AFFF has been used historically at Norwegian airports and as such has resulted in contamination of ground water and soils with a multitude of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances. In order to suggests methods of remediation that comply with environmental legislations for such sites it is important to obtain an understanding of the way in which these chemicals behave in the environment. In Norway it is the concentration of PFOS that drives regulation and very low target values for the concentration that is permitted in water and soil have been set. Cleaning up to such low concentrations is technologically, logistically and chemically challenging. Soil samples from various airports around Norway were collected for testing. The soils ranged from very sandy to several that contained large fractions of peat and consequently organic matter. Total concentrations of PFOS as well as the leachability of PFOS was measured in batch shaking tests. Total concentrations as high as 2600 ug/kg were observed and leachability was up to 100 % of this amount. Properties of the soils were also investigated (pH, Fe, Ca, Mn, SO4, Cl, TOC) and there were at best weak correlations with these properties. Soil-water partitioning coefficients were calculated from the laboratory experiments. Soil washing and stabilisation with a variety of strongly sorbing materials (activated carbon, cement, clay and compost) were tested as possible remediation options. Results will be used in order to suggest the most feasible site remediation in collaboration with the Norwegian Airport Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency.

Remediation of PFC contaminated soil at Norwegian airports

251st National Meeting (2016)

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