MetaFLO Solidification Reagents Bring Innovation to Tunnel Muck Management

MetaFLO Technologies specializes in engineering and manufacturing reagent products utilized to solidify liquid waste streams. Simply put, MetaFLO’s products help turn liquid waste into a manageable solid at the project site and facilitate ease in handling for off-site disposal. The proprietary reagents are widely used in tunneling, micro-tunneling, directional drilling, hydro-excavation and site-specific spoils remediation.

Tunnel applications always present the challenge of managing vast quantities of muck from the TBM, often in urban environments where tight operational footprints and local community requirements create challenges of their own.

The muck extracted from the tunnels EPB (earth pressure balance) process is conveyed to the surface where it is deposited into a containment cell. This material is typically quite thick depending on ground conditions but will require a dry amendment to facilitate ‘solids criteria’ or slump for regulatory, transportation and disposal protocols. Historical amendments include sawdust and lime which bulk the mud and limit its beneficial reuse options for sustainable disposal.

Enter: MetaFLO’s solidification reagents engineered to work quickly at very low dosages to turn the tunnel muck into an earth-like solid material that will not leach fluid nor change the analytical for optimal disposal opportunity and regulatory compliance. With an application rate of <0.25% wt./wt., bulking is negligible compared to both sawdust and lime or portland.

MetaFLO can also provide purpose-built reagent feed equipment to apply MetaFLO directly onto the conveyance. This ensures accurate dosage for solidification and utilizes the conveyance directional change deflectors to mix the reagent into the tunnel muck for optimal efficiency.

Treated material with MetaFLO’s solidification reagent

MetaFLO works directly with tunnel operational teams to design a process to ensure tunnel muck meets solids criteria, saves time, improves efficiency and optimizes disposal opportunities.

• Meet regulatory requirements for solids criteria and clean fill disposal
• Creates an opportunity to reduce or better utilize the available urban footprint
• Lower dosages mean fewer trucks, lower GHG emissions and better community relations
• Optimize transportation with full dump trucks, reducing cost and improving control

Looking for a better solution for your next tunneling or trenchless project? MetaFLO’s solution can help reduce cost throughout the muck management value chain while maintaining regulatory compliance and keeping your local community happy.

Learn more at www.metaflotech.com or send an email to info@metaflotech.com