This is an award to support exploratory research on a technique to decontaminate soil by use of electroosmosis. In this process, an ionic liquid under action of an applied electric field moves through the porous and permeable contaminated soil in a manner thought to be less conducive to channeling than pressure-drive flows. The drive-liquid containing the contaminant is then replaced in the soil by a clean purge solution. The contaminated fluid is collected for appropriate treatment. This proposal was submitted to NSF under conditions outlined in NSF 89-85, Small Grants for Exploratory Research (SGER). The proposed research which addresses a topic of significant National interest, has previously been successfully applied in dewatering and consolidation of soils and may prove to be useful for removal of organic contaminants of soil. It has significance and potentially direct application to removal of contaminants from soil alone and in conjunction with other physical, chemical and biological processes.
