Soil mixing

Soil mixing2023-01-30T19:41:36+01:00

Soil mixing

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Soil mixing in the context of soil remediation is a technology that involves physically mixing contaminated soils with reactive or stabilizing agents. The blending action breaks up any soil stratifications (ex.: clay) and creates a uniform and homogeneous soil blended soil column. At REMEA, we can specially design amendment material to construct a PRB that serves to treat contaminated groundwater as it flows through the barrier. 

Installation process

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Reagents used to remediate the soil are injected through the hollow core of the boring tool from bottom to top. The blending process works on the entire soil profile, thus eliminating any stratifications.

Deep soil mixing involves the use of a single, dual or triple circular paddle mixing toll which installs columns to more than 20m. Auger diameter can be of a wide range of geometry and diameters (0.1m to >2m). Depending on the application, columns can be installed to form a continuous row, in a cell pattern, or can be used for mass treatment.

Grid patterns

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Wall-type

A wall-type installation is typically only used when installing a permeable reactive barrier to target and remediate a contaminant plume as it moves away from the source zone.

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Cellular-type

Also known as in-situ stabilization (ISS), is a preventative measure used to contain (or stop) the spreading of contaminants from the source zone. ISS often involves addition (or mixing) of a stabilizing agent to the soil matrix and often used as cut-off walls.

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Mass-type

Mass (or shallow) soil mixing is typically limited to a depth of 5m since it is performed with a bladed rotary mixing tool that is attached to the arm of an excavator. Rather than columns, the mixing is performed in linear panels that are overlapped to result in mass or full treatment of the improved zone.

Applications

During a site remediation process, soil mixing is used to reduce soil and groundwater pollution by mechanically forcing contact between reagents and contaminants. Depending on the selected reagent, this results in treatments that neutralize, demobilize, or confine pollutants that are present in the soils.

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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Should I inject or mix my contaminated site?2023-01-12T22:50:00+01:00

Injection of remedial agents into the soil subsurface is the most common in-situ remedial approach used in Canada… and with reason. In most cases, site injection will yield desired results for a low cost.

There are, however, some sites where risk of gaps ‘breakthrough’ contaminations are simply not an option that can be considered. This is where physical mixing of the contaminated soil with remedial agents will yield best results.

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