BIOTUBE

Biotubes are an innovative, low intervention, in situ remediation technique developed, patented, and applied by PGI for both saturated and unsaturated contaminated soils and sludge.  Biotube delivers contaminant degrading, naturally occurring microbes to areas for ground water, soil remediation & sludge removal, efficiently and economically treating contaminants by eliminating costly site deconstruction.  Biotubes are small microbe bioreactor  constructed using slotted pipes containing Media that are sealed at each end to hold the microbes in place.

During a Biotube installation the contaminated zone is mapped and the Biotubes are strategically inserted into the ground to treat contaminated soil, submerged for sludge removal purposes. Once the Biotube is in place into the contaminated zone, water is introduced into the plug through a pressure gradient using compressed air (for soil remediation); this process delivers the microbes to the contaminated zone for treatment.

The cost savings associated with the Biotubes can be significant compared to other bioremediation clean up methods.  Biotubes have been specifically useful in gas station and truck stops where existing building or equipment limit or prohibit excavation of the contaminated soils.  They have also been used in situations where the contaminants are spread over a large area such as oil or gas pipelines.