BRIGE: Development of Controlled Release Polymers for Environmental Remediation

EEC-0813631Luster-teasley BRIGE奖项通过增加ENG研究人员的多样性来保持全球竞争力，这些研究人员在职业生涯早期就开始了研究计划。布里奇奖通过增加工程学毕业生的数量、改善女性和少数族裔在工程学领域的代表性以及了解如何招收和留住工程学学生，进一步扩大了工程学研究人员的参与范围。PI计划利用化学氧化将高活性液体或气体注入受污染的区域。化学氧化剂迅速反应，将地下污染物氧化并分解成毒性较低的副产品。这项研究将探索一种新的化学氧化剂输送方法，有望提供比目前使用的方法更大的优势。研究人员将测试一种新型的输送系统，该系统使用可生物降解的聚合物来包裹固体氧化剂。其基本概念是将氧化剂以固体颗粒的形式封装在可生物降解的聚合物中，使用后会缓慢释放氧化剂。就像“环境药丸”一样，氧化剂可以被放置在地下，慢慢地为环境提供治疗。这一新方法有效地扩展了为补救提供化学氧化处理的能力，其方式类似于使用可生物降解的医疗植入物输送的药物配方，可控制和延长其活性成分的释放。美国有200,000多个地点需要某种形式的环境补救。在这些地点中，最难补救的是存在受污染的地下土壤和地下水的地点。这项研究将提供一种更安全的地下污染处理方法和一种保护和处理水和土壤的新方法，从而使整个社会受益。这项研究将作为在环境工程中使用生物材料来改善水和土壤处理实践的范例。此外，该项目将为少数族裔本科生和研究生提供研究机会，这些学生来自北卡罗来纳A&T州立大学所服务的代表性不足的人群。国际工程师学会还将为这项研究开发环境工程模块，并为在线教育计划开发可生物降解聚合物的新用途。这项布里奇拨款将扩大所有工程师的参与，并增加他们的机会，包括那些来自工程学学科中代表性不足的群体的工程师。这笔布里奇补助金还将鼓励PI作为独立调查员积极和有竞争力地参与研究。

EEC-0813631Luster-teasleyBRIGE awards maintain global competitiveness by increasing the diversity of ENG researchers, who are initiating research programs early in their careers. BRIGE awards further the broaden participation of engineering researchers by increasing the number of engineering graduates, by improving the representation of women and minorities in engineering, and by understanding how to improve recruitment and retention of engineering students.This BRIGE award will investigate controlled-release polymers for subsurface soil remediation. The PI plans to utilize chemical oxidation to inject highly reactive liquids or gases into a contaminated zone. The chemical oxidants rapidly react to oxidize and breakdown subsurface contaminants to less toxic byproducts. The research will investigate a new method of chemical oxidant delivery that is expected to provide significant advantages over methods currently in use. The investigator will test a novel delivery system that uses biodegradable polymers to encapsulate a solid oxidant. The basic concept is to encapsulate an oxidant in biodegradable polymers in the form of solid pellets that slowly release the oxidant after application. Like an "environmental pill", the oxidants can be placed subsurface to slowly deliver treatment to the environment. This new method effectively extends the ability to provide chemical oxidation treatment for remediation in a fashion similar to drug formulations delivered using biodegradable medical implants which provide controlled and extended release of their active componentsMore than 200,000 sites in the United States require some form of environmental remediation. Of these sites, the most difficult to remediate are locations in which contaminated subsurface soils and groundwater are present. This research will benefit society as a whole by providing a safer method to treat subsurface contamination and a new method to protect and treat water and soil. This research will serve as an example for using biomaterials to improve water and soil treatment practices in environmental engineering. Additionally, this project will provide research opportunities to minority undergraduate and graduate students from the underrepresented populations served by North Carolina A&T State University. The PI will also develop an environmental engineering module for this research, environmental remediation, and novel uses for biodegradable polymers for an on-line education program.This BRIGE grant will broaden the participation of and increase opportunities for all engineers including those from groups underrepresented in the engineering disciplines. This BRIGE grant will also encourage the PI to become actively and competitively engaged in research as an independent investigator.