2nd Edition

Sustainable Practices in Geoenvironmental Engineering

    562 Pages 228 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    562 Pages 228 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    In the seven years since the publication of the first edition of Sustainable Practices in Geoenvironmental Engineering, the combination of population growth and increased exploitation of renewable and non-renewable natural resources has added increased stresses on the quality and health of the geoenvironment. This is especially true when viewed in the context of the growing demand for food and shelter, energy and mineral resources, and their resultant effects on the natural capital of the geoenvironment. Completely revised and updated, this second edition of a bestseller introduces and discusses the concept of "stressors" and their impacts on the geoenvironment.

    See What’s New in the Second Edition:

    • Clear definition of the geoenvironment
    • New tools and remediation technologies, new management methods for geohazards, and enhanced coverage of social and economic sustainability
    • Innovative approaches and techniques for reaching geoenvironmental sustainability
    • More detail on treatment technologies, both in situ and ex situ
    • Discussion on the mitigation of geodisasters
    • Additional sections to discuss sustainability assessment protocols
    • Updated information on models for prediction of contaminant behavior

    The authors explore the technologies that take into account targets, exposure routes (if applicable), future land use, acceptable risks, legislation, and resultant emissions/discharges in establishing the criteria and tools for evaluating technologies and protocols for environmental management of the impacted land. They then discuss how to choose the correct ones to use in different situations to protect the quality and health of natural resource and capital of the geoenvironment and ensure that these geoenvironmental natural resources and capital remain available for future generations and to develop innovative and sustainable techniques to make land more stable and safer.

    Geoenvironment Management and Sustainability
    Introduction
    Impacts on the Geoenvironment
    Geoenvironment Impacts from Natural Events and Disasters
    Anthropogenic Forces and Impacts on Geoenvironment
    Geoenvironment, Ecosystems, and Resources
    Ecozones and Ecosystems
    Natural Resources and Biodiversity in the Geoenvironment
    Geoenvironment Sustainability
    Geoenvironment as a Natural Resource Base
    Impacts on the Geoenvironment
    Impacts due to Population Growth
    Impacts from Natural Resource Exploitation
    Stressors and Sources
    Natural Stressor Sources and Stressors
    Anthropogenic Stressor Sources and Stressors
    Geoenvironment Impacts on Soil and Water Resources
    Impacts on Land Mass and Soil
    Soil Functionality and Indicators
    Impacts on Water and Water Resources
    Sustainability
    Renewable and Nonrenewable Geoenvironment Natural Resources
    Rs and Beyond
    Concluding Remarks
    References

    Stressors and Soil Contamination

    Introduction
    Stressors and Impacts
    Stressor Impacts on Soils
    Hydraulic
    Mechanical
    Thermal
    Chemical
    Geochemical
    Biologically Mediated
    Soil Contamination from Chemical Stressors
    Contamination and Geoenvironmental Impacts
    Reference Frame
    Characterization of Geoenvironmental Impacts
    Identifying and Assessing for Impact on the Geoenvironment
    Stressor Sources
    Nature of Impacts
    Man-Made and Natural Combinations
    Wastes, Contaminants, and Threats
    Inorganic Contaminants
    Arsenic (As)
    Cadmium (Cd)
    Chromium (Cr)
    Copper (Cu)
    Lead (Pb)
    Nickel (Ni)
    Zinc (Zn)
    Organic Chemical Contaminants
    Persistent Organic Chemical Pollutants
    Surface and Subsurface Soils
    Soil as a Resource Material
    Nature of Soils
    Soil Composition
    Primary Minerals
    Secondary Minerals
    Soil Organic Matter
    Oxides and Hydrous Oxides
    Carbonates and Sulfates
    Soil Properties Pertinent to Contaminant Transport and Fate
    Specific Surface Area and Cation Exchange Capacity
    Surface Properties
    Contaminant Transport and Land Contamination
    Mechanisms of Interaction of Heavy Metal Contaminants in Soil
    Chemically Reactive Groups of Organic Chemical Contaminants
    Partitioning of Contaminants and Partition Coefficients
    Predicting Contaminant Transport
    Geoenvironmental Land Management
    Concluding Remarks
    References

    Sustainable Water Management

    Introduction
    Geoenvironment Sustainable Water Management
    Water Availability and Quality
    Uses of Water and Its Importance
    Hydrological Cycle
    Human Interference on Infiltration and Runoff
    Harvesting of Groundwater
    Excessive Groundwater Abstraction and Land Subsidence
    Uses of Water
    Water Quality Characterization and Management
    Classes of Contaminants Characterizing Chemical Stressors
    Monitoring of Water Quality
    Remote Sensing
    Biomonitoring
    Sustainable Water Treatment and Management
    Techniques for Soil and Groundwater Treatment
    Isolation and Containment
    Extraction Treatment Techniques
    Electrokinetic Applications
    Natural Attenuation
    Biostimulation
    Bioaugmentation
    Enhanced Natural Attenuation
    In Situ Reactive Regions—Treatment Zones
    Permeable Reactive Barriers
    Ex Situ Processes
    Groundwater and Water Management
    Evaluation of the Sustainability of Remediation Alternatives
    Concluding Remarks
    References

    Industrial Ecology and the Geoenvironment

    Introduction
    Concept of Industrial Ecology
    Geoenvironmental Life Cycle Assessment
    Geoenvironment Impacts and Sustainability
    Upstream, Midstream, and Downstream Industries
    Mineral Mining and Processing Downstream Industries
    Metallurgical Industries
    Metal Fabrication and Processing
    Nonmetal Mineral Resources Processing
    Land Environment Impacts and Sustainability Indicators
    Agroprocessing Industries
    Leather Tanning Industry
    Pulp and Paper Industry
    Palm Oil Industries
    Land Environment Impact and Sustainability Indicators
    Petrochemical and Chemical Industries
    Petrochemical Industries
    Chemical Industries
    Stressors and Impacts on Geoenvironment
    Land Environment Impacts and Sustainability Indicators
    Service Industries
    Hospital Wastes and the Geoenvironment
    Energy Production and the Geoenvironment
    Fossil Fuel Energy Production
    Geoenvironment Stressors
    Nuclear Energy
    Alternative Energy Sources and the Geoenvironment
    Contaminating Discharges and Wastes
    Physicochemical Properties and Processes
    Solubility
    Partition Coefficients
    Vapor Pressure
    Concluding Remarks
    References

    Natural Resources Extraction: Stressors and Impact Management

    Introduction
    Stressors and Impacts
    Mining-Related Activities
    Biohydrometallurgical Processes
    Underground In Situ Hydrocarbon Extraction
    Sulfide Minerals and Acidic Leachates
    Acid Mine Drainage
    Arsenic Release
    Sustainability and Resource Exploitation
    Resource Extraction and Stressor Impacts
    Mining-Related Industries
    Pit Mining
    Discharges from Beneficiation and Processing: Stressor Sources
    Solid Waste Materials and Stressors
    Liquid Waste Streams, Discharge, and Stressors
    Underground In Situ Hydrocarbon Extraction
    Fluid Usage and Stressors
    Tailings Discharges
    Containment of Tailings
    Nature of Contained Slurry Tailings
    Geoenvironment Impacts and Management
    Geoenvironmental Inventory and Land Use
    Acid Mine Drainage Impact Mitigation
    Acid Mine Drainage Management
    Wetlands
    Biosorption
    Slurry Tailings Ponds Impact Management
    Concluding Remarks
    Mining Activities
    Contaminated Water Management
    Tailings Discharge and Mine Closure
    References

    Agricultural-Based Food Production Geoenvironment Stressors

    Introduction
    Food Production
    Geoenvironment Engineering: Sustainable Issues
    Land Use for Food Production
    Stressor Impacts on Water and Soil
    Water Utilization
    Soil and Water Quality Stressors
    Chemical Soil Nutrients
    Pesticides
    Food Production Stressor Impacts
    Impact on Health
    Impact on Biodiversity
    Managing Geoenvironment Stressor Impacts
    Examples of Practices to Reduce Stressor Impacts
    Soil Degradation
    Soil Erosion
    Integrated Crop Management
    Water Quality
    Source Control
    Impact of Soil Additives
    Mitigating Manure Treatment Stressors’ Impacts
    Aerobic Composting
    Anaerobic Digestion
    Wetlands
    Integrated Manure Treatment
    Tools for Evaluation of Geoenviroment Impacts from Farming Stressor Sources
    Agricultural Sustainability
    Development of Analytical Tools
    Indicators of Agroecosystem Sustainability
    Concluding Remarks
    References

    Urbanization and the Geoenvironment

    Introduction
    Land Uses by Urbanization
    Impact of Urbanization on WEHAB
    Impact on Water
    Effect of Traffic and Energy Use
    Implications on Health
    Impact of Land Use
    Impact of Urban Waste Disposal
    Greenhouse Gases
    Impact on Ecosystem Biodiversity
    Impact Avoidance and Risk Minimization
    Waste Management
    Contamination Management and Prevention
    Waste Reduction
    Recycling
    Water Resources Management
    Reduction in Energy Usage, Ozone Depletion, and Greenhouse Gases
    Minimizing Impact on Biodiversity
    Altering Transportation
    Brownfield Redevelopment
    Sustainability Indicators for Urbanization
    Mitigation and Remediation of Impacts
    Mitigation of Impact of Wastes
    Fresh Kills Urban Dump, New York City, New York, USA
    Vertical Barriers and Containment
    Excavation
    Landfill Bioreactor
    Natural Attenuation
    Remediation of Urban Sites
    Case Study of a Sustainable Urban Area
    Concluding Remarks
    References

    Coastal Marine Environment Sustainability

    Introduction
    Coastal Marine Environment and Impacts
    Geosphere and Hydrosphere Coastal Marine Environment
    Sedimentation
    Eutrophication
    Food Chain and Biological Concentration
    Contamination of Sediments
    Some Case Studies of Sediment Contamination
    Sediment Quality Criteria
    London Convention and Protocol
    Quality of Marine Sediments
    Standards and Guidelines
    Guidelines
    Chemicals
    Background and Bioconcentration
    Background Concentration
    Sulfide and Its Effects on Marine Life
    Toxic Sulfide
    Guidelines for Sulfide for Surface Water and Sediments
    Connecting Problems of Geoenvironment and Bioenvironment
    Heavy Metals
    Profile of Heavy Metal Concentration
    Minamata Disease
    Organic Chemical Contaminants
    Organotins
    Chlorinated Organic Microcontaminants
    Rehabilitation of Coastal Marine Environment
    Removal of Contaminated Suspended Solids
    Confined Sea Areas
    Large Bodies of Water
    Continuous Removal of Suspended Solids
    Sand Capping
    Removal of Contaminated Sediments by Dredging
    Dredging
    Treatment of Dredged Sediments
    Removal of Contaminated Sediments by Resuspension
    Creation of a Natural Purification System
    Creation of Sand Beaches and Tidal Flats
    Creation of Seaweed Swards
    Sea Disposal of Waste
    Coastal Erosion
    Concluding Remarks
    References

    Contaminants and Land Environment Sustainability Indicators

    Introduction
    Indicators
    Nature of Indicators
    Contaminants and Geoenvironment Indicators
    Prescribing Indicators
    Assessment of Interaction Impacts
    Sustainability Concerns
    Surface Discharge: Hydrological Drainage, Spills, and Dumping
    Subsurface Discharges
    Contaminant Transport and Fate
    Analytical and Predictive Tools
    Basic Elements of Interactions between Dissolved Solutes and Soil Fractions
    Elements of Abiotic Reactions between Organic Chemicals and Soil Fractions
    Reactions in Porewater
    Surface Complexation and Partitioning
    Partitioning of Inorganic Contaminants
    Organic Chemical Contaminants
    Persistence and Fate
    Biotransformation and Degradation of Organic Chemicals and Heavy Metals
    Alkanes, Alkenes, and Cycloalkanes
    Polycyclic, Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons
    Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylene
    Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether
    Halogenated Aliphatic and Aromatic Compounds
    Heavy Metals
    Prediction of Transport and Fate of Contaminants
    Mass Transport
    Transport Prediction
    Chemical Reactions and Transport Predictions
    Geochemical Speciation and Transport Predictions
    Concluding Remarks
    References

    Geoenvironment Impact Mitigation and Management

    Introduction
    Geoenvironmental Impacts
    Types of Stressors
    Impact Mitigation and Management
    Site Functionality and Restoration
    Site Functionality
    Choice and Use of Attributes
    Site Restoration
    Stressor Impacts and Mitigation
    Geo-Disaster Mitigation and Protection
    Naturally Occurring Events
    Anthropogenic Actions
    Chemical Stressors: Contaminants
    Soils for Contaminant Impact Mitigation and Management
    Physical and Mechanical Properties
    Soil Microstructure Controls on Hydraulic Transmission
    Microstructure, Wetted Surfaces, and Transport Properties
    Chemical Properties
    Sorption
    Cation Exchange
    Solubility and Precipitation
    Speciation and Complexation
    Biological Properties
    Protozoa
    Fungi
    Algae
    Viruses
    Bacteria
    Natural Attenuation Capability of Soils
    Natural Attenuation by Dilution and Retention
    Dilution and Retention
    Biodegradation and Biotransformation
    Petroleum Hydrocarbons: Alkanes, Alkenes, and Cycloalkanes
    Gasoline Components BTEX and MTBE
    Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
    Halogenated Aliphatic and Aromatic Compounds
    Metals
    Oxidation–Reduction Reactions
    Natural Attenuation and Impact Management
    Enhancement of Natural Attenuation Capability
    Soil Buffering Capacity Manipulation
    Biostimulation and Bioaugmentation
    Biochemical and Biogeochemical Aids
    NA Treatment Zones for Impact Mitigation
    Permeable Reactive Barriers and NA
    Lines of Evidence
    Organic Chemical Compounds
    Metals
    Evidence of Success
    Engineered Mitigation–Control Systems
    Remediation as Control–Management
    Concluding Remarks
    References

    Remediation and Management of Contaminated Soil

    Introduction
    Physical Remediation Technologies
    Isolation
    Confined Disposal
    Extraction Processes
    Physical Separation
    Soil Vapor Extraction
    Fracturing
    Soil Flushing
    Soil Washing
    Chemical/Thermal Remediation
    Oxidation
    Nanoremediation
    Electrokinetic Remediation
    Solidification/Stabilization
    Vitrification
    Incineration
    Thermal Extraction
    Biological Remediation
    Slurry Reactors
    Landfarming
    Composting
    Bioleaching
    Bioconversion Processes
    Phytoremediation
    In Situ Bioremediation
    Bioventing
    Comparison between Treatment Technologies
    Treatment Technologies Overview
    Design of a Remediation Process
    Case Study Using a Sustainability Approach
    Case Study for a Benzene-Contaminated Site
    Concluding Remarks
    References

    Sustainable Ground Improvement Technique for Geo-Disaster Mitigation

    Introduction
    Soil Origin and Stability
    Soft Soils and Stability
    Soft Soil Engineering and Ground Improvement
    Carbonate Diagenesis: Carbonate as a Cementing Agent
    Definition of Carbonate Diagenesis
    Origin and Fate of Carbonates
    Sea Bottoms and Ocean Floors
    Coral Reef and Shells in Coastal Areas
    Microbially Induced Carbonates
    Formation of Sedimentary Rock due to Carbonate Diagenesis
    Formations of Carbonate Nodules and Sandstones
    Calcirudite
    Carbonate Diagenesis Summary
    The Case for Using Diagenetic Process in Ground Improvement
    Artificial Diagenesis
    Microbes
    Ureolytic Bacteria
    Chemical Reactions in Artificial Diagenesis
    Urease Activity
    Carbonate Precipitation
    Definition and Measurement of Carbonate Content
    Artificial Diagenesis for Geo-Disaster Mitigation
    Injection of Microbes and Reactive Solution
    Increased Strength due to Artificial Diagenesis
    Unconfined Compressive Strength
    Triaxial Compressive Strength
    Cone Penetration Resistance
    Concepts in Design
    Concluding Remarks
    References

    Sustainable Geoenvironmental Engineering Practice

    Introduction
    Undeniable Facts
    Geotechnical to Geoenvironmental Engineering Practice
    Unsustainable Actions and Events
    Accidents and Unplanned Events
    Wastes and Discharges
    Renewable Geoenvironment Natural Resources
    Sustainability of Renewable Nonliving Natural Resources
    Geoenvironmental Management of Soil and Water Resources
    Adverse Stressor Impacts
    Management for Sustainability Goals
    Protection of Soil and Water Resources
    Water and Soil Quality Indicators
    Quality and Index
    Example of SQI Development
    Water Quality Index WQI
    Sustainability Practice Examples
    Rehabilitation of Airport Land
    Sustainability Indicators: Observations and Comments
    Sustainable Mining Land Conversion
    Sustainability Indicators: Observations and Comments
    Agriculture Sustainability Study
    Sustainability Indicators: Observations and Comments
    Petroleum Oil Well Redevelopment
    Sustainability Indicators: Observations and Comments
    Mining and Geoenvironmental Sustainability
    Sustainability Indicators: Observations and Comments
    Organic Urban Waste Management in Europe
    Sediment Reuse: Orion Project, Port of New York and New Jersey
    A Case Study Scheme for Sustainable Geoenvironment Practice: Remediation of Cesium-Contaminated Surface Soils
    Introduction and Problem Setting
    Rehabilitation Schemes
    Segregation of Particles in Water
    Technological Images
    Demonstration Pilot Tests on Contaminated Sediments and Soils
    Full-Scale Application
    Assessment of Sustainable Practice Success
    Concluding Remarks: Sensible Practice for a Sustainable Geoenvironment
    References
    Index

    Biography

    Dr. Raymond N. Yong is the William Scott Professor Emeritus at McGill University, Canada, and Emeritus Professor at the University of Wales Cardiff (Cardiff University), UK. He has authored and co-authored eleven other textbooks, over five hundred refereed papers in the various journals in the disciplines of Geoenvironmental Engineering and Earth Science, and holds 52 patents. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society (Canada), and a Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Québec. He and his students were amongst the early researchers in Geoenvironmental Engineering engaged in research on the physico-chemical properties and behaviour of soils, their use in buffer/barriers for HLW (high-level radioactive waste) and HSW (hazardous solid waste) containment and isolation, and restoration/remediation of contaminated sites. He and his colleagues are currently engaged in research on Geoenvironmental sustainability.

    Dr. Catherine N. Mulligan holds a Concordia Research Chair in Geoenvironmental Sustainability (Tier I) and is Full Professor and Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies of the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science of Concordia University, Canada. She has authored more than 80 refereed papers in various journals, authored, co-edited or co-authored five other books, holds three patents and has supervised to completion more than 40 graduate students. She is the Director of the new Concordia Institute of Water, Energy and Sustainable Systems. The new Institute trains students in sustainable development practices and performs research into new systems, technologies and solutions for environmental sustainability.

    Dr. Masaharu Fukue is a Full Professor at Tokai University, Japan. He has studied and taught geoenvironmental engineering and geotechnical engineering for 36 years, since 1978, in Marine Science and Technology, Tokai University. He has co-authored two other textbooks, over one hundred refereed papers in various journals, and holds 6 patents. He has recently established the Japanese Geotechnical Association for Housing Disaster Prevention to apply the theory and practice of innovative microbial cementing process (one of his patented process). In addition, another of his Japanese patents (re-suspension technique for sediment rehabilitation) is currently being applied in Fukushima, Japan, in the aftermath of the March, 2011 East-Japan great earthquake and accompanying tsunami. Both projects demonstrate the interdependencies between geoenvironmental engineering and geotechnical engineering, and the need to apply sustainability principles in the practice of both disciplines.