INSIMEP - In Situ Metal Precipitation for remediation of groundwater contaminated with non ferrous metals

Currently, the best available remediation technique for groundwater contaminated by non-ferrous metals is to pump it up and clean it in wastewater treatment plants – i.e. ‘pump and treat’ (P&T), which is a long and costly operation, often failing to meet cleanliness standards. The project aimed to show that treating metal-contaminated groundwater onsite, by accelerating naturally-occurring biogeochemical processes (through the in-situ metal precipitation INSIMEP method), is a better solution than current techniques. The project focused on demonstrating the method at two of the beneficiary’s sites each with varying contaminant mixtures and hydrogeological conditions. The project successfully demonstrated that the in-situ method resulted in the precipitation of metals to a level below remediation targets and achieved irreversibility of metal precipitates. Among the advantages of the method: no hazardous chemicals are required, no solid waste is produced, energy use is lower and long term economic feasibility.