The remediation of contaminated sites is a major challenges in environmental engineering, especially when groundwater is affected by persistent industrial pollutants. Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) contamination is a significant issue linked to galvanic industries due to its high mobility in groundwater and potential dangers to human health and ecosystems. The former Galvanica P.M. site in Tezze sul Brenta (Vicenza) represents one of the most significant remediation cases related to Cr(VI) contamination in Italy. This thesis reconstructs the history of the contamination and the remediation of the site, from the beginning of the industrial activity in 1972 until the end of the remediation work in 2026. The work relies primarily on technical, administrative, and legal documents, including several confidential reports that have not been made public. These documents were used to reconstruct the chronologicaldevelopmentofthesite, describethetechnicalandadministrative decisions made during the remediation process, and examine the final remediation approach. Particular attention is given to the environmental investigations, the pilot tests carried out to select the remediation technology, and the interventions implemented during the Operative Remediation Plan (POB Stralcio II). The thesis also includes two additional analyses. The first provides a preliminary in terpretation of Cr(VI) diffusion within the cemented gravel layers beneath the site by using simplified diffusion calculations. The second assesses the total amount of calcium polysulfide injected during the in situ chemical treatment and compares it to the theoretical reagent demand estimated on the contaminant mass. The available monitoring results show a progressive reduction of Cr(VI) concentrations in groundwater, with concentrations at the Points of Compliance and sentinel wells decreasing below the regulatory limit of 5 g/L. Although post-remediation monitoring is still ongoing, the available data indicate that the remediation strategy is currently achieving the objectives established for the site. Overall, this work provides a complete reconstruction of more than twenty years of technical and administrative activities related to one of the most important contaminated site remediation projects in the Veneto region.
La bonifica dei siti contaminati rappresenta una delle principali sfide dell'ingegneria ambientale, soprattutto quando le acque sotterranee sono contaminate da inquinanti industriali persistenti. La contaminazione da cromo esavalente (Cr(VI)) è un problema significativo legato alle industrie galvaniche a causa della sua elevata mobilità nelle acque sotterranee e dei potenziali pericoli per la salute umana e gli ecosistemi. L'ex sito Galvanica P.M. di Tezze sul Brenta (Vicenza) rappresenta uno dei casi di bonifica più significativi relativi alla contaminazione da Cr(VI) in Italia. Questa tesi ricostruisce la storia della contaminazione e della bonifica del sito, dall'inizio dell'attività industriale nel 1972 fino alla conclusione dei lavori di bonifica nel 2026. Il lavoro si basa principalmente su documenti tecnici, amministrativi e legali, inclusi diversi rapporti riservati non resi pubblici. Tali documenti sono stati utilizzati per ricostruire lo sviluppo cronologico del sito, descrivere le decisioni tecniche e amministrative prese durante il processo di bonifica ed esaminare l'approccio di bonifica finale. Particolare attenzione è dedicata alle indagini ambientali, ai test pilota effettuati per la selezione della tecnologia di bonifica e agli interventi attuati durante il Piano Operativo di Bonifica (POB Stralcio II). La tesi include anche due analisi aggiuntive. La prima fornisce un'interpretazione preliminare della diffusione del Cr(VI) all'interno degli strati di ghiaia cementata al di sotto del sito, utilizzando calcoli di diffusione semplificati. La seconda valuta la quantità totale di polisolfuro di calcio iniettato durante il trattamento chimico in situ e la confronta con la domanda teorica di reagenti stimata sulla massa di contaminante. I risultati del monitoraggio disponibili mostrano una progressiva riduzione delle concentrazioni di Cr(VI) nelle acque sotterranee, con concentrazioni nei Punti di Conformità e nei pozzi sentinella che diminuiscono al di sotto del limite normativo di 5 μg/L. Sebbene il monitoraggio post-bonifica sia ancora in corso, i dati disponibili indicano che la strategia di bonifica sta attualmente raggiungendo gli obiettivi stabiliti per il sito. Nel complesso, questo lavoro fornisce una ricostruzione completa di oltre vent'anni di attività tecniche e amministrative relative a uno dei più importanti progetti di bonifica di siti contaminati nella regione Veneto.
Design and application of remediation technologies for chromium-contaminated aquifers: a case study
BABATO, MARCO
2025/2026
Abstract
The remediation of contaminated sites is a major challenges in environmental engineering, especially when groundwater is affected by persistent industrial pollutants. Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) contamination is a significant issue linked to galvanic industries due to its high mobility in groundwater and potential dangers to human health and ecosystems. The former Galvanica P.M. site in Tezze sul Brenta (Vicenza) represents one of the most significant remediation cases related to Cr(VI) contamination in Italy. This thesis reconstructs the history of the contamination and the remediation of the site, from the beginning of the industrial activity in 1972 until the end of the remediation work in 2026. The work relies primarily on technical, administrative, and legal documents, including several confidential reports that have not been made public. These documents were used to reconstruct the chronologicaldevelopmentofthesite, describethetechnicalandadministrative decisions made during the remediation process, and examine the final remediation approach. Particular attention is given to the environmental investigations, the pilot tests carried out to select the remediation technology, and the interventions implemented during the Operative Remediation Plan (POB Stralcio II). The thesis also includes two additional analyses. The first provides a preliminary in terpretation of Cr(VI) diffusion within the cemented gravel layers beneath the site by using simplified diffusion calculations. The second assesses the total amount of calcium polysulfide injected during the in situ chemical treatment and compares it to the theoretical reagent demand estimated on the contaminant mass. The available monitoring results show a progressive reduction of Cr(VI) concentrations in groundwater, with concentrations at the Points of Compliance and sentinel wells decreasing below the regulatory limit of 5 g/L. Although post-remediation monitoring is still ongoing, the available data indicate that the remediation strategy is currently achieving the objectives established for the site. Overall, this work provides a complete reconstruction of more than twenty years of technical and administrative activities related to one of the most important contaminated site remediation projects in the Veneto region.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12608/110574