Contaminated soil treatment: Summary of PhD thesis on stabilisation/solidification combined with biodegradation

This work investigated development of operating envelopes for stabilisation/solidification (S/S) treatment, and facilitation of biodegradation within S/S treated contaminated soils, with the aim of improving the robustness and sustainability of S/S technology. The ‘process envelopes’ study utilised different conventional cementitious binders for treatment of contaminated soil, and generated extensive data from which the range of operating conditions that led to acceptable mechanical and leaching performance of the treated soil was determined. While the S/S and biodegradation study indicated that use of magnesium phosphate cement(s) could facilitate effective immobilisation of heavy metals alongside parallel biodegradation of organics in S/S treated soils. The above paragraph provides a 100-word summary (or brief abstract) of the PhD thesis at Cambridge University entitled “Process envelopes for and biodegradation within stabilised/solidified contaminated soils” submitted in March 2011. A more detailed summary (of roughly 4300 words) follows thereafter.