It goes without saying that Japanese Knotweed is a very well-known pestilence. Many site owners are at a loss and are looking for effective methods to once and for all eradicate this highly invasive, and sometimes even harmful, plant for all kinds of underground and aboveground infrastructures. Until recently this was not possible with classic techniques. Thermal cleaning turns out to be the solution, according to research by HMVT.

Solution

HMVT, originally being an in-situ soil remediation company, has found a way of eradicating Japanese Knotweed. In the summer of 2020, in collaboration with Wageningen University & Research (WUR), a confidential test was carried out to see whether we could clear the soil of Japanese Knotweed using heating. In-situ thermal cleaning and remediation of soil are not new to us. We have been applying thermal remediation techniques to remediate contaminated sites for many years. We do this by using hot air injection or electrical resistance heat. By using our existing knowledge, we have been able to develop a method for successfully combating the Japanese Knotweed in the soil. For the test, we set up a temporary depot at a closed location in Rotterdam, which we heated by using of hot air injection. The WUR checked the results and came to a positive conclusion: the entire depot was free of Japanese Knotweed, even months after treatment.

Sequel?

In the fourth quarter of 2020 we will conduct a second pilot test, this time to treat a plot on site (in-situ) in Amsterdam. Here the Japanese Knotweed grows on a slope and threatens the local infrastructure.

Patent application

In the meantime, we have filed a patent application for the in / ex-situ thermal cleaning of soil that contains remnants of Japanese Knotweed.

More information

Would you like to know more about our solution for contamination with Japanese Knotweed? Send us a message via info@hmvt.nl.