Frozen Soil Barrier. Subsurface Contaminants Focus Area. OST Reference No. 51

Technical Report · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1248373· OSTI ID:1248373

Problem: Hazardous and radioactive materials have historically been disposed of at the surface during operations at Department of Energy facilities. These contaminants have entered the subsurface, contaminating soils and groundwater resources. Remediation of these groundwater plumes using the baseline technology of pump and treat is expensive and takes a long time to complete. Containment of these groundwater plumes can be alternative or an addition to the remediation activities. Standard containment technologies include slurry walls, sheet piling, and grouting. These are permanent structures that once installed are difficult to remove. How It Works: Frozen Soil Barrier technology provides a containment alternative, with the key difference being that the barrier can be easily removed after a period of time, such as after the remediation or removal of the source is completed. Frozen Soil Barrier technology can be used to isolate and control the migration of underground radioactive or other hazardous contaminants subject to transport by groundwater flow. Frozen Soil Barrier technology consists of a series of subsurface heat transfer devices, known as thermoprobes, which are installed around a contaminant source and function to freeze the soil pore water. The barrier can easily be maintained in place until remediation or removal of the contaminants is complete, at which time the barrier is allowed to thaw.

• Research Organization: USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM), Washington, DC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM)
• OSTI ID: 1248373
• Report Number(s): DOE/EM--0483
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CONTAINMENT
CONTROL
FREEZING
GROUND WATER
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HEAT TRANSFER
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
PLUMES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
REMEDIAL ACTION
SOILS
UNDERGROUND