VOC IMMOBILIZATION IN SOIL BY ADSORPTION, ABSORPTION AND ENCAPSULATION

Immobilization of volative organic compounds (VOCs) in contaminated so ils by solidification/stabilization (S/S) processes is an attractive p otential remediation process. The objectives of this study were as fol lows: to evaluate S/S procedures, including a new process with a VOC a bsorbent and silica coatings; to apply a straightforward and inexpensi ve analytical technique for characterizing VOC behavior during process ing; and to propose the expanded use of waste materials such as contam inated soil, rice hulls, and shredded-tire particles. We investigated how the adsorbents, absorbents and encapsulating agents can be combine d to retard volatilization and resist acidic aqueous leaching of tolue ne. The toluene released at each step of the S/S process was determine d by an accurate headspace analysis method. Results showed that combin ing shredded-tire particles for absorption and sodium silicate for enc apsulation is a promising method for immobilization of toluene in soil .