Active capping technology-New approaches for in situ remediation of contaminated sediments

Anna S. Knox, Michael H. Paller, Jesse Roberts

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study evaluated pilot-scale active caps composed of apatite, organoclay, biopolymers, and sand for the remediation of metal-contaminated sediments. The active caps were constructed in Steel Creek, at the Savannah River Site near Aiken, South Carolina. Monitoring was conducted for 12 months. Effectiveness of the caps was based on an evaluation of contaminant bioavailability, resistance to erosion, and impacts on benthic organisms. Active caps lowered metal bioavailability in the sediment during the one-year test period. Biopolymers reduced sediment suspension during cap construction, increased the pool of carbon, and lowered the release of metals. This field validation showed that active caps can effectively treat contaminants by changing their speciation, and that caps can be constructed to include more than one type of amendment to achieve multiple goals.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)93-117
Number of pages25
JournalRemediation
Volume22
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2012
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Waste Management and Disposal
  • Pollution

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