'Remediability Score' as a tool for selecting the most suitable remediation technology for contaminated sites

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Environmental Remediation

Background:

• Land contamination from industrial activities poses risks to ecosystems and human health.
• Effective remediation requires selecting the most appropriate technology based on site-specific factors.
• The concept of 'Remediability' and its quantitative measure, Remediability Score (RS), are recently introduced.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and validate the Remediability Score (RS) as a metric for selecting optimal land remediation technologies.
• To calculate the RS for various remediation technologies applicable to a specific contaminated site.

Main Methods:

• A Delphi process was used to gather expert opinions on factors influencing remediability.
• Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed to calculate the weights of these factors.
• The Remediability Score (RS) was computed by normalizing factor magnitudes and applying weighted impacts.

Main Results:

• The Kuzhikandam site, contaminated with heavy metals and organic compounds, was assessed.
• Vitrification emerged as the most suitable remediation technology with an RS of 22.
• Stabilization/solidification was the next best option with an RS of 25.

Conclusions:

• The Remediability Score (RS) provides a reliable method for selecting the most effective land remediation technology.
• This quantitative approach aids in efficient and timely remediation of contaminated sites.
• The study demonstrates the practical application of RS in real-world environmental challenges.