Nonchemical Solidification Techniques
Nonchemical solidification includes dewatering, mixing with ad-
sorbents, and vegetative stabilization. Dewatering involves water
removal using thermal drying, filtration, or centrifugation. The
dried waste is usually either left in place to build up a landfill area
or transported to a suitable landfill location.
In the process of mixing with adsorbents, the purpose is to
adsorb the water phase of the waste using agents with high ad-
sorptive capabilities. The most common adsorptive agent that has
been used is soil. Because of the absence of chemical reactions
between the waste and the adsorbent, the adsorbed water can be
pressurized from the waste-adsorbent system. This process is usu-
ally followed by a chemical solidification technique that will so-
lidify the waste-adsorbent combination. In order not to over-
saturate the adsorbent ~resulting in a larger quantity of waste to be