Pilot-scale field investigation of ex situ solidification/stabilization of soils with inorganic contaminants using two novel binders

Abstract

Recently, two novel binders, one by-product-based binder named as GM and one phosphate-based binder named as KMP, have emerged that can stabilize soils spiked with mixed lead and zinc contaminants. However, field evaluations of the stabilization of actual soils that contaminated with mixed zinc (Zn) and inorganic chloride (Cl−) using GM and KMP have not been performed yet. This study presents a pilot-scale field test to evaluate the performance of GM and KMP to stabilize these inorganic contaminants in soils at two locations in an abandoned industrial plating plant site. The field soils were stabilized and cured for 1, 3, 7, and 28 days and tested for dry density, dynamic cone penetration, soil pH, and leachability. Laboratory unconfined compression tests were performed, and the relationship between unconfined compressive strength and dynamic cone penetrometer index was assessed. The results showed that the strength of both the GM- and KMP-stabilized soils after 28-day curing improved significantly, and the leached Zn and Cl− concentrations were well below the corresponding remediation limits. In general, the KMP-stabilized soil demonstrated superior performance in terms of higher dry density, unconfined compressive strength, average dynamic cone penetration resistance, lower dynamic cone penetrometer index in the early curing stage (7 days), and lower leached Zn concentration under all curing times. In contrast, the GM exhibited superior immobilization of Cl− in the contaminated soil irrespective of the curing time. The results demonstrate that GM and KMP are promising binders for treating Zn- and Cl−-contaminated soils at plating and other industry sites with similar contaminants.