Soil and Groundwater Contamination Survey and Countermeasure Technologies

Category of Tchnology	Treatment	Treatment of Excavated Soil
Media	Soil
Contaminants	Heavy Metal (Cd, Pb, As, Hg, Se, etc)        Semi Volatile Chlorinated Organic Compounds (PCB, etc) Agricultural Chemicals (Organic Phosphorus Compounds, etc) Oil (Non Volatile Hydrocarbons)
	Applied (Demonstrated) Substances	Pb, Cd, Zn, Hg, Cr6+
Scope	Concentration Range	Classification may not be enough for highly contaminated soil to meet the soil environmental quality standard.
	Hydrogeological Conditions	-	-
	Chemical Soil Properties
	Other Remarks
Technology Description	Classification	Separation
	Status	Fully Commercialized Soil and Groundwater Countermeasure Test Study (Performed 1994)
	Outline of Technology	Traditional mineral separation technology is applied to contaminated soil.  Washing and classification are simultaneously done through a drum-scrubber, a vibrating sieve, a gravity separator, cyclones, and so on.  Soluble contaminants are removed to water during the process.  Classified fractions are tested to meet the standard.  Volume of contaminated fraction is expected to be reduced.
	Required Pre- and Post-treatment	Soils which don’t meet the standard should be treated by incineration, slugging, solidification, landfill, etc.
	Enhance Effectiveness through Combination	Flotation is considered
	Case History	Three samples of heavy metal contaminated soil have been tested.  The process is effective for two of them ,whose volume of contaminated soil are reduced to about half.  For the other one, however, all fractions don’t meet the standard.
	Application Examples	It has been put in practice for various kind of contaminated soils.  Mobile plant is also available for on-site test.
	Limitations
	Properties of Treated Soil	Properties are Generally Retained
Schematic Flow Process	Flow Diagram of Soil Washing
Applicability	In Situ Applicability	Possible (It is possible to treat on-site. Water treatment plant is necessary.)
	Ground Structures	-
	Required Excavation	Excavated soil is treated (To be applied to excavated soil)
	Groundwater Extraction	Need pumping-up when the groundwater level is high to lower the level.
	Required Space	Large plant
	Operational Time
	Installation Time
	Maintenance and Control Requirements
	Additional Remarks
Secondary Impacts to Environment	Secondary Treatment Required?	Effluent Water Treatment
	Effects on Living Environment	Noise Vibration
	Additives	Water
	Possibility of Contaminant Spreading	None
	Secondary By-products	None

• Understanding the Contamination Survey and Countermeasure Technology Description Sheet
• Where to make contact

Soil Environment Management Division, Water Environment Department, Environmental Management Bureau, Ministry of Environment
Tel: +81-3-5521-8319
E-mail: MOE@env.go.jp