For A Healthy Garden:
With the recent chemical derailments I felt the need to create a post on removing chemical toxins from soil as well as the water. The most important factors in creating a healthy and thriving garden is to ensure your soil and water are free from contaminants and harmful toxins.
Though, I am no expert in removing chemical toxins I have done a great deal of research to help those looking. Please check the sources yourself, most of which are .gov sites. The sad part about this is most of the pages available on USGS.gov as well as USDA.gov and WHO.INT. all have a 404 error. This information was available. However it no longer is.
Table of Contents
Removing Chemical Toxins From Soil Bioremediation:
This involves using microorganisms to break down and transform contaminants in the soil into harmless substances. Bioremediation can be done through various methods such as landfarming, composting, and bioaugmentation.
Acid rain: Is primarily sulfur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen. Acid rain is caused when pollutants present in the air mix with the rain and fall back to the ground. Acid rain decreases the PH of the soil. This causes the acidity to increase. Which decrease the level of vital nutrients needed in the soil.
Meanwhile the rain in Ohio is now taking clear coat off vehicles? pic.twitter.com/c37Iro0iij
— Nick Muchmore (@muchmoren) February 21, 2023
The best source for this method I was able to find and share is right here. It is important to note the effectiveness of each remediation will depend on various factors such as soil type. concentration of contamination and presence of other chemicals in soil.
Removing Chemical Toxins From Soil Chemical remediation:
Chemical Oxidation using compounds such as hydrogen peroxide or potassium permanganate can break down vinyl chloride in the soil. Chemical reduction using zero-valent iron or sodium dithionite can also be effective.
Chemical reduction is a process in which electrons are transferred from one molecule or ion to another. In the context of environmental remediation, chemical reduction can be used to transform contaminants into less harmful or non-toxic substances.
Zero-valent iron (ZVI) and sodium dithionite are two chemicals that are commonly used for chemical reduction in environmental remediation.
Zero-valent iron (ZVI) is a strong reducing agent that can reduce a variety of contaminants, including chlorinated solvents, nitroaromatic compounds, and heavy metals.
ZVI works by providing electrons to the contaminant, which causes it to be reduced into less harmful or non-toxic forms. ZVI can be used in a variety of applications, including permeable reactive barriers (PRBs), which are installed underground to intercept and treat contaminated groundwater.
Here is a post from the EPA that explains more of this in detail!
Removing Chemical Toxins From Soil Thermal remediation
This involves using heat to break down and remove contaminants from the soil and water. Thermal remediation can be done through methods such as thermal desorption, incineration, and thermal conduction.
There are several different types of thermal remediation techniques, including:
- Thermal desorption: This process involves heating contaminated soil to high temperatures (around 300-600°C) in a specially designed treatment unit. The contaminants are volatilized and collected for treatment, while the soil is cooled and returned to the ground.
- In-situ thermal remediation: This method involves heating the soil and groundwater in place using heating elements or steam injection. The heat helps to volatilize the contaminants, which can then be collected and treated.
- Pyrolysis: This is a type of thermal treatment that involves heating organic materials in the absence of oxygen to break down contaminants. The process can be used to treat soil contaminated with petroleum products, pesticides, and other organic chemicals.
While thermal remediation can be effective in removing contaminants from soil and water, it is also a relatively expensive and energy-intensive process. For more on this tactic click here.
Cleaning Soil Of Harmful Chemicals Via Pyrolysis:
Pyrolysis is a type of thermal treatment that involves heating organic materials, such as biomass or waste, in the absence of oxygen to break down the material into smaller, simpler compounds.
The process can be used to treat a wide range of organic materials, including contaminated soil, industrial waste, and municipal solid waste.
The pyrolysis process typically involves heating the material to temperatures between 400-700°C in a specially designed reactor. As the material is heated, it breaks down into smaller molecules and releases gases, which are then captured and treated.
The remaining solid residue, known as biochar, can be used as a soil amendment or as a source of renewable energy.
In the context of soil remediation, pyrolysis can be used to treat soil contaminated with petroleum products, pesticides, and other organic chemicals.
The process can be particularly effective in removing persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that are difficult to remove using other remediation techniques. It is a relatively low-cost and energy-efficient process, and it produces biochar, which can be used to improve soil fertility and mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon in the soil. Here is more on implementing this technique.
Removing Vinyl Chloride From Water
Activated carbon filtration: This method involves using activated carbon filters to absorb vinyl chloride from water. Activated carbon filters are effective for removing organic contaminants from water, including vinyl chloride. For this I would recommend a Berkey. This is the only filter I trust and proudly made and assembled here in the USA.
Can’t boil these chemicals out!! https://t.co/XABzi8kRkc
— minio (@minio30687249) February 20, 2023
Air stripping: This method involves passing contaminated water through a tower or column, where air is blown through it to strip out volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including vinyl chloride. Air stripping can be a highly effective method for removing vinyl chloride from water.
Air stripping is a water treatment process that can be used to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as vinyl chloride from contaminated water. The process involves introducing air or other gases into the water to promote the transfer of the VOCs from the liquid phase to the gas phase, where they can be captured and treated.
In air stripping, contaminated water is pumped to the top of a tall column, where it is sprayed or trickled over a packing material, such as trays or structured packing, to increase the surface area of the water in contact with the air. As the water flows down through the column, air is introduced at the bottom, creating a countercurrent flow of air and water.
As the contaminated water flows down through the column, the VOCs in the water evaporate into the air and are carried up through the column. The VOC-laden air is then collected and treated using activated carbon adsorption, thermal oxidation, or other treatment technologies to remove the contaminants before being released into the atmosphere.
Removing Toxins From Water with Membrane filtration:
Here is another source I thought could be helpful in explaining in more detail the process.
Membrane filtration is a water treatment process that uses a semi-permeable membrane to remove particles, bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants from water. The membrane acts as a physical barrier, allowing water to pass through while blocking contaminants based on size and charge.
There are several types of membrane filtration, including microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), and reverse osmosis (RO). The main difference between these techniques is the pore size of the membrane, with RO having the smallest pores and MF having the largest.
In MF, the membrane has pores that range in size from 0.1-10 µm, which is capable of removing suspended solids, bacteria, and some viruses. UF has smaller pore sizes ranging from 0.001-0.1 µm and can remove colloids, proteins, and larger organic molecules. NF has even smaller pores ranging from 0.001-0.01 µm and can remove divalent ions, such as calcium and magnesium, and some organic compounds. Finally, RO has the smallest pore size, ranging from 0.0001-0.001 µm, and can remove dissolved solids, such as salts and minerals.
The membrane filtration process involves forcing water through the membrane under pressure, generally between 5-80 bar, depending on the type of membrane and the desired level of filtration. The treated water is then collected on the other side of the membrane, while the contaminants are left behind.
Membrane filtration is an effective method for removing contaminants from water, especially for removing dissolved solids and other smaller contaminants. It is commonly used in drinking water treatment, wastewater treatment, and industrial processes, such as food and beverage manufacturing, pharmaceutical production, and chemical processing.
Chemical Oxidation: For Removing Chemical Toxins From Water
Chemical oxidation is a water treatment process that involves the use of oxidizing agents to break down and remove contaminants from water. This process can be used to treat a variety of contaminants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticides, herbicides, and other organic compounds.
The most commonly used oxidizing agents in chemical oxidation are hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and ozone (O3), which react with the contaminants in the water and break them down into smaller, less harmful compounds. Other oxidizing agents, such as chlorine and permanganate, can also be used in chemical oxidation, although they are less commonly used due to their potential to form harmful by-products.
Chemical oxidation can be used as a standalone treatment process or in combination with other processes, such as air stripping or activated carbon adsorption, to achieve the desired level of treatment. The effectiveness of chemical oxidation depends on a number of factors, including the type and concentration of the contaminants, the oxidizing agent used, and the reaction conditions.
Chemical oxidation is often used in the remediation of contaminated groundwater and soil, as well as in the treatment of wastewater from industrial processes. These are all considerations that are viable given your financial circumstance’s. I would reference these options as often as possible. And implement as many as possible.