Sintex Tube by Geosintex

28 October 2013

SintexTube is an innovative solution for hydraulic works in the sea or in rivers and for waste management purposes.

SintexTube is a tubular textile structure made of cut-to-size fabrics strongly sewn together. Once filled, these products take on a cylindrical shape, more or less ovalized depending on the filling pressure. SintexTube are available in various lengths and diameters, depending on project requirements. SintexTube can be filled with sand, sludge, dredged sediments or concrete. SintexTube is an innovative solution for hydraulic works in the sea or in rivers and for waste management purposes.

Coastal protection, beach nourishment, river bank reconstruction. Dredged sediments management. Polluted sludge dewatering.

Filtration and dewatering of industrial sludge or polluted sediments

In this application, the sludge from the water treatment plants, farming waste, mineral waste and dredged sediments are pumped inside SintexTube and are initially filtered through the fabric meshes. The polluted dry residue remains inside the geotube, reduces in volume and becomes semi-solid, while the excess water is sent to the treatment plants. Despite the characteristic fine grain-size of the environmental contaminants, most of them (including hydrocarbons such as PCB or PAH) remain inside the tubes. Naturally, a waterproof geomembrane must be positioned under the tubes in order to collect the water leaking from them and send it to thetreatment plants. During filling, a flocculating polymer should be added to the sludge in order to separate the solid particles from the water and achieve faster, more effective and regular dewatering.

Transport and storage of dredged materials

SintexTube is an ideal solution for managing dredged materials. It reduces drainage times and costs and allows dredged sediments to be reused. With SintexTube, dewatering can be completed in a matter of days, depending on the characteristics of the sediments. Once dewatered, the weight and volume of the dredged material is reduced, thus making it easier to transport to a permanent disposal site. SintexTube can be used for the sediments dredged from canals, ports, rivers, reservoirs, detention basins and lakes. This storage system also allows the dredged material, which would otherwise be useless, to be used for environmental port development projects.

Coastal defense and beach nourishment

For this kind of use, SintexTube is filled with sand or dredged materials and acts as a shield against storms, waves, tides and currents. It is are also used as a structure for deviating rivers or for flood control. Installed parallel or perpendicular (groins) to the shoreline, they mitigate the energy of the breaking waves and allow the sand transported by the waves to accumulate near the shore, thus contributing towards replenishing the beach.

Sintex Tube is produced and marketed by Geosintex srl.