Land treatment involves applying waste to the soil surface; which of the following is not a mechanism that takes place?

Land treatment involves applying waste to the soil surface; which of the following is not a mechanism that takes place?

• A. Biodegradation
• B. Immobilization
• C. Transformation
• D. Composting

Answer: (D)

Land treatment relies on natural soil processes that treat waste after it is applied. In the soil, microorganisms biodegrade organic wastes, contaminants can become immobilized by sorption or precipitation, and chemicals or biological activity can transform contaminants into less harmful forms. Composting, by contrast, is a controlled, engineered process of aerobic decomposition typically carried out in piles or windrows to stabilize organic material; it requires specific management of aeration, moisture, and temperature and isn’t a mechanism that occurs within the soil during land treatment. Therefore composting is not a mechanism that takes place in land treatment.

Land treatment relies on natural soil processes that treat waste after it is applied. In the soil, microorganisms biodegrade organic wastes, contaminants can become immobilized by sorption or precipitation, and chemicals or biological activity can transform contaminants into less harmful forms. Composting, by contrast, is a controlled, engineered process of aerobic decomposition typically carried out in piles or windrows to stabilize organic material; it requires specific management of aeration, moisture, and temperature and isn’t a mechanism that occurs within the soil during land treatment. Therefore composting is not a mechanism that takes place in land treatment.