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Journal article
Hybrid life cycle assessment comparison of colloidal silica and cement grouted soil barrier remediation technologies
Journal of hazardous materials, v 250-251, pp 421-430
15 Apr 2013
PMID: 23500422
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Site remediation involves balancing numerous costs and benefits but often neglects the environmental impacts over the entire project life cycle. Life cycle assessment (LCA) offers a framework for inclusion of global environmental "systems-level" decision metrics in combination with technological and cost analysis. We compare colloidal silica (CS) and cement grouted soil barrier remediation technologies for soils affected by low level radionuclides at a U.S. Superfund site using hybrid LCA methods. CS is a new, high performance grouting material installed using permeation grouting techniques. Cement, a more traditional grouting material, is typically installed using jet grouting techniques. Life cycle impacts were evaluated using the US EPA TRACI 2 model. Results show the highest life cycle environmental impacts for the CS barrier occur during materials production and transportation to the site. In general, the life cycle impacts for the cement barrier were dominated by materials production; however, in the extreme scenario the life cycle impacts were dominated by truck transportation of spoils to a distant, off-site radioactive waste facility. It is only in the extreme scenario tested in which soils are transported by truck (Option 2) that spoils waste transport dominates LCIA results. Life cycle environmental impacts for both grout barriers were most sensitive to resource input requirements for manufacturing volumes and transportation. Uncertainty associated with the efficacy of new technology such as CS over its required design life indicates that barrier replacement could increase its life cycle environmental impact above that of the cement barrier.
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Details
- Title
- Hybrid life cycle assessment comparison of colloidal silica and cement grouted soil barrier remediation technologies
- Creators
- Patricia M Gallagher - Drexel UniversitySabrina Spatari - Drexel UniversityJeffrey Cucura - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Journal of hazardous materials, v 250-251, pp 421-430
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering; [Retired Faculty]
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000317878400049
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84875082169
- Other Identifier
- 991019167900004721
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- Web of Science research areas
- Engineering, Environmental
- Environmental Sciences