Foams for enhanced remediation of NAPL-contaminated soils and aquifers: A review of foam formation, stability, and environmental applications
Abstract
Foam-assisted remediation is a versatile approach to improving the cleanup of NAPL-contaminated soils and aquifers by blocking highly permeable pathways, enhancing contaminant displacement, and delivering remediation amendments. Optimizing foam application requires an understanding of its physicochemical characteristics and behavior under subsurface conditions. This review synthesizes current knowledge on foam stability in bulk, behavior in porous media, and remediation applications. First, foam formulations in bulk are considered, including their physicochemical properties and the influence of experimental conditions on foam stability. Second, foam behavior in porous media is discussed, with an emphasis on hydrodynamic parameters affecting generation and propagation. Finally, applications are evaluated in the context of foam function: blocking, displacement, and delivery. While early research focused primarily on blocking and contaminant displacement, increasing attention has been given to the use of foam as a delivery medium for oxidants, reductants, nutrients, and microorganisms that enhance NAPL degradation. Recent advances and remaining challenges have been identified. This includes formulation optimization, formulation-amendment compatibility, operational windows for foam propagation, and the need to define foam function depending on the remediation method intended to assist. This review aims to support future developments in foam-assisted remediation by linking formulation design, porous media behavior, and treatment objectives
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BibTeX
@article{baimaganbetova2026foams,
title = {{Foams for enhanced remediation of NAPL-contaminated soils and aquifers: A review of foam formation, stability, and environmental applications}},
author = {Sholpan Baimaganbetova and Amélie Cavelan and Adil Baigadilov and Maxime Cochennec and Sagyn Omirbekov and Stéfan Colombano and Eric van Hullebusch},
journal = {Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1080/10643389.2026.2744388},
url = {https://brgm.hal.science/hal-05840991v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Foams for enhanced remediation of NAPL-contaminated soils and aquifers: A review of foam formation, stability, and environmental applications
AU - Sholpan Baimaganbetova
AU - Amélie Cavelan
AU - Adil Baigadilov
AU - Maxime Cochennec
AU - Sagyn Omirbekov
AU - Stéfan Colombano
AU - Eric van Hullebusch
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/12
JO - Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology
DO - 10.1080/10643389.2026.2744388
UR - https://brgm.hal.science/hal-05840991v1
AB - Foam-assisted remediation is a versatile approach to improving the cleanup of NAPL-contaminated soils and aquifers by blocking highly permeable pathways, enhancing contaminant displacement, and delivering remediation amendments. Optimizing foam application requires an understanding of its physicochemical characteristics and behavior under subsurface conditions. This review synthesizes current knowledge on foam stability in bulk, behavior in porous media, and remediation applications. First, foam formulations in bulk are considered, including their physicochemical properties and the influence of experimental conditions on foam stability. Second, foam behavior in porous media is discussed, with an emphasis on hydrodynamic parameters affecting generation and propagation. Finally, applications are evaluated in the context of foam function: blocking, displacement, and delivery. While early research focused primarily on blocking and contaminant displacement, increasing attention has been given to the use of foam as a delivery medium for oxidants, reductants, nutrients, and microorganisms that enhance NAPL degradation. Recent advances and remaining challenges have been identified. This includes formulation optimization, formulation-amendment compatibility, operational windows for foam propagation, and the need to define foam function depending on the remediation method intended to assist. This review aims to support future developments in foam-assisted remediation by linking formulation design, porous media behavior, and treatment objectives
SN - 1064-3389
ER -