consideration
TPH (petroleum) in soilLandfarming · BiopilesBiostimulation · SVE (GRO fraction)Concentration, depth, fractions
BTEX in groundwaterBiostimulation · MNAISCO (permanganate) · Air spargingPlume size and receptor proximity
Chlorinated solvents (PCE/TCE)ISCO (persulphate) · ISCR (ZVI)Bioaugmentation (Dehalococcoides)Reductive vs. oxidative pathway
PAHs in soilBiopiles · BioremediationPhytoremediation (low concentration)Bioavailability decreases with age
Heavy metals in soilSolidification/StabilisationPhytoextraction (Cd, Zn, Ni)Metals cannot be destroyed
NAPL source zoneISCO · Thermal treatmentISCR · Pump-and-treatFree phase vs. residual NAPL
Cr(VI) in groundwaterISCR (ZVI · ferrous sulphate)PRB (permeable reactive barrier)Reduction to non-toxic Cr(III)
Mixed organic/inorganicPhased approachBiological then S/S for metalsSequential treatment
Biotreatability studies and pilot trials — de-risking remediation investment
🧪 Laboratory treatability studies
Laboratory-scale feasibility studies conducted on actual site soil and water samples — before any full-scale remediation design commitment. Confirm whether the proposed technology will achieve the required cleanup goal under site-specific conditions.
✓ Microcosm studies — indigenous biodegradation potential
✓ Rate constant determination — first-order and Michaelis-Menten kinetics
✓ Electron donor/acceptor optimisation
✓ ISCO reagent screening — oxidant demand and effectiveness
✓ Solidification/stabilisation TCLP pass/fail testing
✓ Phytotoxicity testing for phytoremediation feasibility
🏗️ Field pilot trials
Pilot-scale implementation at one sector of the site to confirm performance under actual field conditions — before committing to full-scale construction. Generates the operational data needed to size the full-scale system.
✓ Landfarming cell — treatment rate under field temperature and moisture
✓ ISCO injection test — reagent distribution radius of influence
✓ SVE pilot — vacuum influence radius and mass extraction rate
✓ Bioaugmentation — culture establishment and dechlorination confirmation
✓ Pilot monitoring with Biogroup's own laboratory
✓ Regulatory acceptance of pilot data for full-scale design approval
Typical applications
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Petrol stations & fuel spills
The most frequent contaminated site type in Argentina. TPH, BTEX and MTBE in soil and groundwater from UST leaks. Full cycle from Phase I/II to ISCO or bioremediation closure.
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Industrial plant closures
Characterisation and remediation of decades of industrial activity — petroleum hydrocarbons, solvents, metals, PCBs — for regulatory closure and site redevelopment.
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Metal finishing & electroplating
Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) and heavy metal plumes in soil and groundwater. ISCR for in situ Cr(VI) reduction.
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Solvent-contaminated sites
Chlorinated solvent (TCE/PCE/DCE) dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) — the most technically challenging remediation scenario. ISCO, ISCR and bioaugmentation.
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Agro-industrial sites
Pesticide residues, herbicides and process waste contamination from soy, maize and vegetable oil processing facilities.
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Pre-transaction due diligence
Phase I and Phase II for M&A environmental liability quantification and purchase price allocation.
Official registrations
Provincial registry
Official Registry of Environmental Consultants, Experts and Expert Witnesses
Province of Santa Fe, Argentina
Ministerial registry
Registry of Environmental Impact Assessment Consultants
Ministry of Environment, Argentina
Related services
Bioremediation · ISCO · Landfarming · MNA · SVE · RBCA · Phase I–IV
Need to remediate a contaminated site?
From a preliminary Phase I assessment to full-scale bioremediation or ISCO implementation and regulatory site closure — Biogroup delivers on time and within budget with proactive regulatory dialogue.
Request a site remediation consultation →
📞 +54 341 425-6431 📞 +54 341 447-4486 ✉ biogroup@biogroup.com.ar 📍 3 de febrero 920 · Rosario, Argentina Mon–Fri 08:00–17:00