Novel applications of membrane processes in soil cleanup operations

A combination of membrane processes, microfiltration and nanofiltration, was employed to enhance the removal of heavy metals from contaminated soil using acid leaching. Microfiltration was used to separate soil particles from the metal-containing leachate. The leachate was then processed using nanofiltration to reduce the leachate's volume and recover spent acid from the slurry. Results of the bench-scale study demonstrated the advantages of incorporating membrane processes into soil treatment operations: faster and more complete removal of metals; reduced volume of waste products; and the possibility for acid reuse.