Chemically Сontaminated Soil Detoxification Approach Using Physical Model of Pollutants’ Behavior in Soil

Abstract

An approach for selection and implementation of rehabilitation procedure for chemically contaminated lands has been proposed basing on preliminary studying behavior of pollutants in the surface soil layer under laboratory conditions. For this purpose, a physical model for interaction of atmospheric precipitation in the form of rain with a contaminated soil layer was created using a specially designed laboratory test installation. Studies were carried out using soil samples of various types after introducing a pollutant in soil sample or using relevant contaminated soil samples, followed by reagent treatment simulating precipitation exposure. The approach was validated as exemplified by detoxification of two types of contaminated soil samples: 1) applying calcium hydroxide for rehabilitation of soil samples simulating sodium arsenite contamination resulting from destruction of arsenic-containing types of chemical weapons, through reagent treatment procedures; 2) rehabilitation of real-life soil samples contaminated as a result of a spill of chemical waste from oil production. It was shown that the treatment of contaminated soil with the selected reagents provided a 2–4 fold increase of the half-life of pollutants which reduced the possibility of pollutant migration. The conclusion has been made on successful use of the proposed approach for the development and rehabilitation of chemically contaminated territories in the field conditions and in emergency situations within a short period of time.