Recent Publication Investigates Effectiveness of Liming on Dredged Spoils in Western Finland

7.3.2022
Hållbar teknik Nyhet Forskning
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The removal of silt, sand, and other debris from the bottom of water bodies is a consistent part of maintaining the effectiveness and functionality of harbours and other frequently used waterways. This allows for the safe and efficient passage of private and commercial ships. For many countries and areas around the world with proximity to bodies of water, including Western Finland, dredging is an imperative part of ensuring the continued import and export of goods.

 

Man outside doing field research

The paper “Dredging and deposition of metal sulfide rich river sediments results in rapid conversion to acid sulfate soil materials”, published in Science of the Total Environment, November 2021, researched the use of liming as a preventative method to avoid dredged spoils from producing metal releasing and acidic soil. The study was conducted between 2013 and 2018 and focused on two river estuaries within Western Finland.

“The results from the study showed that the dredged sulfidic sediments were rapidly oxidized and turned into a severely acidic acid sulfate soil that mobilized significant amounts of metals. The results also clearly showed that the current liming recommendations for deposition of dredge spoils containing metal sulfides are insufficient to halt this process.” states Eva Högfors-Rönnholm, researcher and Project Manager at Novia UAS.

Photos:
Top: Eva Högfors-Rönnholm conducting research (Photo by: Sten Engblom)
Bottom: Sten Engblom conducting research (Photo by: Eva Högfors-Rönnholm)

About the Publication

  • Publication: Dredging and deposition of metal sulfide rich river sediments results in rapid conversion to acid sulfate soil materials
  • Authors: Anders Johnson (Linnaeus University, Sweden), Eva Högfors-Rönnholm (Novia University of Applied Sciences, Finland), Sten Engblom (Novia University of Applied Sciences, Finland), Peter Österholm (Åbo Akademi University, Finland), MatsÅström (Linnaeus University, Sweden), Mark Dopson (Linnaeus University, Sweden)
  • First published: 23.11.2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151864
  • The research was funded by: K.H. Renlund Foundation; European Regional Development Fund (via the Interreg Botnia-Atlantica program to the project Sustainable treatment of coastal deposited sulfide soils (STASIS)); and The Swedish Research Council (Formas).