UPSOIL Sustainable Soil Upgrading by Developing Cost effective, Biogeochemical Remediation Approaches

Country: EU Projects
Start Date:   1/10/2009         Duration: 36 months         Project Type: RTD
Contract Number: 226956
Organisation Type:  EC Project
Topics: 
Contaminated land-->Remediation options-->In situ treatment technologies
Project objectives:
UPSOIL aims to achieve a breakthrough in in-situ remediation through an innovative technological perspective taking into account the physical properties 
and the biogeochemical reactivity of the soil as well as the contaminants. The project’s objective is to develop robust technologies for fast, cost-effective, integrated source zone and plume treatment that result in both allowable
(risk) levels and maximal use of the natural soil rehabilitation potential at a longer term. This will be achieved by the smart coupling of technologies and the development of new frontier technologies, whereby: ■soil structure, properties and functions are integral factors in selecting the type of remedial treatment, ■side-effects of treatment, for example at multi-contaminant sites, on overall risk are taken into account, ■active remediation (chemical or biological) is designed in such a way that the natural attenuation potential is fully utilized and stimulated,
■the injected remedial agent is better targeted at the location/distribution of the contaminant within the soil, ■modelling and dynamic monitoring of the remediation progress are used in realtime to allow feed-back driven remediation, ■reactant species are developed that are more selective towards the contaminant and less degrading towards the soil matrix, ■indicators are developed that diagnose whether viable microbial soil populations are present and that microbial dynamics are such that the natural
attenuation capacity of the soil has been restored.
Project Summary:
UPSOIL is developing robust technologies for fast, cost-effective, integrated source zone and plume treatment. These are designed to result both in timely 
reached restored soil functions and associated risk levels, and a maximal use of the natural soil rehabilitation potential at a longer term. Within the UPSOIL
perspective, smart coupling of technologies is one approach to optimise remediation with respect to cost, time and soil sustainability. In addition, highly
innovative techniques are developed. These include the automatic targeting of the injection of the remedial agent, and the use of specifically developed
selective remedial agents. The effort aims additionally at broadening the market of soil remediation for SMEs and to build confidence with regulators in adopting
sustainable in-situ remediation as the preferable approach for soil restoration. UPSOIL focuses on soils with organic contaminants while addressing effects
on metal mobilization. UPSOIL joins different EU regions that form a balanced mix of scientific knowledge groups, applied science experience, and practical
input through SMEs and contractors that also secure testing of the technologies develop in real field site situations and a further market application of the
developed knowledge. In addition the involvement of various stakeholders (authorities, problem owners, technology providers, financial supporters of
redevelopments) guarantees that results are tuned to practical needs as present in the soil restoration market.
Achieved Objectives:

            
Product Descriptions:

            
Additional Information:

            
Project Resources:
Weblink:
http://www.upsoil.eu/
Funding Programme(s): 
EC FP7: Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development.
Link to Organisations:
Submitted by: EUGRIS Team Professor Paul Bardos  Who does what?  05/05/2010 00:33:00