Remediation Models
Nexia Solutions have recently produced a set of tools for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) that assess various remediation technologies at the performance assessment level.
These tools are aimed at site owners/operators who need to consider the high level performance and cost of remediation technologies when deciding upon a BPEO strategy for the management of radioactive land contamination. The tools cover the following technologies:
- Soil washing - a standard soil leaching technique is simulated whereby the soil is separated into fines and oversize particles, and subsequently a chemical reagent is used to strip contamination off the soil. The cost benefit of this technology in terms of capital costs for the plant and materials, operational costs and waste disposal costs can also be assessed.
- Permeable reactive barrier (PRB) - represents either a continuous wall or a funnel and gate system. The model simulates the transport of contaminants through the reactive material contained in the PRB. The outputs from the model include concentration of contaminants in the groundwater flow downstream of the PRB, mass of contaminants retained by the PRB, total mass and volume of waste and the various costs associated with the PRB remediation technology.
- In-situ stabilisation - represents remediation by the addition of reagents that immobilise contaminated soil. The model simulates the release of contaminants from the treated soil over time. Performance is evaluated by comparison of the mass of contaminants retained and released to the area outside the treatment zone. Other outputs include amount of spoil generated (to be treated as waste) and the costs associated with the application of this technology.
- Electrokinetics - simulates the effects of electroosmotic advection and ionic migration as applied by electrokinetic remediation techniques.
The tools are freely available to download. The tools are constructed using the GoldSim software and can be viewed and run by downloading the free GoldSim Player software.
Please contact us for further information.
