Optimizing Hydrochars as a Hydrocarbon Remediation Amendment

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Retail fuel distribution releases diesel and gasoline into soil, resulting in petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC)contamination. In cold climate soils, natural attenuation of PHC is limited due to freezing and geologicallimitations. One way to remediate these soils is to stimulate soil organisms to degrade PHC by adding thenecessary nutrients that microbes need to degrade the contaminants. Advances in remediation amendments areurgently needed to improve in-situ biological remediation of hydrocarbons. Hydrochars, a carbon-rich solidmaterial potentially produces a new kind of remediation amendment that can sorb PHC from the soil's solutionand then, as it in term sorbs onto the soil surface, traps it in place for eventual biological degradation.Currently, the synthesis and reactivity of hydrochars as remediation amendments remains untested.The objectives of this CU-I2I proposal are to (a) optimize the synthesis of phosphate-bearing hydrochars (b)evaluate their performance as a remediation material for PHC-contaminated soils in laboratory conditions, (c)conduct field-scale trials of hydrochars on a PHC contaminated site and (d) build a unique College-Universitytraining program for graduate students and College undergraduates.This proposal contains a novel approach that leverages college, university and industrial expertise to create aunique training experience. Students will work with industrial partners and conduct research at sitesundergoing active in-situ remediation. Combining these training goals with our research project will addressesthe industry's need for professional training that explains both the theory and application of in-situ remediation.This CU-I2I will develop not only a remediation technology, but also a unique training pipeline forpractitioners of in-situ remediation.