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P R O F I L E
ISTD wellfield at confidential site in Norco, California. This was the first site to feature TerraTherm’s containerized Tier-One process equipment (pictured to the right of the wellfield), which makes use of modular, plug-and-play components, reducing engineering time, transportation, and construction costs.
Right place, right time The exclusive rights to a new technology launched TerraTherm into a world of contamination – and that’s right where John Bierschenk wanted to be.
By LIISA ANDREASSEN Correspondent
John Bierschenk: ISTD was first born out of the enhanced oil recovery field, but Shell found that the temperatures capable of being reached through ISTD were enough to reach boiling points of all or- ganic contaminants (even especially nasty and his- torically hard to treat contaminants like manufac- tured gas plant waste, pesticides, and PCBs). Once boiling points are met, the contaminants volatilize and can be recovered by traditional vapor extrac- tion equipment. “Based in north central Massachusetts, we began as a company of two, and are now a company of roughly 80 professionals working across the country.” TZL: How have you seen TerraTherm evolve since its founding? JB: Based in north central Massachusetts, we be- gan as a company of two, and are now a company of See Q&A, page 4
I t all started with research. John Bierschenk, co- founder and president of Massachusetts-based TerraTherm (Hot Firm No. 14 for 2015), says that he and his co-worker at the time, Ralph Baker, were working at another company, ENSR Consulting , and were asked to research a new technology – in situ thermal desorption – as part of a potential ac- quisition. “Shell Technology Ventures was developing the ISTD technology for clean-up of contaminated soils and sediments within the subsurface,” Bier- schenk says. However, ENSR was unable to move forward with the acquisition, so Baker and Bierschenk decided to move on their own with a commercialization plan, and ended up with the exclusive rights to the ISTD technology. They founded TerraTherm Inc., an 80-person firm, in 2000. A CONVERSATION WITH BIERSCHENK. The Zweig Letter: What exactly does ISTD mean?
John Bierschenk, Co-founder and President, TerraTherm
THE ZWEIG LETTER August 15, 2016, ISSUE 1164
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