A new type of permeable, reactive composite is being developed for remediation and management of contaminated sediments. It consists of one or more filtering layers surrounding a reactive layer placed on the sediment surface. Hydrodynamic dispersion and pore fluid flow carry contaminants through the composite. The broad, long-term objective of this research is to develop a comprehensive understanding of: 1) how the gecicomposite would function most effectively in long-term field applications for different combinations of sediment types, sediment contaminants and pore fluid environments;and 2) how effectively the composite can reduce ecological and human health risks associated with sediment-bound contaminants.
The specific aims of the research are to address the following fundamental issues: 1) What are the reactive materials that can be used in the composite that will most effectively immobilize or transform the target contaminants of PCB's, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and metals? 2) What is the relationship between the advective and diffusive components of contaminant transport for various soil-contaminant-pore fluid chemistry combinations? 3) How can results from bench-scale experiments that model the sediment-contaminant- composite system be used to predict the composite's scalability for field applications? 4) What are the effects of the physical presence of the composite and the composite-contaminant reactions on both the underlying sediment and overlying benthic organisms, in terms of supporting healthy and diverse benthic communities in these zones? 5) Does the geocomposite reduce the human health risks associated with contaminated sediments? The research will be performed in 4 phases: 1) sediment characterization for each Superfund site sediment to be tested, including physical, chemical, biological and consolidation testing;2) batch chemical testing to assess and optimize reactivity between target contaminants and the composite reactive amendments to be testing in Phase 3;3) bench scale tests to model the sediment-composite-benthic system using a computer automated device that combines sediment consolidation and contaminant transport through the sediment and composite, and assess the biological activity before and after sediment consolidation, as well as the biogeneration in the overlying 'clean'sediment;and 4) modeling of the process, accounting for seepage, consolidation, dispersion and reactivity due to adsorption and transformation. Relevance to Public Health: Contaminated sediments present a global public health challenge that requires new, innovative approaches. By immobilizing and/or neutralizing contaminants, the composite has the potential to minimize further contaminant migration and, in subaqueous environments, contaminant resuspension and diffusion into the overlying water column. This will limit the bioavailability of contaminants and bioaccumulation in aquatic food webs, which can be a pathway for human exposure via ingestion.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01ES016205-03
Application #
7761263
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZES1-SET-D (R1))
Program Officer
Henry, Heather F
Project Start
2008-04-09
Project End
2012-01-31
Budget Start
2010-02-01
Budget End
2012-01-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$244,477
Indirect Cost
Name
Northeastern University
Department
Engineering (All Types)
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
001423631
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Meric, Dogus; Alshawabkeh, Akram N; Shine, James P et al. (2014) Bioavailability of hydrophobic organic compounds in thin-layered capped sediments. Chemosphere 103:281-9
Meric, Dogus; Barbuto, Sara; Sheahan, Thomas C et al. (2014) Benchscale Assessment of the Efficacy of a Reactive Core Mat to Isolate PAH-spiked Aquatic Sediments. Soil Sediment Contam 23:
Meric, Dogus; Barbuto, Sara M; Alshawabkeh, Akram N et al. (2012) Effect of reactive core mat application on bioavailability of hydrophobic organic compounds. Sci Total Environ 423:168-75