9705184 Chevalier This is an award to support preliminary work on use of surfactants to alter the interfacial tension of fluids that change the characteristics of their movement through aquifers they have contaminated. The project involves procedures that simulate the use of pumps to withdraw non-aqueous fluids such as gasoline that have contaminated aquifers. The research will be conducted by use of a laboratory-scale model that can be used to study the effect of the surfactants on the capillary, gravitational and viscous forces that affect the motion of fluids through porous and permeable subsurface formations. The proposal leading to this award was submitted in response to an NSF Program Announcement for Research Planning Grants and Career Advancement Awards for Women Scientists and Engineers, NSF 93-130. Results are expected to provide information that can be used in determining the feasibility of the process to be studied and the basis for further research in restoration of water quality in aquifers contaminated by non-aqueous fluids. ***
