Subsurface barrier trapped diverse contaminants, let water through

摘要

Two commercially available, inexpensive ingredients are the basis of a promising subsurface barrier material. In laboratory studies, the material trapped a surprising assortment of major organic and inorganic contaminants while allowing water to flow through, reported developer Robert Bowman at the American Geophysical Union meeting in June. A 15-month pilot-scale study to evaluate the permeable barrier material is planned for next year. Subsurface barriers limit the spread of mobile pollutants in contaminated soils, reducing cleanup costs and protecting downstream aquifers. Bowman's group at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (Socorro, NM) developed their barrier material by treating zeolites with the surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA), a commonly used chemical (see Bowman et al., ACS Symposium Series 594, 1995, p. 55). Using current prices, Bowman estimated that the modified zeolite could cost about $0.25/lb.