CAREER: Phytoremediation of Organic Contaminants and Preparing Environmental Engineers for Future Challenges

9984064植物修复是一种基于自然系统的工程应用，具有去除或破坏环境中有机污染物的潜力。有机污染物的吸收、转运和挥发尚未得到很好的理解，这些问题目前是一个不确定的点，限制了监管的接受程度。本项目研究部分的目标是：(1)阐明在具有田间代表性的条件下污染物的转运和潜在的挥发途径，包括在渗透区和饱和区具有维管根系的植物；(2)确定基因工程微生物（GEMs）在杨树根际的影响和生存能力，并有可能推进植物修复的新应用；(3)继续开发有机污染物植物修复的筛选程序。将在模拟全面实践的条件和方法下开发和评估植物修复/GEMs组合。这个项目的教育部分的目标是：(1)通过本科生的研究、教学、学生活动和对当前土木与环境工程应用和实践的实地观察，激发学生对环境工程的兴趣，促进他们的专业发展；(2)通过修改现有的课程和教学方法以及增加非传统学生的数量来改善和丰富UMR的环境工程专业；(3)通过教学方法和技术的培训研讨会来提高教学技能。这是PI在教育领域工作的延续，包括建立环境工程和科学教授协会的全国学生分会，与UMR学生分会合作，将网络ct纳入课程，参与教学研讨会，实施一个学生项目作为一个全面的废物处理设施，并继续发展一个学生流团队。这些活动预计将直接和立即影响每年约110名本科生和研究生的科学和工程教育。＊＊＊

9984064 Burken Phytoremediation is a natural systems-based engineering application that has the potential of removing or destroying organic contaminants in the environment. The uptake, translocation and volatilization of organic contaminants are not well understood and these issues currently serve as a point of uncertainty, limiting regulatory acceptance. The objectives of the research component of this project are: (1) to elucidate contaminant translocation and potential volatilization pathways in field-representative conditions that include plants with vascular root systems in the vadose and saturated zones, (2) to ascertain the impact and survivability of genetically engineered microorganisms (GEMs) in the poplar rhizosphere, and potentially advance a new application of phytoremediation, and (3) to continue development of a screening procedure for organic contaminant phytoremediation. Phytoremediation/GEMs combinations will be developed and evaluated in conditions and with methods that mimic full-scale practices. The objectives of the education component of this project are: (1) to arouse students' interest in environmental engineering and enhance their professional development through undergraduate research, teaching, student activities and field observations of current civil and environmental engineerign applications and practices, (2) to improve and enrich the environmental engineering program at UMR by revising the existing curriculum and teaching methods and by increasing numbers of non-traditional students and (3) to enhance instructional skills through training workshops on teaching methods and techniques. This is a continuation of the PI's work in the education field that will include founding a national student chapter of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors, with associated UMR student chapter, integration of WebCT into curricula, participation in teaching workshops, implementation of a student project as a full-scale waste treatment facility and continued development of a student Stream Team. These activities are expected to directly and immediately impact the science and engineering education of approximately 110 undergraduate and graduate students per year. ***