Towards Increased In Situ Treatment Efficacy

地下水是一种极其重要的、有条件可再生的自然资源，用于家庭、工业和农业消费，它与地表水系统保持着物理和化学平衡。有害有机化合物造成的污染，部分是由于其在地下的毒性和持久性，对生态系统和人类都构成迫在眉睫的健康风险。在不久的将来，加拿大受污染场地的修复将需要大量资金。现有的原位处理技术是有限的，需要提高有效性和效率的方法。我的研究计划的长期目标是了解和开发创新的污染场地修复技术，这对棕地的再开发至关重要，并清理活跃的工业场地。本研究计划的总体目标是研究提高原位治疗效果的新方法。具体而言，本提案概述了基础和发现级研究，以：增加目前作为油相存在的水相污染物（例如，杂酚油和煤焦油）的可用性；开发一种使用纳米颗粒的新型处理方法，能够在地下水流量最小的地区降解污染物；并确定与创新方法相关的工程控制，以加强处理试剂和污染物的混合。我和我的学生之前在研究活动中获得的知识和经验将作为拟议研究的跳板。这项发现计划将包括精心设计的实验室和实地调查，以及由计算模拟支持的关键评估。这项创新研究的成果将促进目前的实践状况。这个拟议的研究计划将有助于基础研究，产生技术创新，并培养高素质的学生。学生将与顾问、供应商和其他利益相关者（业主）直接互动，参与污染场地的修复问题。这种接触将使学生能够与他们研究的最终用户接触，因为他们获得了适当的技能，以实现他们在学术界或工业界的职业抱负。通过促进发展和提高对就地方法的理解，可以加速加拿大棕地的再开发和活跃工业场地的清理，将对加拿大经济产生直接效益。

Groundwater is an immensely important and conditionally renewable natural resource used as a supply for domestic, industrial and agricultural consumption, and it sustains a physical and chemical balance with the surface water system. Contamination caused by hazardous organic compounds due, in part, to their toxicity and persistence in the subsurface, poses an imminent health risk to both ecosystems and humans. For the near future, remediation of contaminated sites in Canada will require a significant funding. Existing in situ treatment technologies are limited, and methods to increase both effectiveness and efficiency are required. The long-term objective of my research program is to understand and develop innovative contaminated site remediation technologies that are critical for the redevelopment of brownfields, and to cleanup active industrial sites. The overall objective of this research program is to investigate novel methods to increase in situ treatment efficacy. Specifically, this proposal outlines fundamental and discovery-level research to: increase the availability of contaminants in the water phase that are currently present as an oil phase (e.g., creosote and coal tar); develop a novel treatment method using nanoparticles that will be able to degrade contaminants in regions where groundwater flow is minimal; and determine the engineering controls associated with an innovative approach to enhance mixing of treatment reagents and contaminants. The previous knowledge and experience gained from research activities performed by me and my students will act as a springboard for the proposed research. This program of discovery will include carefully designed laboratory and field investigations, and critical evaluation supported by computational simulations. The findings from this innovative research effort will advance the current state-of-practice. This proposed research program will contribute essential research, generate technological innovation, and train highly qualified students. The students will have direct interaction with consultants, vendors and other stakeholders (property owners) involved in contaminated site remediation issues. This exposure will allow the students to engage with the end-users of their research as they gain the appropriate skills to achieve their career aspirations in either academia or industry. Direct benefits to the Canadian economy will occur by fostering the development and improved understanding of in situ methods that can accelerate the redevelopment of brownfields and cleanup of active industrial sites in Canada.