FIBREM: Remediation of Sweden´s Fiberbank Sediments Planning Ahead
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Uppsala universitet - Institution för Geovetenskaper |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 4 685 690 |
| Project duration | November 2016 - April 2021 |
| Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
FIBREM’s partnership (UU, SLU, SGU, SGI) and SME (SAOEC) worked to design and test field and laboratory methods to characterize fiberbanks and fiber-rich sediments and reduce the flux of contaminants to the overlying benthic system and water column. An innovative penetrometer was developed to reach the goal of estimating fiberbank volume. Proof-of concept laboratory tests showed that fiberbank sediments could bear sand caps of different thicknesses, which reduced contaminant flux to the overlying water, but the effect of gas ebullition on cap integrity remains a concern.
Expected results and effects
FIBREM led to constructing and equipping a laboratory (CapLab-UU), available for testing the efficiency of in-situ sediment capping technologies. It also led to 2 government-funded research projects that focus on the influence of gas ebullition in fiberbanks and its effect on contaminant flux (Formas-GASFIB and NV-CoGas). Both projects include new employments. Publications, conference presentations and stakeholder participation in webinars raised awareness about the project and of the challenges of managing these atypical contaminated sediment sites.
Planned approach and implementation
The practical start of the project was dependent on the schedule of the vessel Ocean Surveyor, operated by SGU and equipped with necessary infrastructure, as well as constructing and equipping CapLab. Access to the vessel and delays in laboratory construction led to a project extension of 1 year. Subsequently, the project was negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted research visits to Uppsala University (incl. by the SME) and access to facilities for data processing in Germany. Another project extension of 5 months was granted.