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Slag pile, particle carriage to adjacent areas and
houses and sediments along the lower part of erosion gullies, compromising the view..
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Slopes have been recovered, showing the grainy
nature and sterility of the material, which reached high temperatures in the warm season..
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The slopes have been fully formed. A first layer of
the Plant Screen® 1000IC type anti-erosion biodegradable blanket is being applied, to
avoid soil loss..
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Soil was mechanically spread over the surface as a
substrate for plant growth, following application of the first anti-erosion biodegradable
blanket (Plant Screen® 1000IC) layer..
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After applying a 10cm soil layer, the next step was
hydrosowing followed by a second layer of an unidimensional coconut fiber anti-erosion
biodegradable blanket..
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The same area, now fully recovered, showing
improvement of the view and no erosion gullies..
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Industrial waste should be adequately disposed of and
protected to avoid contamination of acquifers, waterways, soil and air or the emission of
gases that might affect human, animal and plant health. Waste is always present in
industry; studies about disposal, recovery and protection are needed to met legal
requirements and to avoid damage to the environment and the population. PROBLEM
The industrial waste to be protected is steel mill blast furnace slag in very
high piles. The waste reached a nearby waterway, the view was compromised and particles
were being carried by wind to neighboring houses. The environmental agency demanded a
solution that would respect ecological principles.
SOLUÇTION
The proposed solution was to create slopes along the waste piles, to add surface
drainage and plant covering over the whole surface. A track tractor was used to form the
slopes with a maximum 30º gradient.
The surface drainage system was made with Sintemax Screen® 400TF covered 1.20x0.30m
canals, rather than a concrete covering, to avoid cracking of the canals due to setting of
the concrete, which would interfere with surface rainwater drainage.
Anti-erosion biodegradable blankets were used for surface protection. First of all a high
density biodegradable blanket (Plant Screen® 1000IC) was applied directly over the waste
to act as a thermal insulator, to retain moisture and to avoid soil loss to the lower
layers of the grainy waste.
A 10cm layer of clay soil was then placed over the first biodegradable blanket surface to
form a substrate for vegetation. Hydrosowing was the next step over which a second
anti-erosion biodegradable blanket layer (Fibrax Screen® 400BF) to protect the soil
against erosion, to retain seeds and fertilizers, to maintain soil moisture and to promote
plant growth.
The technique allows waste to be used in future as it entails no change in its physical
and chemical properties.
RESULT
Sixty days following application of the Fibrax Screen® 400BF, the vegetation
already is well developed, covering the whole protected surface. Surface drainage, made of
Sintemax Sceen® 400TF covered canals, was sufficient to drain rainwater. One year later
no erosion gullies have appeared. A lush vegetation is developing and there is no particle
generation or carriage of industrial waste. |
