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Remediation Geology and Technologies: Geology-Focused Approach and Chemical–Physical and Biological Processes for Sustainable Remediation

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainability in Geographic Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (9 December 2024) | Viewed by 3110

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Earth Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: hydrogeophysics; hydrogeology; 3D modeling tools; groundwater remediation; water quality modeling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: groundwater remediation; in situ technologies; combined chemical-physical and biological processes; adsorption processes; transport and fate of contaminants in soil and aquifers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Earth Science, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: geology; geoinformatics (GIS); engineering geology; environment; spatial analysis; geoenvironmental engineering

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The scientific community is rediscovering the crucial role of geology in achieving successful remediation outcomes by developing a comprehensive hydrogeologic conceptual site model. To further enrich the discussion on remediation geology and emphasize its significance in achieving successful remediation, we are delighted to announce a Special Issue dedicated to exploring the latest advancements in this field.

We invite you to share knowledge, insights, and innovative approaches, in the form of research papers, aimed at addressing the challenges associated with the remediation of contaminated sites.

The primary objective of this Special Issue is to foster collaboration among experts, researchers, and practitioners from diverse backgrounds, including geology, geophysics, hydrogeology, chemistry, and remediation engineering. Together, we will delve into the integration of geology-focused approaches and chemical–physical and biological processes for achieving the sustainable and successful remediation of polluted sites.

We encourage submissions related to the following topics, among others:

  • New frontiers in geology-based and high-resolution site characterization, advanced contaminant mapping techniques, and transport models;
  • Groundbreaking remediation technologies and cutting-edge strategies;
  • The application of innovative chemical–biological and physical processes in situ and in the laboratory;
  • Novel monitoring and assessment methodologies for evaluating the effectiveness of remediation efforts;
  • Compelling case studies and inspiring success stories in site remediation.

We welcome original research papers, case studies, and review articles that contribute to the advancement of knowledge in this field. By joining forces, we can make a significant impact in restoring polluted sites and paving the way for a more sustainable future.

Sincerely,

Dr. Paolo Ciampi
Prof. Dr. Marco Petrangeli Papini
Dr. Carlo Esposito
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • geology
  • remediation
  • hydrogeology
  • groundwater
  • contaminant
  • in situ technologies
  • chemical–physical and biological processes
  • transport and fate of contaminants
  • conceptual site model
  • 3D geomodelling

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

45 pages, 21790 KiB  
Article
Remediation Geology and Process-Based Conceptual Site Models to Optimize Groundwater Remediation
by Richard Cramer, Beth L. Parker and James Mark Stapleton
Sustainability 2025, 17(5), 2027; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17052027 - 26 Feb 2025
Viewed by 707
Abstract
The Environmental Consulting Industry in the United States has historically prioritized engineering approaches over geologic science in addressing groundwater contamination. This engineering-centric bias has often resulted in oversimplified conceptual site models (CSMs) that fail to capture subsurface heterogeneity, limiting the effectiveness of groundwater [...] Read more.
The Environmental Consulting Industry in the United States has historically prioritized engineering approaches over geologic science in addressing groundwater contamination. This engineering-centric bias has often resulted in oversimplified conceptual site models (CSMs) that fail to capture subsurface heterogeneity, limiting the effectiveness of groundwater remediation strategies. Recognizing the critical role of geology, the industry is increasingly adopting a Remediation Geology approach, which emphasizes the development of robust geologic models as the foundation for remediation programs. Geologic models optimize site lithologic data to define subsurface permeability architecture. The geologic model primarily serves as the structure to develop a Process-Based CSM, which is a holistic model that supports the entire remediation life cycle. A Process-Based CSM addresses the physical, chemical, and biological processes governing contaminant occurrence with the goal of modeling and predicting subsurface conditions for improved decision making with respect to monitoring programs and remediation design. Case studies highlight the transformative impact of Remediation Geology and Process-Based CSMs, demonstrating significant improvements in cleanup efficiency and resource optimization across diverse hydrogeologic settings. By addressing site complexities such as fine-grained units and fracture networks, Remediation Geology and Process-Based CSMs have proven effective for contaminants ranging from chlorinated solvents to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and radionuclides. Full article
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21 pages, 7854 KiB  
Article
3D GeoRemediation: A Digital Hydrogeophysical–Chemical Clone and Virtual Hydraulic Barrier with Groundwater Circulation Wells (GCWs) for Groundwater Remediation
by Paolo Ciampi, Giulia Felli, Damiano Feriaud, Carlo Esposito and Marco Petrangeli Papini
Sustainability 2024, 16(12), 5216; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16125216 - 19 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1641
Abstract
Identification of contamination sources and delineation of plumes in the geological environment stand as pivotal elements in reconstructing the conceptual site model (CSM) and devising remediation strategies tailored to specific physicochemical traits. This study endeavors to showcase the capabilities of a 3D digital [...] Read more.
Identification of contamination sources and delineation of plumes in the geological environment stand as pivotal elements in reconstructing the conceptual site model (CSM) and devising remediation strategies tailored to specific physicochemical traits. This study endeavors to showcase the capabilities of a 3D digital interface, seamlessly integrating multi-source data, to elucidate site-specific contamination dynamics and steer the implementation of remediation strategies harmoniously aligned with the ethos of remediation geology. In a site historically marred by chlorinated solvent contamination, the digitization of stratigraphic, piezometric, chemical, and membrane interface probe (MIP) data underpins geomodeling endeavors and yields a meticulously crafted, data-driven CSM. The hydrogeochemical and hydrogeophysical data were interpolated to build a volumetric, digital 3D model illustrating data-driven elements. The comprehensive 3D clone adeptly delineates secondary contamination sources and renders visible the contamination plume within a georeferenced framework, mirroring the nuanced interplay of stratigraphic nuances and groundwater path. A data-centric approach to modeling facilitates the design of the first hydraulic virtual barrier leveraging groundwater circulation well (GCW) technology, its geometry finely attuned to intercept the contamination plume originating from source dissolution and aligning with preferential groundwater flow trajectories. Conventional hydrochemical monitoring and multilevel sampling substantiate the discernible reduction in chlorinated solvent concentrations across various depths within the aquifer horizon, affirming the efficacy of GCWs in their virtual barrier configuration. The findings highlight the effectiveness and limited groundwater consumption of the virtual barrier compared to the on-site pump-and-stock system. This research underscores the potency of a multi-faceted evidence-driven puzzle in conceptualizing contamination mechanisms within the geological milieu, thereby fostering the application of cutting-edge, effective, and sustainable remediation strategies. Full article
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