ABSTRACT
A relevant aspect of TBM excavation with EPB technology, is the management and final disposal of the muck produced. The presence of standard foaming agents may cause the need to dispose the muck as a waste instead of by-product. MAPEI has developed a new line of products (POLYFOAMER ECO line) fully biodegradable, with the main goal to reduce the environmental impact of the muck. Another tough aspect is the muck handling when the excavation procedures or the presence of groundwater cause a too fluid muck. Even though a common solution is the use of lime, this practice may bring to some direct environmental impacts, especially in urban areas. Specific products such as MAPEDRILL SV have been developed to achieve the proper consistency of the excavated soil, without affecting the chemical characteristics of the muck. The paper describes the differences between the new line of products compared with the standard ones.
