Shoaib iqbal

In the name of Allah, the beneficent the merciful

Soil contamination and remediation

What is Soil What is soil contamination Natural and anthropogenic activities Causes What is soil Remediation Soil Remediation- Types of Techniques My point of view

Contents

SOILThe upper layer of earth in which plants grow, a black or dark brown material typically consisting of a mixture of organic remains, clay, and rock particles and mixtures of minerals, water, air, organic matter, and countless organisms

Soil contamination

Soil contamination is when the concentration of chemicals, nutrients or elements in the soil becomes more than it normally as a result of human action. If this contamination goes on to harm living organisms, we can call it pollution

Natural and anthropogenic activitiesAnthropogenic

Accidental spills and leaks during storage (transport

or use of chemicals )

Mining activities (crushing and processing of raw materials )

Agricultural activities (spread of herbicides/pesticides/ and

fertilizers)

Transportation activities (e.g., vehicle emissions)

Dumping of chemicals (such as illegal dumping)

Storage of wastes in landfills (which may leak to

groundwater or generate polluted vapors)

Natural activities Natural accumulation of compounds in soil: (due to

imbalances between atmospheric deposition and leaching away

with precipitation water) Natural production in soil under certain environmental

conditions: (natural formation of soil in the presence of a chlorine

source, metallic object and using the energy generated by a

thunderstorm)

Leaks from sewer lines into subsurface: (e.g. adding chlorine

which could generate such as chloroform)

Causes by contamination Reduction in soil fertility Imbalance is the flora and fauna of the soil. Salinity increases in the soil making it unfit for

cultivation.  Crops grown on polluted soil cause health problems on

consumption Soil pollution creates toxic dust.  Foul odor due to chemicals and gases can lead to

problems like headaches, nausea, etc.  Pollutants in soil causing death of many soil organisms Accidents in goods transport

Causes

Soil remediation, also known as soil washing

Various processes designed to remove contaminants from soil

Like : heavy metals, pesticides, cyanides, volatiles, creosote, and

semi-volatiles from soil

Soil Remediation

Bioremediation In-situ bioremediation Ex-situ bioremediation

Thermal Desorption Encapsulation Soil Chemical

Oxidation Stabilization Soil Washing Soil Disposal

Soil Remediation- Types of Techniques

Bio-remediation refers to the process of using micro organism.

To remove the environmental pollutants or prevent pollution,

The removal of organic waste by microbes for environmental cleanup is the essence of bioremediation.

The other name used for bio-remediation are bio-treatment, bio-reclamation, and bio restoration.

Bio-Remediation

Types of Bio-RemediationIn-situ bioremediationEx-situ bioremediation

What is In Situ Ex Situ Remediation

In situ remediation is performed directly on the site without excavating soil contaminants or disturbance to the soil structure.Ex situ remediation is performed indirectly process, excavation of contaminated soil, which is transported to a special landfill, where treated.

Thermal DesorptionThermal desorption is a process where heat is used to

remove contaminants from soil

thermal desorption processes can be categorized into two

groups:

high temperature

(320 to 560ºC) and

low temperature

(90 to 320ºC)

Encapsulation

Encapsulation process does not filter contaminants from

soil it separates them.

It mixing the polluted soil with lime, cement, and concrete,

to preventing the contaminants from spreading to clean

soil.

Soil Chemical Oxidation chemical oxidation involves the injection or direct mixing of

chemical oxidants into soil for the primary purpose and complete contaminant destruction

Chemox (CHEMOX OXYGEN BREATHING APPARATUS) involves oxidizing contaminants with the purpose of reducing the concentration.

Stabilization is the process of blending materials with a soil to improve properties of the soil.

stabilization reduces the power of hazardous substances and contaminants in the environment through both physical and chemical 

Stabilization is a wide sense methods Stabilization is being used for a variety of engineering works like

construction of road.

Stabilization

Soil washing is the process in which water is used to remove contaminants from soil such an organic ,inorganic and radioactive contaminants .

The process works by dissolving contaminants in the wash solution.

Most organic and inorganic contaminants bind to clay, silt, and organic soil particles.

Washing separates the small particles from the large particles. Separated material is smaller in volume and more easily

disposed

Soil Washing

Soil Disposal This can be the simplest solution to contaminated land,

excavate, haul and dispose of the contaminated soils Used to be that simple before the landfill tax escalator 

was introduced and environmental responsibilities started to grow.

soil disposal is still a reachable option, it’s just cheap used to be.

  Should Ban on use of plastic bags.

Authority should Recycling of

plastic wastes.

Must be ban on deforestation. 

Increasing plantation programs. 

Social and agro forestry programs.

Awareness campaign programs.

Some steps to reduce soil contamination/pollution