Service
Environmental Site Remediation
Industry
Petrochemical
PROJECT LOCATION
Montreal
PROJECT DATE
Since 2011
QUANTITY
Biological treatment of over 24,000 m3 of soil contaminated
CHALLENGES
The client wanted to treat contaminated soils from a petrochemical plant to meet the regulatory requirements of the Soil Protection and Rehabilitation of Contaminated Sites Policy. The soil was primarily contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs C10-C50), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and, to a lesser extent, monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs). The challenge was to construct two treatment pads capable of receiving large volumes of excavated soil and treat the soils to meet applicable environmental criteria.
BACKGROUND
As part of this soil treatment project, Sanexen was retained as prime contractor to design, operate, and optimize a contaminated soil treatment platform on the site of a petrochemical plant. Initially sized to treat 1,800 m3 of contaminated soil, the facility was expanded to accommodate increased volumes requiring treatment and to support plant operations. The work aimed at treating the soil while maintaining rigorous management of environmental impacts, as well as water and air emissions generated by operations.
Solution
Sanexen implemented a comprehensive biopile treatment solution for contaminated soil, utilizing microorganisms to degrade hydrocarbons present in the soil. This contaminated soil remediation approach notably relied on:
- Construction and operation of scalable treatment pads;
- Forced aeration of biopiles;
- Temperature and moisture control;
- Addition of biological amendments;
- Periodic soil tilling;
- Contaminated soil management throughout treatment;
- Management of water generated during operations;
- Management of air resulting from treatment activities and discharged into the atmosphere;
- Implementation of strict health and safety measures.
The work ensured efficient soil treatment while meeting the environmental requirements of both the client and regulatory authorities.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Biological treatment of over 24,000 m3 of soil contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons (December 2025).
- Implementation of a specialized contaminated soil treatment platform whose capacity expanded from 1,800 m3 to 3,800 m3.
- Effective degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons using a biotreatment technology powered by microorganisms.
- Remediation of contaminated soil meeting applicable environmental criteria (Criterion B or Criterion C, depending on project needs).
- Continuous management of contaminated soil management operations and excavated soil management.
- Execution of work in compliance with environmental requirements through rigorous management of process water, atmospheric emissions, and health and safety measures.
- Sanexen has acted as an environmental remediation contractor for this industrial site for over a decade, driving the evolution and optimization of contaminated soil treatment activities.
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