The era of low-permeability sites remediation and corresponding technologies: A review

Rational utilization of soil resources and remediation of contaminated soils are imperative due to the rapidly growing demand for clean soils. Currently, many in-situ remediation technologies are less suitable at low -permeability sites due to the limitations of soil permeability. This work defines a low-permeability site as a site with hydraulic conductivity less than 10-4 cm/s, and summarizes the migration characteristics of repre-sentative contaminants at low-permeability sites, and discusses the principles and practical applications of different technologies suitable for the remediation of low-permeability sites, including electrokinetic remediation technology, polymer flushing technology, fracturing technology, and in-situ thermal remediation technology. Enhanced and combined remediation technologies are further described because one remediation technology cannot remediate all contaminants. The prospects for the application of remediation technologies to low -permeability sites are also proposed. This work highlights the necessity of low-permeability sites remediation and the urgent need for new remediation technologies, with the hope to inspire future research on low -permeability sites.

Automated summary

Rational utilization and remediation of soil resources are necessary due to the increasing demand for clean soils. However, many in-situ remediation technologies are limited in low-permeability sites. This work summarizes the migration characteristics of contaminants at low-permeability sites and discusses various technologies suitable for remediation. It also emphasizes the importance of combining different technologies and proposes prospects for their application.