Remediation of PAH contaminated soil is promoted by aeriation with soil ameliorants, cotton trash and surfactant..

A cut-off trench is constructed to prevent contamination from an old gas works from reaching a river.

The Rotocult is made in Australia and is used to mix soil as thoroughly as a pug mill for much less cost and at a greater through-put.

A Mark I light-weight drilling rig being used to core through a concrete floor inside a warehouse.

Special mixing devices are used to incorporate salts used to stabilise arsenic.

Checking that a thorough mixing of stabilisation compounds has occurred prior to testing.

Creative solutions for “Brown” environment problems

“Brown” is the name used for environmental issues concerning soil, groundwater and solid waste. Because Australia is environmentally and socially unique, we have developed an approach to investigation and remediation techniques for use in the brown environment that is distinctive to Australia.

Brown environment issues in Australia include soil acidification, dryland and urban salinity, acid sulfate soil, saline groundwater, contaminated land, regional waste management, landfills and acid rock drainage. The diversity of these problems has resulted in the development of new technologies as well as the transfer of technologies. For instance, techniques developed for acid sulfate soil identification are now being assessed for waste rock characterisation in the mining industry.

Groundwater monitoring techniques developed in the mining industry are being used for early detection of landfill leachate and to prioritise sewer maintenance in cities.

The high cost of waste disposal, coupled with the rejection of the high temperature incinerator option for waste and contaminated soil disposal, has resulted in the development of alternatives. Consequently, chemical and biological destruction techniques are used far more in Australia than elsewhere. In addition to special techniques, special equipment has been developed, particularly for metal stabilisation, chemical destruction and destruction using accelerated natural biological processes.

Bioremediation and phyto-assisted bioremediation have been developed to such a high degree by Environmental & Earth Sciences, that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and even free tar in soil and certain chlorinated hydrocarbons, can now be degraded using these techniques.

Using simple tools and materials and good-old-fashioned know-how, Australians are well known for their practical approach to problem-solving in a harsh environment. This culture, together with its unique, creative blend of science and practical engineering is now being exported by Environmental & Earth Sciences to solve brown environment problems throughout the world.

Website: www.groundscience.com