In many cases, waste processing amounts to no more than landfilling. National policies, however, are directed toward maximizing reuse of waste materials.

One method of making waste suitable for reuse is immobilization, which involves chemical and/or physical fixation of the waste substances. The authorities (in The Netherlands Building Materials Decree) recognize this technique as an environmentally sound method. The product obtained, the immobilizate, can be used as a secondary building material (for instance, in road foundations). Immobilization can also be used to reduce the cost of landfilling while ensuring that it takes place in an environmentally sound manner.

At Intertek-Polychemlab we can investigate the possibilities for immobilization of mineral waste products or contaminated soil with inorganic binding agents. The costs of cold immobilization are determined mainly by the binding agents used, such as cement.

The standard procedure we have developed for immobilization involves screening the waste material prior to the production of the immobilizate. The results are used to develop procedures for testing the quality assurance of the immobilizate and of the production process.

Pilot tests are carried out in collaboration with a road-building company, which can also handle practical implementation. One possible application of this technique is for waste processing of polluted soil and various sludge types.

The screening procedures and the experiments carried out by Intertek-Polychemlab prove that cold immobilization can in almost all cases be used to produce a category 1 building material; however, production of a category 2 building material is sometimes preferred for economic reasons. Also, immobilization costs are lower than the customary processing costs. Cold immobilization may, therefore, prove to be an attractive and cost-effective waste processing option.

If you would like more information from one of our experts, then please contact Intertek Polychemlab by Email, or by telephone +31 46 476 27 13