Decision-making for the Sustainable Beneficial Use of Marine Sediments using Ex-situ Remediation Technologies in Colombia

Abstract

Marine sediments are one of important natural resources for humans. By applying various remediation technologies, marine sediments (naturally or contaminated including dredged materials) could be transformed into commercially useful products. However, selecting appropriate technologies may still be challenging for decision-makers. This research aims (1) to develop a comprehensive environmental assessment criterion to evaluate and identify promising ex-situ technologies for marine sediments in Colombia and (2) propose management frameworks to obtain sustainable beneficial uses from treated sediments. The achieved results identified solidification/stabilization as promising technologies to be adopted in Colombia based on their cost-benefit, high efficiency and environmental feasibility according to several evaluation criteria. Optimal conditions for successful sediment treatment were also identified. Sustainable beneficial use of marine sediments may provide environmental and economic benefits from the point of view of new circular economies. Best-suited technologies can be chosen based on site and sediment characterization without neglecting essential aspects such as cost-effectiveness, treatment time, and removal efficiency, which were considered in this research. The various environmental assessment tools developed may aid decision-makers in selecting optimal technologies and achieving the sustainability of marine sediments by optimizing their beneficial uses. Additional issues including qualities of the Colombian Caribbean marine sediments will be presented during the 2022 KEDS conference. More innovative and practical environmental risk assessments tools are still needed to evaluate the feasibility of various remediation technologies.