How To Use Decontamination In Cleaning Up Contaminated Garden Soil

Many people are turning to garden farming due to the issues of contamination that are associated with many of the types sold in some stores. However before you embark on this method, there are various factors to consider. One of them is soil contamination. When you realize that your soil is no longer productive, it is important to decontaminate it. But the first and essential step before carrying out any decontamination procedure is to ensure that you know what is contaminating your soil. Soils that are contaminated have very high levels of volatile organic compounds. The soil is considered as highly contaminated when its VOC is greater than 50. There are various methods of decontaminating your soil as explained here below:

  1. Use of organic solvent– this method is effective in cleaning the soil. The solvent dissolves the contaminants and other soil destroying materials. After weakening the volatile compounds, bacteria will destroy them and help to restore soil fertility. A number of chemicals may be used to make these solvents including amines, esters, ethers and ketenes.
  2. Usage of organic nutrient– this helps quicken the process of decomposition. You apply the organic nutrient directly on the soil and you do not need to extract the affected soil. After application of the organic nutrient, you allow the bacteria sometime before they start working on your soil. Once the soil is restored, you start using it directly.
  3. Thermal soil remediation– this is a procedure that destroys oil-based soil contaminants.

    The soil is exposed to very high heat. This procedure requires a professional from the relevant state organs.

  4. Use of mild solvents-you can put together soil and agitate it to see whether it separates the contaminants from it. For example, iron remediation takes the affected soil and removes the contaminants from it. A specific amount of iron is used to clean up the soil which breaks down the contaminants. You can remove soil from the affected sections and replaced it with a different one which is not contaminated.
  5. Soaking of contaminants– you can do this by planting genetically changed poplar trees. They remove mercury from soil and release it into air. You can also use various plants like sunflower and ferns that can be pulled from soil and come up with the contaminants.
  6. Spreading of tarpaulin over the soil- you dampen the ground and allow it to stay for a number of months.
  7. Use of activated charcoal– this can be used if you are dealing with a small are. The charcoal has the same role as a sponge and has the ability to absorb the chemical if it is recent
  8. Adding of fish bones– they remove lead contaminants from the soil

For More: