Product Overview
CAP 18® bioremediation product is a long-chain fatty acid substrate designed to stimulate anaerobic biodegradation in soil and groundwater. Formulated from refined natural vegetable oils, CAP 18 offers a slow, sustained release of carbon and hydrogen, creating ideal reducing conditions for the treatment of chlorinated solvents, explosives, and other contaminants.
With its extended longevity and low-impact application, CAP 18 enables in-place remediation without complicated systems or disruptive site work—making it a cost-effective solution for both source areas and long-term plume management.
Features & Benefits
Long-Term Electron Donor Supply
Provides a durable carbon source that supports reductive dechlorination for many months to years, ensuring continuous treatment without frequent reinjection.
Supports Complete Dechlorination
Enhances microbial pathways responsible for transforming PCE, TCE, and DCE through to ethene, helping overcome issues such as DCE or VC stall.
Low-Impact, Cost-Effective Delivery
Applied directly into the subsurface with no need for heavy equipment or complex infrastructure, making it ideal for active facilities or space-restricted sites.
Creates Optimal Reducing Conditions
Promotes the growth and activity of anaerobic microorganisms capable of degrading chlorinated solvents and other electron-accepting contaminants.
Minimizes Methane Production
Designed to inhibit excessive methanogenesis, allowing more available substrate to support contaminant reduction rather than methane formation.
How It Works
CAP 18 releases long-chain fatty acids that naturally break down through beta-oxidation, generating hydrogen—a key electron donor required for reductive dechlorination. The sustained hydrogen release establishes strong reducing conditions that enable anaerobic microbes to degrade contaminants efficiently.
This gradual breakdown supports a robust microbial community that can reduce chlorinated compounds stepwise from PCE all the way to harmless end products.
Applications
CAP 18 is ideal for anaerobic treatment of:
- Chlorinated solvents
- PCE, TCE, DCE, VC
- Chlorinated ethanes and methanes
- Pesticides
- Perchlorate
- Nitrate
- Explosives such as TNT, RDX, and others
Suitable for both source zone treatment and dissolved-phase plume remediation, CAP 18 can be used in a wide range of geological conditions.
Delivery & Handling
CAP 18® is provided as a liquid fatty acid substrate that can be injected using:
- Direct-push injection
- Injection wells
- Subsurface permeable zones
Because of its viscosity, stability, and natural origin, CAP 18 is easy to handle and deploy with standard field equipment.
For sites requiring a faster onset of reducing conditions, a companion product—CAP 18 ME® anaerobic bioremediation product—is available, offering an enhanced blend for more rapid microbial activation.
Technical Support
Carus Europe supports each project with:
- Site-specific dosing calculations
- Application guidance
- Delivery method recommendations
- Integration into combined remediation strategies, including sequential ISCO + bioremediation approaches
Our team partners with consultants and engineers to ensure predictable, long-term remediation success.