Deakin
Deakin University scientists have developed a cost-effective way to address the worldwide shortage of fine aggregate used in concrete, while also eliminating the need to dump millions of tonnes of contaminated soil into landfill.
Constructions sites worldwide are removing tonnes of per-and poly-fluoroalkyl (PFAS) contaminated soil and sending it to landfill. Landfilling is expensive and, as seen in Melbourne with its problems getting rid of PFAS-contaminated soil from the West Gate Tunnel and Rail Tunnel projects, raises concerns around long term health and environmental exposure by PFAS.
PFAS compounds, produced in large quantities by various industries worldwide, for example in firefighting foaming agents and manufacture of carpets, are now present in soil, air, surface water, groundwater and in some places, drinking water. Currently, thermal destruction treatment is the only way to completely decontaminate PFAS polluted soil, which effectively ruins the soil and makes it unsuitable for growing crops. Soils decontaminated in this way can only go into landfill or be used as road-fill.