Solidification and Stabilization of Contaminated Soils

Solidification and stabilization (S/S) is a widely applied remediation strategy for soils contaminated by heavy metals, metalloids, organic compounds and other persistent pollutants. The approach involves mixing contaminated soil with binding agents to reduce the mobility of hazardous constituents through physical encapsulation and chemical immobilisation. Solidification focuses on converting waste materials into a solid matrix with enhanced mechanical integrity, while stabilization aims to alter chemical properties to decrease solubility, reactivity or leachability of contaminants. Common binders include ordinary Portland cement, calcium aluminate cement, lime, fly ash and supplementary cementitious materials such as ground granulated blast-furnace slag and calcined clays. The choice and dosage of binder depend on site-specific factors including contaminant speciation, soil mineralogy, pH and environmental conditions. Over the past decade, research has emphasised low-carbon binder alternatives, mechanistic understanding of metal retention in hydration products and long-term durability under variable field conditions such as freeze–thaw, wet–dry and marine exposure. Globally significant applications range from the in situ treatment of industrial brownfields to the reuse of dredged sediments in construction, reflecting the dual objective of protecting human and ecosystem health while enabling resource recovery and sustainable land management.

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Solidification and Stabilization of Contaminated Soils publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in solidification and stabilization of contaminated soils across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Solidification: The process of converting contaminated materials into a solid mass with improved structural integrity, reducing dispersal of pollutants.

Stabilization: The chemical treatment of contaminants to reduce their solubility, reactivity or mobility within a soil matrix.

Binder: A material (often cementitious) mixed with soil to form a matrix that immobilises contaminants physically and chemically.

Ground Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag (GGBS): A by-product of steel production used as a supplementary cementitious material to enhance strength and reduce carbon footprint.

Ettringite: A hydrous calcium aluminium sulphate mineral that forms during cement hydration and can incorporate heavy metals into its crystal lattice.

References

1. Mechanistic insights into Pb and sulfates retention in ordinary Portland cement and aluminous cement: Assessing the contributions from binders and solid waste. Journal of Hazardous Materials (2023).
2. Dredged marine sediments stabilized/solidified with cement and GGBS: Factors affecting mechanical behaviour and leachability. The Science of The Total Environment (2020).
3. Stabilization/Solidification of Zinc- and Lead-Contaminated Soil Using Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3): An Environmentally Friendly Alternative. Sustainability (2020).