Abstract: Soil washing/flushing is an efficient technology for rapid remediation of soils or sediments highly contaminated by heavy metals and/or organic pollutants. In this paper, the characteristics, technical processes, and cleaning agents for soil washing/flushing remediation were reviewed. The ex-site soil washing has broad application prospects, due to its stable remediation efficiency, easy control, and waste reduction. Environment-friendly cleaning agents, such as natural chelating agents and bio-surfactants, have gradually replaced artificial chelating agents and chemical surfactants, and become the main cleaning agents for soil washing/flushing. Modern supramolecular chemistry will have significance in the washing/flushing remediation of soils contaminated by combined pollutants.

Key words: Species diversity, Managed ecosystem, Stabilit