Solidification/stabilisation of soil contaminated with metal: A review

Abstract

Solidification/stabilisation (S/S) is generically defined as a chemical and physical alteration technique of reducing the mobility as well as solubility of contaminants in wastes in order to convert them into chemically inert form. The technique is specifically developed to confine the movement of contaminants in wastes so that their concentrations in the surrounding environment (e.g. subsurface soil matrices and groundwater) will not exceed stipulated environmental regulatory levels. This technique necessitates application of cementitious materials such as cement which also provides a favorable solidification effect on the stabilised wastes so that the end product can be easily transported to disposal sites or reused as construction materials. This paper reviews the S/S technology as applied to contaminated soil treatment with emphasis on its chemical binder systems, mechanisms, interferences and post-treatment leaching tests. S/S is an important soil contamination remediation technology as evident by its simplicity, technical and cost-effectiveness.