Soil and Groundwater Remediation

 

   Reactive metallic or bimetallic nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI) particles are used for in situ remediation of chlorinated organic compounds in the form of dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) in contaminated groundwater and soil. Delivering NZVI to the DNAPL/water interface where aqueous phase DNAPL concentrations are at their highest can potentially increase the rate of dechlorination and the efficient usage of Fe0 for reductive dechlorination. However, after initial indications of the surface activity of polymer-modified NZVI at NAPL/water interfaces, little research progress has been made toward delivery of NZVI to NAPL source zones ever though source zone targeting would be a unique feature that could make in situ NAPL remediation by NZVI more effective than passive remediation techniques. Our research center is focusing on improving active NZVI delivery to contaminant source zone for enhanced source zone remediation. Both experimental and modeling approaches are utilized for achieving this goal.