Study on optimal application of the ex-situ soil washing method to remove metals from polluted soils

Overcoming the concentration of heavy metals in soil due to various polluting activitiesbecomes a major problem. Soil washing is a remediation method that uses water, inorganic or organicacids and chelating agents, becoming increasingly used for soil rehabilitation. Determination of the site`scharacteristics is the most important factor which depends on the soil washing method. Extraction ofheavy metals with the soil washing method is influenced by geological and hydrological characteristics,soil type and composition, pH, organic matter content, distribution of pollutants in soil, soil physical andchemical characteristics and pollution source. The present paper is a study on the conditions in which theextraction of metals from soil may be applied to obtain the best results and propose a suitable alternativesite remediation method by washing for heavily contaminated soils with heavy metals existing in ourcountry.