Effect of hydrocarbon contamination and subsequent remedial treatment on the engineering properties of soil

The soils at a local petroleum storage facility were reportedly contaminated through the seepage of hydrocarbon into the ground. The ground contamination was subsequently remediated using thermal treatment to a safety level accepted by the relevant environmental standards. The treated soils were then placed into a designed pit as a waste material. This study examines the suitability of the treated soils to be recycled for construction use or for the site to be redeveloped, and focus on the effect of the contamination and its subsequent remediation on the engineering properties of the soils. Several laboratory tests were conducted to determine the moisture content, particle size distribution, coefficient of permeability and the compaction characteristics of both the natural and treated soil samples from the same site. Both soil samples were found to be non-plastic, uniformly-graded fine to medium sand; however, the contamination and subsequent treatment appears to have slightly increased the proportions of coarse and fine grains in the treated soil samples. A comparison of the results from the other tests also revealed decreased permeability, and changes in the compaction characteristics of the treated soil samples.