Precision Soil Washing: Desen Environmental Restores Arsenic-Contaminated Land in Guangzhou
As a major economic and population hub in South China, Guangzhou faces ecological challenges from arsenic-contaminated soils in legacy industrial areas and former mining zones. Arsenic, a highly toxic heavy metal, can damage soil structure, inhibit plant growth, and threaten human health through gro
As a major economic and population hub in South China, Guangzhou faces ecological challenges from arsenic-contaminated soils in legacy industrial areas and former mining zones. Arsenic, a highly toxic heavy metal, can damage soil structure, inhibit plant growth, and threaten human health through groundwater infiltration and crop absorption. Addressing these risks has become essential for urban ecological restoration.
Desen Environmental recently completed a high-precision arsenic remediation project using its self-developed modular soil washing system and customized treatment solutions, offering a benchmark case for urban soil pollution control.
Advanced Testing and Customized Remediation
The affected site exhibited both surface dispersion and deep-layer accumulation of arsenic, making traditional remediation techniques ineffective. Desen conducted detailed soil testing and multi-dimensional data analysis to map arsenic distribution, chemical forms, and concentration gradients. Based on these results, the company developed a tailored remediation process, including:
Pre-treatment classification
Arsenic-specific soil washing
Deep purification
The core washing technology uses Desen’s proprietary arsenic-targeting agent, which selectively binds and removes arsenic ions while preserving essential soil nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Optimized Process for High-Clay Soil
Guangzhou’s soil features high clay content, which complicates washing efficiency. To address this challenge, Desen integrated multi-stage vibrating screens and hydrocyclone separation units to classify soil by particle size. Adjusting washing parameters for each fraction increased contact efficiency between the washing agent and pollutants by over 30%, significantly improving arsenic removal.
Following treatment, the soil’s arsenic concentration met the Soil Environmental Quality Standard for Construction Land, achieving a 100% compliance rate.
