GREENLAND

Gentle remediation of trace element contaminated land

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Gentle remediation options (g.r.o.) include various (mostly plant based) approaches to remediate trace element contaminated soils at low cost and without significant negative effects for the environment. Although g.r.o. comprise very innovative and efficient technologies, they are still not widely used as practical site solution due to several reasons of hindrance for applying g.r.o. as practical solution. Greenland is bringing gentle remediation options (phytoremediation, in situ stabilisation) into practical application and to solve the final problems comprising still major reasons of hindrance. The major objectives are: • test the remediation efficiency and success in pilot field case studies • develop a toolkit to quantify the remediation progress and targets (no total, but 'bioavailable' trace element fractions) • test different technologies of biomass valorisation (incineration, gasification, biodiesel production, etc.) • develop a decision support tool • publish a best practice guide Greenland has defined two groups of end users: 1) companies that will offer gentle remediation options commercially (including the treatment of metal-rich biomass) - these group is part of the project consortium 2) stakeholders (including environmental agencies) that will decide for gentle remediation options - these are not part of the project consortium but of the advisory board. The main task of the advisory board is to take part at 4 Greenland meetings (kick off, 2 midterm, final meeting) to give feedback on the project progress. The members of the advisory board should especially consider if their requirements are met (e.g. do we provide all needed information to allow the future stakeholders deciding for gentle remediation options). The travel costs will be covered by the consoritum.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

An EU-funded research project has reviewed and evaluated environmentally friendly ways to remediate soil pollution.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Remediation of trace element-contaminated soil can be accomplished using so-called gentle remediation options (GROs), referring primarily to plant-based techniques. Although these are low cost and environmentally friendly, several obstacles have inhibited their widespread use.

Scientists initiated the 'Gentle remediation of trace element contaminated land' (http://www.greenland-project.eu (GREENLAND)) project to overcome these obstacles via large-scale field demonstrations. Using a network of 13 large contaminated sites, they optimised new practices, biomass production, financial returns, and risk and efficiency assessment methods.

Scientists thoroughly reviewed biomass processing that leads to economic returns (valorisation processes) and tested several promising options. Sixteen case studies were maintained over the course of the project, providing soil samples for testing and analysis.

Researchers developed and refined tests of efficiency, efficacy and progress of soil remediation. These were then used to evaluate various plants, microbes, soil amendments and agronomic practices as methods for remediation.

As a final outcome of the GREENLAND project, several guidelines and documents were produced and made publically available. These include a review of current remediation methods, a decision support tool and a practical guide to GRO implementation.

GREENLAND optimised GROs and demonstrated their feasibility in large-scale field studies. Project outcomes should facilitate widespread uptake of this new approach to reducing dangerous soil contamination in the EU.