Chemical remediation of a contaminated area

Chemical remediation of contaminated soil or groundwater in brief:

  • implemented without excavating soil and transferring groundwater (in-situ) or by excavating and treating soil or groundwater on site (on-site) 
  • hazardous substances are degraded or made harmless by means of chemical reactions 
  • methods include oxidation, reduction, solidification and stabilisation 
  • fast-acting method

In chemical methods, chemicals are added to soil, groundwater or excavated soils and react with hazardous substances. Hazardous substances are degraded or transformed, or their migration is hindered by means of chemical reactions.

Remediation is based on, among other things, oxidation and reduction reactions as well as solidification and stabilisation reactions. Chemical methods are suitable for organic and inorganic contaminants. Remediation can often be conducted within in a relatively short period of time and cost-effectively.

Chemical oxidation and reduction are based on the use of oxidising or reducing agents. The oxidation and reduction of hazardous substances degrade them, reduce their toxicity, alter their solubility and improve their susceptibility to other remediation methods.

In solidification and stabilisation, the aim is to prevent the migration and spread of contaminants into the environment by binding them with soil. Solidification refers to processes in which a binder encapsulates contaminants, preventing their migration. Stabilisation, on the other hand, refers to processes that reduce the risk of hazardous substances by converting them into a less soluble or hazardous form that is less prone to migrate.