There are several techniques for reducing contamination in soils. These techniques can be used in-situ or can be applied ex-situ. Bioremediation is an effective and cheaper method of remediation that can take anywhere from one to several months to complete. In some cases, it can be used to treat an entire area, or a small area. If you’re not sure what type of remediation you need, contact a local environmental health agency or a Contaminated Land Remediation specialist. For Contaminated Land Remediation, visit Soilfix.
Soil remediation techniques vary. Some are more effective than others. Generally, soils contaminated with petroleum products require physical or chemical treatment. Other methods require removal and isolation of the contamination. Sometimes it may be necessary to use a combination of techniques. In the case of saturated soil, contaminants can spread throughout the environment, and physical remediation will be a time-consuming process.
Biological techniques involve adding aerobic and non-aerobic bacteria into the soil which then feed off the contaminants. This method works best in warm, moist climates but can work in colder climates if the soil is covered.
Soil remediation involves removing the sources of contamination, which could be biological, chemical, industrial or domestic. After this, soil remediation experts test the soil for pollutants and then excavate it. After removing the contaminated soil, the experts pump the water out. This excavated material is then covered with tarps or removed to a landfill. The process is complete once the soil tests show that the area is contaminant-free.
Thermal soil remediation is another type of remediation. This method works to remove specific contaminants from contaminated land using heat. This method uses heat to bake soil to reduce the amount of volatile materials. The heat causes these contaminants to evaporate so is usually applied when the contamination has come from water or oil, for example. These materials are then captured and cooled. Once the soil has been treated, it can be reused or recycled. This can also be used to test the water for the presence of other pollutants.
Encapsulation is another technique for soil remediation. This method uses encapsulated soil like a quarantine system. The soil is mixed with lime, cement and concrete. This prevents the soil from coming into further contact with the contaminants. Essentially, this method encapsulates a contaminated area in order to prevent the contaminants from spreading. It also keeps plants from growing in a contaminated area. The method can only be used if the soil will not be reused again for growing anything.
This technique is an effective method when the contaminants are present at a high concentration. However, this method is not effective in all cases. Depending on the source of the contamination, the methods required can be different and will vary depending on whether the soil is required to be reused again after remediation.