Increasing the applicability of gentle soil remediation methods : lessons from the Greenland project

• Main Authors: PUSCHENREITER, Markus, MENCH, Michel, BERT, Valérie, KUMPIENE, Jurate, KIDD, Petra, CUNDY, Andrew
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: ADEME Editions 2014
• Subjects: Sciences de l'environnement; Greenland
• Online Access: https://oskar-bordeaux.fr/handle/20.500.12278/108780

Gentle remediation options (GRO) include various and in general plant-based options to remediate trace element contaminated soils (TECS) at low cost and without significant negative effects for the environment. Although GRO comprise very innovative and efficient technologies, they are still not widely used as practical site solution due to several hindrance reasons. Greenland has been launched on January 1 2011 to address several issues: - Sustainable management adapted to TECS and deployment of GRO at field scale; - Valorisation of plant biomass produced on trace element (TE) -contaminated sites; - Harmonization of methods to assess the bioavailability of TE and development of a tool set to monitor the sustainability of GRO; - Improving GRO through plant selection and modifications in soil TE bioavailability; - Appraisal of current GRO practice, and development of implementation guidance and decision support frameworks. Various current gaps / shortfalls in GRO application and development, i.e. lack of rigorous large-scale applications of GRO, variability in methods used for analysis and appraisal, potential for increasing the efficiency of GRO through biotechnology, technologies for biomass valorization and their uncertainty, bestpractice guidances for the application of GRO at field scale, including appraisal of the various options available and their uncertainty, methods for monitoring, development and evaluation of a decision support tool (DST) focused on GRO, which can be integrated into existing, well-established and utilized DSTs / decision-frameworks, etc. are addressed. The overall aim of GREENLAND is to make GRO fit for purpose, which will substantially contribute to improvement of soil quality and ecosystem services on the local level (land owners, communities), but also at the European level. In addition to that, the use of biomass produced on GRO-treated contaminated land will contribute to socio-economic development at the local level and help to fulfil the increasing demand for biomass use in raw material and energy production all over Europe while avoiding the competition for food production and land change use. During the first 3 years of Greenland, major achievements have been reached in all workpackages. The field experiments have been successfully maintained, in spite of partly challenging conditions, e.g. severe drought periods. Several biomass valorisation options were tested. Based on test results, literature overview and ongoing interviews with biomass processing enterprises, a list of feasible options is prepared. Suitable indicators of gentle remediation progress and success were identified in a comprehensive ring test on soil samples from field trials. The results obtained so far were summarized and submitted for publication. A second ring test will confirm the preliminary results. To enhance the efficiency of GRO, several plantassociated bacterial strains and combinations of soil amendments were evaluated. For bringing GRO into practical application, a decision support system has been published, along with valuable information on stakeholder engagement and empowerment. A technical guideline, which will be available at the end of Greenland, is now prepared.