Physical Solidification/Stabilization

Description
Solidification/stabilization (S/S) techniques are akin to locking the contaminants in the
soil. It is a process that physically encapsulates the contaminant. This technique can be
used alone or combined with other treatment and disposal methods.
The most common form of S/S is a cement process. It simply involves the addition of
cement or a cement-based mixture, which thereby limits the solubility or mobility of the
waste constituents. These techniques are accomplished either in-situ, by injecting a
cement based agent into the contaminated materials or ex situ, by excavating the
materials, machine-mixing them with a cement-based agent, and depositing the solidified
mass in a designated area. The goal of the S/S process is to limit the spread, via
leaching ,of contaminated material. The end product resulting from the solidification
process is a monolithic block of waste with high structural integrity. Types of
solidifying/stabilizing agents include the following: Portland; gypsum; modified sulfur
cement, consisting of elemental sulfur and hydrocarbon polymers; and grout, consisting
of cement and other dry materials, such as acceptable fly ash or blast furnace slag.
Processes utilizing modified sulfur cement are typically performed ex situ.
The Department of Energy (DOE) is developing another system called the Polyethylene
Encapsulation of Radionuclides and Heavy Metals (PERM) process. This process
encapsulates contaminants in polyethylene. It is used for radionuclides (e.g., cesium,
strontium, and cobalt) and toxic metals (e.g., chromium, lead, and cadmium). Most S/S
products are designed to be left in place, although it is possible that the solid materials
could be moved to other locations.

Limitations and Concerns

The depth of contaminants may limit these processes.
Future use of the site and environmental conditions may erode the materials used to
stabilize contaminants, thus affecting their capacity to immobilize contaminants.
Solidified material may also restrict future use of the site.
Very little data exist to support S/S products durability over their indefinite disposal
life. Long term monitoring is necessary to ensure that contaminants have not been remobilized.
Certain waste streams are incompatible with variations of this process, and each
application must be carefully tested for long-term compatibility before it is used.

Organic wastes are generally not immobilized, and unless very high temperatures are
used to destroy them, they will migrate. However, if a process is designed to destroy
organic compounds through heating, the creation of products of incomplete combustion
such as dioxin and furan would pose a concern.
Inorganic salts affect the set rate either through acceleration or retardation. Users need to
know precisely how different salts individually and collectively affect basic Portland
cement stabilization so that the proper additive can be used in the dry binder mix.
When radioactive contamination is present, other types of hazardous waste (e.g., organic
chemicals) may interfere with solidification. Treatability studies are needed to
demonstrate that the S/S process works.
Given the long period of time that radioactive waste will be a hazard, the S/S facility
must be careful about the degradation of construction materials more than usual for
hazardous waste disposal sites. Current research has focused on developing new types of
materials to improve liner integrity and to reduce possible Radionuclides migration.
For radioactive waste, there is concern about the likelihood of liner deterioration, liner
penetration, and leaching over the long-term, as well as risks associated with the possible
excavation, handling, and transportation of radioactive waste.
In-situ S/S may not be suitable for some sites because gamma radiation might not be
reduced sufficiently.
With in-situ S/S, consideration must be given to any debris such as barrels, metal scrap,
and wood pieces that may interfere with the solidification process.
Soil characteristics influence whether the technology will contain the waste effectively.
These characteristics include void volume, which determines how much grout can be
injected into the site; soil pore size, which determines the size of the cement particles that
can be injected; and permeability of the surrounding area, which determines whether
water will flow preferentially around the solidified mass.
Some cement processes result in significant increases in volume up to double the
original quantity.
In ex-situ applications of the cement S/S, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are
generally not immobilized.
In ex-situ applications, cracks extending through the stabilized mass have been observed,
the cause of which is suspected to be the high temperature rise during curing.

Applicability

The target contaminant group for physical S/S is generally inorganics (including
radionuclides) in the soil. While it may be effective for some organics, this technology
may have limited effectiveness with semi volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) and
pesticides. Encapsulation is also used for low-level radioactive mixed waste.

Technology Development Status

Physical stabilization techniques are well-documented and commercialized. DOE has
demonstrated the PERM process at the bench scale.

Web Links
http://www.frtr.gov/matrix2/section4/4_10.html
http://www.frtr.gov/matrix2/section4/4_24.html
http://hq.environmental.usace.army.mil/tools/it/itsuccess/exec/exec.html (lead in soil)

Other Resources and Demonstrations

See descriptions of Chemical Solidification/Stabilization and Thermal
Solidification/Stabilization (Vitrification).
See Solidification/Stabilization Use at Superfund Sites (EPA 542-R-00-010).
September 2000, 28 pages
See http://apps.em.doe.gov/ost/pubs/itsrs/itsr1683.pdf for a description of an Idaho
National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) sponsored development of
five low-temperature stabilization methods as an alternative to simple Portland cement
grouting. Experiments have included varying the waste loads and the cement.
Formulation
See http://apps.em.doe.gov/ost/pubs/itsrs/itsr2045.pdf for a description of when DOE
sponsored the development of micro-encapsulation by polysiloxane. Polysiloxane is part
inorganic and part thermosetting polymer. The product is sold as Ceramic Silicon Foam
(CSF). The polysiloxane sets at low temperatures and thus requires minimal off-gas
treatment; it contains no volatile metals such as mercury; and it generates little secondary
waste. CSF can resist contact with acids, alkalis, and oxygen. CSF was proposed for use
at the Chernobyl plant in the former Soviet Union because of its excellent radiation
resistance. CSF technology was demonstrated on a surrogate salt waste material
simulating INEEL nitrate salts.
See http://apps.em.doe.gov/ost/pubs/itsrs/itsr2036.pdf for a description of a DOE, Pacific
Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the Arizona Materials Laboratory (AML)

development and test of sol-gel (wet-chemical) based, low-temperatureprocessing for the stabilization of salt-containing mixed wastes. By blending and reacting
liquid precursors at room temperature with salt waste, strong, impermeable
polyceramic matrices have been formed that encapsulate the environmentally
hazardous waste components. The unique capabilities associated with sol-gel technology
have been used to fabricate micro-spheres of uranium, thorium, and plutonium oxides for
the immobilization of nuclear waste in glassy matrices.

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Contaminant

Media

Technology

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In-Situ Treatment

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Pest/Herbicides

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STATUS: The preceding technology description and links were last updated 06/2002.
If you believe any of the information is out of date, please let us know at cpeo@cpeo.org.