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Overview of remediation technologies for persistent toxic substances
A Lodolo1, E Gonzalez-Valencia, S Miertus
1International Centre for Science and High Technology, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Pure and Applied Chemistry, Trieste, Italy. lodolo@ics.trieste.it
Arhiv Za Higijenu Rada I Toksikologiju
|May 24, 2001
Summary
This review compares established and emerging Persistent Toxic Substance treatment technologies, including Persistent Organic Pollutants. It assesses biological, physico-chemical, and thermal methods based on technical, social, and environmental factors for effective remediation.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Waste Management
Background:
- Persistent Toxic Substances (PTS) and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) pose significant environmental and health risks.
- Effective treatment technologies are crucial for remediating contaminated sites.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and classify established and emerging technologies for treating PTS and POPs.
- To compare these technologies based on technical, social, and environmental limitations, risks, and impacts.
- To assess the advantages and limitations of each technology regarding cost, cleanup time, reliability, and maintenance.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of established and emerging remediation technologies.
- Classification of technologies into biological, physico-chemical, and thermal treatment categories.
- Comparative analysis of unit operations, technical feasibility, social acceptance, environmental impacts, and economic factors.
Main Results:
- Detailed descriptions of main unit operations for each technology category.
- Comparative assessment of technical, social, and environmental limitations and risks.
- Presentation of estimated costs, cleanup times, reliability, and maintenance levels for each technology.
Conclusions:
- No single technology is universally optimal; selection depends on site-specific conditions and remediation goals.
- Biological treatments offer sustainable options but may have longer cleanup times.
- Physico-chemical and thermal treatments provide faster remediation but can be more costly and energy-intensive.