Remediation and Management of Contaminated Soil - Sustainable Practices in Geoenvironmental Engineering - page 430

11.6.2 Design of a Remediation Process

In choosing the most appropriate remediation technology or process, the approach shown in
Figure 11.14 should be used. The irst step of any remediation program is to develop a con-
ceptual site model (CSM) to evaluate the potential for applying bioremediation at a site. The
nature and extent of contamination and site characteristics; site hydrogeology, geochemistry,
and oxidation-reduction conditions; biodegradation potential; contaminant fate and trans-
port; and receptor and exposure pathways must be determined. Once the CSM is established
and reined, activities undertaken prior to the implementation of a remediation program
often involve treatability studies, examination of soil to ensure that undesirable reactions
with the contaminants or their degradation products are prevented. The success of a reme-
diation application highly depends on characterization and monitoring and an effective
model for lowering natural resource consumption and waste generation, completed before
and during its implementation. Monitoring and operation should also be designed to reduce
emissions and energy requirements. For example, low-temperature processes require less
energy. The advantages of the various options must be weighed. In addition to past practices
to obtain a more sustainable remediation approach, other aspects must also be evaluated to

• Enhance land management practices and maintain biodiversity and the ecosys-
tem population
• Reduce water consumption and pollution
• Reduce total energy use and increase the use of renewable energies
• Reduce air and GHG emissions

Development of conceptual model Development of conceptual model

Treatability studies

Pilot studies

Process design to reduce
resource requirements
and emissions and
optimize the ecosystem

Development of operation and
monitoring to minimize footprint

Improved remediation scheme

FIGURE 11.14
Flowsheet for design of an enhanced sustainable remediation technology or process.