TOOLBOX · Treatment of contaminated land using a biochar/media mixture
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2017-07-10 → 2019-07-09
- EU contribution
- €187,866
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-EF-RI
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Treatment of contaminated land using a biochar/media mixture
Waste disposal and treatment is a major source of contamination of soils, surface and groundwater, and accounts for 35% of the 1.1 million contaminated sites in Europe. Leaching of the organic solvent trichloroethylene (TCE) into groundwater has been identified as a primary issue with unlined landfills, affecting up to 70% of leachates tested. Human exposure to TCE affects the central nervous, immune and endocrine systems. Mainly used as a metal degreaser and dry-cleaning reagent, TCE is difficult to treat; current treatment methods, such as anaerobic digestion or air stripping, are ineffective and/or expensive. This project investigated the use of waste materials, including biochar produced from waste material, for the treatment of TCE contaminated water, as a novel, low-cost alternative to current treatment options. To address this, this proposal used an interdisciplinary approach to address three Research Objectives (RO): RO1 - Identify the appropriate amount/type of biochar, or combinations of other amendments, for TCE adsorption. RO2 - Optimise the technology for use of biochar to treat TCE contaminated leachate plumes and surface water. RO3 - Quantify the impact of biochar addition on the physical, biochemical and biological properties and processes in soil, including nutrient content and bioavailability, and indigenous microbiota. The experimental results were exciting, demonstrating the potential for biochar use for remediation of TCE-contaminated landfill leachate plumes.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Waste disposal and treatment is a major source of contamination of soils, surface and groundwater, and accounts for 35% of the 1.1 million contaminated sites in Europe. Leaching of the organic solvent trichloroethylene (TCE) into groundwater has been identified as a primary issue with unlined landfills , affecting up to 70% of leachates tested. Mainly used as a metal degreaser and dry-cleaning reagent, TCE is difficult to treat; current treatment methods, such as anaerobic digestion or air stripping , are ineffective and/or expensive. This project will investigate the use biochar, or other appropriate media, for treatment of TCE contaminated water via two technologies - permeable reactive interceptors (PRIs) and permeable contaminant retaining filter (PCRF) bags. This novel, low-cost solution will address the requirements of European Union (EU) legislation, including the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The project will be based at the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG) with supervision by Dr Mark Healy (GeoEnvironmental Engineering Research Group – GENE) and support from Dr Florence Abram (Functional Environmental Microbiology - FEM). As the applicant has experience in TCE treatment from a microbial background, this highly novel, interdisciplinary proposal will compliment and strengthen her existing skillset by approaching this technology from an engineering perspective, with support from a research group that has a strong track record in this research area. With detailed career development assistance, multiple opportunities to further her strong publication record, access to numerous and varied fora for dissemination of results and support for IP exploitation, this proposal will have a significant impact in reintegrating the applicant back into the EU research community from her current research position in New Zealand.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY · GalwayCoordinatorIreland
Links
- View on CORDIS
- DOI: 10.3030/748106
- http://www.nuigalway.ie/gene/completedprojects/mariecurietoolboxstudy/
Data: CORDIS, © European Union