In situ sediment treatment using activated carbon: a demonstrated sediment cleanup technology

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Environmental Engineering
• Remediation Technology

Background:

• Sediment contamination poses significant environmental risks.
• Traditional cleanup methods like dredging are disruptive and costly.
• In situ treatment offers a less invasive and more economical alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review general approaches for applying activated carbon (AC) as an in situ sediment treatment.
• To evaluate the efficacy of AC in remediating contaminated sediments.
• To compare in situ AC treatment with traditional sediment cleanup technologies.

Main Methods:

• Review of pilot- and full-scale field projects and laboratory experiments.
• Analysis of two primary installation approaches: thin-layer application and blended cover material.
• Assessment of AC's performance in sequestering and immobilizing hydrophobic organic compounds.

Main Results:

• Activated carbon (AC) has been successfully applied in over 25 field projects globally.
• In situ AC treatment significantly reduces porewater concentrations and biouptake of contaminants.
• Effectiveness of AC can increase over time due to progressive mass transfer.
• In situ treatment is generally less disruptive and less expensive than dredging or capping.

Conclusions:

• In situ treatment using activated carbon (AC) is a proven and reliable technology for sediment remediation.
• Proper site-specific evaluation is crucial for balancing benefits, risks, and costs.
• AC offers an effective solution for sequestering and immobilizing contaminants in sediments.