Pollution control caused by high levels of petroleum hydrocarbons in contaminated soils

In this research, the efficiency of the stabilization and solidification process in stabilizing organic pollutants from soil contaminated with petroleum compounds through cement and modified clay (organophilic clay) was investigated. The soil studied in this research was prepared from the waste disposal site of the second refining industry of engine oil located on the edge of the Salafchegan industrial city (Qom, Iran). The effect of different amounts of modified clay and cement on the stabilization and solidification process was investigated by measuring the unconfined compressive strength and the leaching concentration for treated samples with 28-day time. The experiments showed that in order to control the pollution caused by petroleum hydrocarbons in the soil, the simultaneous use of modified clay as a cementations adsorbent significantly improved the stabilization of contaminants. Using response surface methodology, it was obtained that, a combination of 22.5% modified clay and 21% cement with contaminated soil causes the lowest leak concentrations.