ASSESSMENT AND MODELLING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY AND POTENTIAL FOR REMEDIATIVE TREATMENT OF CHROMIUM-CONTAMINATED LAND

This study investigates the environmental chemistry and possible remedial techniques for chromium-contaminated land in Rutherglen and Cambuslang, Scotland, where historical chromite ore processing has led to substantial hexavalent chromium contamination. The primary objective is to assess how indigenous physicochemical conditions affect chromium behavior and to determine effective remediation strategies. A combination of physical and chemical modeling, alongside empirical data from a series of trials conducted during the 1990s, informs this assessment, focusing on techniques such as in situ bioremediation and ex situ physicochemical stabilization. Initial findings demonstrate that perturbations in pH and redox conditions significantly influence chromium mobility, with treatments aiming to convert mobile anionic hexavalent chromium to less toxic cationic trivalent chromium being particularly promising. The implications of these results are crucial for selecting appropriate remedial techniques and understanding residual chromium concentrations following remediation efforts. The overall goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of chromium behavior at contaminated sites and enhance future remediation practices.