Details of Award

NERC Reference : NE/C513185/1

Assessing soil associated contaminant bioavailability by a chemical means.

Principal Investigator:: Professor B Reid, University of East Anglia, Environmental Sciences
Co-Investigator:: Professor KT Semple, Lancaster University, Lancaster Environment Centre
Grant held at:: University of East Anglia, Environmental Sciences

Abstract:: With time chemicals interact with soil. These interactions include sorption onto soil surfaces and entrapment within soil particles. As a consequence contaminants can be present in soil but excluded, due to these interactions, form interacting with ecological receptors. Additionally, these residues my pose only a small risk to the environment. This project seeks to further validate a chemical extraction technique designed to evaluate these bioavailable fractions of soil associated contaminants. The extraction techniques uses water as a solvent in combination with an interesting group of compounds called 'cyclodextrins'. The cyclodextrin molecules are highly water soluble but contain a hydrophobic cavity within their molecular structure. This cavity can form a complex with available contaminants as they are released from soil thereby allowing determination of this fraction. Preceding work has shown the applicability of the techniques to spiked and field contaminated soils containing a range of contaminants. The work outlined in this proposal builds up these finding. Specifically this project will validate the techniques against challenging environmental materials and soils and develop an interface for the technique with toxicity testing. Finally, the project will apply the technique to the prediction and monitoring of bioremediation at bench and field scales.

Authorised funds only

This grant award has a total value of £128,508

Total - Staff	Total - T&S	Total - Other Costs	Total - Indirect Costs
£73,472	£2,822	£18,419	£33,796

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