Full-scale and pilot-scale soil washing

The purpose of this paper is to describe sail washing and to present result s obtained from pilot-scale and full-scale projects. The soil washing syste m to be described is a water-based physical separation process which relies on traditional physical and chemical extraction and separation processes f or removing a broad range of organic, inorganic,and radioactive contaminant s from soil. Although soil washing is becoming more accepted as a treatment technology in the United States, limited experience in field application s till appears to be a barrier to more widespread implementation. This paper will attempt to overcome some of those barriers by describing the system an d its applications, and providing case histories of successful experiences in full-scale and pilot-scale field operations. Both levels of operations h ave been very successful, and confirm the viability of soil washing for tre ating contaminated soils. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All r ights reserved.