UpSoil

Period:	2009-2012
Client:	FP7- European Commision

assignment/short description

Sustainable Soil Upgrading by Developing Cost-effective, Biogeochemical Remediation Approaches

For remediation of contaminated soils to be both cost-effective and sustainable, soil structure, properties and functions should become integral factors in selecting the type of remedial treatment. UpSoil (2009-2012) aims for robust, integrated source zone and plume treatment technologies that result in timely reached risk levels required for the immediate short term redevelopment, with guaranteed perspective on multifunctional, negligible risk at longer term through optimal use of the natural soil rehabilitation potential.

Smart coupling of exisiting technologies is one approach to optimise remediation with respect to cost, time and soil sustainability. Additional innovative approaches include better targeting of injection of the remedial agent, and the development of more selective remedial agents that predominantly react with the contaminant and not with the soil matrix.

To complement the technologies developed, methods will be worked out for real-time feed-back to optimise remediation. Deltares is work package leader of WP2 (Smart coupling: system based process technology), where we coordinate field sampling and laboratory experiments that clarify the effects of remediation treatments on soil properties and functions. Additional research activities are concentrated in WP5 (Specific targeting; laboratory experiments) and WP6 (Feedback driven remediation; modelling).