Contaminant mobility in soils/sediments and treatment studies

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The proposed research will extend previous work on the environmental fate and transport of contaminants. The objectives will be: (1) To extend research on environmental mobility of heavy metals and availability. Key variables include soil characteristics, preferential sorption, partitioning, sorption kinetics and mechanism, distribution and desorption for different environmental conditions. Field and laboratory studies will be carried out. Bio-availability will also be examined. (2) To extend previous work on retention of heavy metals in various soils, conduct a major experimental study on clinoptilolite to explore its sorption efficiency and treatment capacity for ARD remediation in a three-phase fluidized bed. (3) To undertake a phytoremediation study for heavy metals involving phytostabilization of soils along highways to prevent migration of metals through soil which might contaminate streams and rivers. (4) To undertake a major experimental study to examine the environmental pathways and fate of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) - flame retardants added to a wide variety of products such as plastic components of computers and televisions, circuit boards, upholstery, and textiles.