Decontamination and rehabilitation of contaminated sites

Rehabilitation of contaminated sites is examined in relation to contamination problems and land use or capability requirements. Site decontamination technology, processes, and techniques not necessarily common in the practice of classical geotechnical engineering. A brief review of the basic contaminant-soil interaction and bonding mechanisms is given, followed by an evaluation of the general requirements for the more “popular” site decontamination techniques. These are reviewed in relation to the applicability and capability of the technique to “remove” or “extract” the contaminants. The basic contaminant-soil interaction mechanisms are examined in relation to decontamination requirements from the point of view which reasons that if one understands how the contaminants are “bonded” to the soil substrate, the necessary techniques and technology can be developed to implement decontamination, i.e. “debonding” of the contaminants. Furthermore, it is also reasoned that this basic knowledge will also lead to determination of whether treatment in-situ or ex-situ would be more appropriate – given the boundary conditions and site specifics.