Chemical oxidation and reduction treatments for the treatment of contaminated sediments

Abstract

The management of sediments is a significant issue in the industrialized countries due to the huge amounts of materials dredged yearly and to their environmental characteristics. Among the options, there are relocation in water (when the pollutant concentration is low enough), disposal to landfill, or treatment to accomplish cleanup goals. Nowadays, technologies used for the treatment of contaminated sediments are those applied to soil, but the specific characteristics of sediments may complicate their technical implementation, reduce contaminant abatements or increase significantly costs.
Among different options, the chemical oxidation and reduction treatments have been successfully applied in several real cases, but their efficacy strictly depends on the sediment and the contamination being treated.