CLU-IN.ORG | Technology Focus: SOIL WASHING, Overview

Soil Washing

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◊ Air Sparging
◊ Bioreactor Landfills
◊ Bioremediation of Chlorinated Solvents
◊ Bioventing and Biosparging
◊ Electrokinetics: Electric Current Technologies
◊ Fracturing
◊ Ground-Water Circulating Wells
◊ In Situ Flushing
◊ In Situ Oxidation
◊ Multi-Phase Extraction
◊ Natural Attenuation
◊ Permeable Reactive Barriers
◊ Phytoremediation
◊ Remediation Optimization
◊ Soil Vapor Extraction
◊ Soil Washing
◊ Solvent Extraction
◊ Thermal Treatment: Ex Situ
◊ Thermal Treatment: In Situ

For more information on Soil Washing, please contact:

Jim Cummings
Technology Assessment Branch
(703) 603-7197
cummings.james@epa.gov

Overview

For soil washing, contaminants sorbed onto fine soil particles are separated from bulk soil in a water-based system on the basis of particle size. The wash water may be augmented with a basic leaching agent, surfactant, or chelating agent or by adjustment of pH to help remove organics and heavy metals. Soils and wash water are mixed ex situ in a tank or other treatment unit. The wash water and various soil fractions are usually separated using gravity settling.

4.21 Soil Washing (Ex Situ Soil Remediation Technology)
In Remediation Technologies Screening Matrix and Reference Guide, Version 3.0. Federal Remediation Technologies Roundtable.

A Citizen's Guide to Soil Washing
EPA 542-F-01-008, 2001

Download Spanish Translation (164K/PDF)

The Citizen's Guide Series are 2-page fact sheets that provide a general description on approaches to clean up contaminated was sites. The fact sheets cover five questions about each clean up approach: What is it?, How does it work?, Is it safe?, How long will it take?, and Why use it?.

Guía para el Ciudadano sobre Lavado del Suelo
EPA 542-F-01-008S, 2001

La Serie de Guías del Ciudadano son boletines de dos páginas con datos que proveen una descripción general en cómo sanear sitios contaminados. Estos boletines con datos que cubren cinco preguntas acerca de cada procedimiento de saneamiento: ¿Qúe es?, ¿Cómo trabaja?, ¿Es seguro?, ¿Cúanto tiempo requerirá?, y ¿Por qué debe de usarse?

Treatment Technologies for Site Cleanup: Annual Status Report (ASR), Twelfth Edition
EPA 542-R-07-012, 2007

ASR Remediation Database

View/Download Previous Editions

The Twelfth Edition of this report, published by the EPA Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation (OSRTI) in September 2007, documents treatment technology applications at more than 1,900 soil and groundwater cleanup projects at National Priorities List (NPL) sites. The status of more than 1,200 projects included in the ASR Eleventh Edition is updated, and information about 192 new projects derived from Records of Decision (ROD) signed from 2002 through 2005 is added. The report also includes a special section about on-site containment remedies. The ASR is based on the analysis of nearly 3,000 RODs signed since 1982 at 1,536 NPL sites. The online version includes new downloadable spreadsheets with the data for several of the key tables and figures in the report. Specific information about each technology application included in the ASR Twelfth Edition is available in the ASR Remediation Database.