ENGI 9621 - Soil Remediation Engineering
Spring 2007

Field Investigative Techniques

Noninvasive Methods

• Remote sensing imagery using nonvisible light waves
• Aerial photography using visible light waves
• Surface Geophysical Techniques
  • Ground penetrating radar
  • Electromagnetic Induction measuring electrical conductivity
  • Electrical Resistivity
  • Seismis refraction and reflection techniques employing an acoustic source
  • Magnetometry (MAG) surveys measuring magnetic properties
• Downhole Geophysical Techniques
  • Nuclear Logs generating/detecting unstable isotopes (ex. Natural Gamma Logs)
  • Electric Logs using flow of electricity
  • Fluid Logs using conductivity, flow and temperature of fluid
  • Acoustic Logs

Invaisive Techniques

• Soil and Rock borings
• Monitoring well, piezometers and vapour wells
• Trial pitting (shallow back-hoe excavation)

Treatment Methods

Physical and Physico-chemical Methods

• Soil vapour extracion (SVE) for volatile and semivolatile organics
• Vacuum enhanced recovery/extraction for liquid and vapour phases
• In situ reactive walls for phisical and chemical treatment of contaminants
• Hydraulic and pneumatic fracturing
• Pump and treat
• Stabilization and solidification
• Electrokinetic soil decontamination
• In situ and ex situ soil flusing with surfactants

Thermal Treatment

• Incineration and catalytic conversion
• In situ vitrification
• Thermal desorption

Biotreatment

• Bioventing in vadose zone for low volatility compounds
• Biosparging in the saturated zone to treat VOC's
• Bioslurping in the capillary fringe with vacuum extraction for LNAPLs
• In situ vitrification
• Biobarriers
• Phytoremediation
• Landfarming
• Bioslurry reactors for excavated contaminated soil
• Composting of soils (for petroleum hydrocarbons, chlorinated organics, explosives)

Papers and Assignments

The citing of journal papers is highly recommended. Single spacing on one side of a page or double spacing on both sides of a page is preferred especially if the paper is being submitteed electronically. Correct referencing of sources and original work are very important. Papers may be submitted electronically or as hard copies.