Study on the environmental impact of chemicals used in mechanized tunneling techniques

This paper focuses on the environmental impact of soil conditioning agents used in the mechanized excavation of tunnels. The effects of the chemical composition, dosage and injection mode of the different additives, as well as the effects of soil characteristics and the influence of the aerobic and anoxic environment on chemical biodegradation, through tailored laboratory tests were individually investigated. Results are reported and discussed, thus providing useful information regarding the interaction be-tween the soil and the chemical additives used.. A comparison between the experimental results and those obtained through a scale model of a site for the disposal of the treated soil is also reported. In addition, useful information regarding the biodegradation of the tested additive are discussed.