STCU # 4249
"Biosorbents against chemical contamination of soils" – creation of a new remediation technology
Summary: The goal of the presented project is to elaborate a new technological approach of remediation of chemically polluted soils. The idea of the approach is to use with this purpose "Biosorbents" – special composite of natural mineral sorbents and microorganism strains having high detoxification ability. In this composite the sorbent's function is absorption of pollutants and cease its distribution into the environment. Microbiota will accomplish organic toxicants biodegradation. Biosorbents will be used at the initial stage of cleansing of polluted soil. At the next stage will be applied phytoremediation technology, which implies purposeful planting of plants providing uptake of pollutants and/or intermediates of their partial transformation by microbes."Biosorbents against chemical contamination of soils" – creation of a new remediation technology
Cleansing of polluted environment, its absolute restoration and long-term protection can be achieved effectively and cheaply via application of phytoremediation technologies. In this case the ecological balance is maintained: molecules of chemical toxicants are totally assimilated by plants and the atoms, forming toxic structure of xenobiotics are inserted into the natural metabolism as harmless compounds.
Shortcoming of phytoremediation is stated in more rapid distribution of a toxicant into the environment (e.g. groundwater), than its assimilation plants and microorganisms at the highest concentrations of pollutants. This shortcoming is revealed especially in cases of pollution by heavy metals, oil accidental pouring, etc.
Elaboration of a new type phytoremediation technology based on application of Biosorbents' will allow to avoid this problem. It will provide restoration of polluted environment and cease for long period of time avoid dissemination of toxic compounds from pollution hotbeds.
This technology can be applied to:
– Polluted soils by heavy metals, oil hydrocarbons, explosives, pesticides and other pollutants;
– Potential hotbeds of pollution (military proving grounds, mining processing and concentrating mills, oil terminals, oil pipelines, petrol pumps, etc.) by above mentioned pollutants.
Project goal will be realized at 4 stages:
Stage I-II – will be selected natural sorbents with high capacity and specific absorption characteristics and microorganism strains and plants having high detoxification potential for different chemical pollutants: heavy metals (Pb, Cu), organochlorine pesticides (DDT), oil hydrocarbons (hexadecane) and explosives (TNT).
Stage III – Biosorbents will be prepared and optimal conditions of their application will be defined
Stage IV – Model tests for remediation of soils polluted with different pollutants will be carried out.
In the project will be engaged team of scientists of Durmishidze Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology. Team members having wide experience in investigation plants and microorganisms detoxification potential, pathways and mechanisms of organic toxicants transformation. Also the team members are experienced geologists, who for many years have been investigating rocks distributed in Georgia with high absorption potential, the means of their application in preparation natural tenacious materials against erosion and for cleansing ecologically polluted areas. Team members have monographs, research and review articles published in leading international journals. They have participated in international scientific projects.
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