Implementation of solidification/stabilization process to reduce hazardous impurities and stabilize soil matrices

¹ M.Sc., Department of Civil Engineering, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s,Newfoundland, Canada
² B.Sc., Department of Civil Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh
³ M.Sc., Department of Civil Engineering, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s,Newfoundland, Canada
⁴ B.Sc., Department of Civil Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh
⁵ B.Sc., Department of Civil Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh

^* Corresponding author: areza@mun.ca

Abstract

A wide variety of technologies is available for the treatment of contaminated soil in both the vadose zone (originating above the water table) and saturated zone (originating below the water table). Several processes involve immobilizing soil contaminants by physically, chemically or biologically. Among them, a wide range of wastes, both solids and liquids, are being treated by “solidification/stabilization” (S/S). In solidification, by adding binding reagents, physical state of the waste being changed by encapsulating a waste to form a solid material from liquid as well as to restrict contaminant migration to leaching by decreasing the exposed surface area. Whereas stabilization through chemical reactions immobilizes the hazardous materials by reducing them to less soluble or toxic form. Characteristics of different types of reagents/additives of S/S technology both from inorganic and organic origin are presented in this paper. In-situ and ex-situ application of S/S technology and their advantages-disadvantages are discussed with basic approaches. Finally, introducing with internal and external factors influencing the long-term durability of S/S treated materials as well as monitoring & treatment management of it after processing are briefly presented