Soil Treatment
Ideal Group offers a wide range of treatment techniques through fixed and mobile units, making it possible to solve a wide range of pollution problems.
Biological treatment
By creating optimal conditions, micro-organisms naturally present in the soil can quickly break down the contaminants (best suited for biodegradable organic pollutants).
Ideal Group utilises a process known as bio-remediation. Petroleum hydrocarbons will degrade over time - given the right conditions - as a result of metabolism by bacteria normally present in soil. Under normal conditions, it will take many years before the contamination is reduced to acceptable levels. But the process can be vastly accelerated under controlled conditions - by bio-remediation - to reduce the timeframe to months rather than years.
Bio-remediation of contaminated soil uses living organisms to remove pollutants, including hydrocarbons, from soil. It can be carried out ex-site, where the basic process consists of a number of different stages, as outlined in the flow diagram opposite. Ex-situ treatment can deal with higher levels of contamination and more difficult soil types. It also allows for immediate removal of contaminated soil so that development of the site can continue.
Once treated, soils are disposed of through a variety of routes.
Thermal treatment
The principle is based on the increase of the soil temperature to a level where pollutants become volatile and change into the gas phase (best suited for non-biodegradable organic pollutants and mercury).
Physico-chemical treatment
The principle is based on the pollutant extraction, as a result of a physico-chemical or washing treatment (suitable for many types of mixed pollution: organic/ metals).
