Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
1
Introduction
Roger Spence and Caijun Shi
CONTENTS
1.1 Definition of Stabilization and Solidification.................................................. 2
1.2 A Brief Summary of the Origin of S/S Technology ....................................... 2
1.3 Post-RCRA Development of S/S Technology and Organization
of the Topic....................................................................................................... 3
References.................................................................................................................. 5
Stabilization/solidification (S/S) is typically a process that involves the mixing of a
waste with a binder to reduce the contaminant leachability by both physical and
chemical means and to convert the hazardous waste into an environmentally accept-
able waste form for land disposal or construction use. S/S has been widely used to
dispose of low-level radioactive, hazardous, and mixed wastes, as well as remediation
of contaminated sites. According to the USEPA, S/S is the best demonstrated available
technology (BDAT) for 57 hazardous wastes.
About 30% of the Superfund remediation
sites used S/S technologies, according to a USEPA report in 1996.
1
Of all the binders,
cementitious materials are the most widely used for S/S. Compared with other tech-
nologies, cement-based S/S has the following advantages:
2
3,4
•
Relatively low cost
•
Good long-term stability, both physically and chemically
•
Good impact and compressive strengths
•
Documented use and compatibility with a variety of wastes over decades
•
Material and technology well known
•
Widespread availability of the chemical ingredients
•
Nontoxicity of the chemical ingredients
•
Ease of use in processing (processing normally conducted at ambient
temperature and pressure and without unique or very special equipment)
•
High waste loadings possible
•
Inertness to ultraviolet radiation
•
High resistance to biodegradation
•
Low water solubility and leachability of some contaminants
•
Ability of most aqueous wastes to chemically bind to matrix
•
Relatively low water permeability
•
Good mechanical and structural characteristics
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