HRC-X is a controlled release, electron donor material, that when hydrated is specifically designed to produce an extended, controlled release of lactic acid. The newly available lactic acid is critical for the production of hydrogen to fuel anaerobic biodegradation processes in soil and groundwater. HRC-X contains more lactic acid than HRC and is a more viscous material.

To make available time release lactic acid for fermentation by subsurface microbes that in turn generates hydrogen. Hydrogen is the key ingredient in the anaerobic contaminant degrading process known as reductive dechlorination. Reductive dechlorination is the mechanism by which chlorinated compounds are biodegraded into less harmful constituents such as ethene and ethane. HRC-X is designed to release lactic acid longer than standard HRC thus producing reducing conditions over an extended period of time. This extended longevity is particularly effective in driving the desorption, dissolution and degradation of higher dissolved phase contaminant concentrations including residual DNAPL.

HRC-X is typically applied using direct-injection techniques. This pressurized injection process allows the product to placed into the zone of contamination and pushed out into the aquifer. Once in the subsurface, HRC-X will reside within the soil matrix fueling reductive dechlorination for up to 60 months through the extra-slow, controlled release of lactic acid.