Yorkshire Geotechnical Group – Application Areas of Permeable Geotextile Contaminant Barriers

Synopsis

Active geocomposites consist of geotextiles that sandwich various adsorbents, such as activated carbon, oil or heavy metal binders, etc. The use of this innovative treatment systems enable an effective protection of the underground in different application areas. As large-area permeable filters, they selectively stop the flow of contaminants but not the flow of the carrier medium – the water or the vapour. Accordingly, surface sealing and connection to the sewerage system is not required. Moreover, intervention in the natural flow paths of water is significantly reduced. Equipping or retrofitting structural facilities with permeable geotextile contaminant barriers for soil or water protection can be realized in many places without great expense. Areas of application for these contaminant barriers made of active geocomposites are diverse, for example in traffic infrastructure, storage yards, remediation sites, or to construct with contaminated soils. In this presentation, the approach of active geocomposites and the different application areas will be discussed.