Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Numerous chemicals such as hydrophobic organic contaminants including polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), chlorinated organic solvents such as tetrachlorethylene (PCE), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metals, have been released in to the soil environment and are thus a risk to groundwater, to organisms in the soil and to humans contacting the soil. Surface active agents (surfactants), amphiphilic compounds with hydrophilic and hydrophobic portions, have shown many environmental applications including removal of contaminants through soil washing or flushing or enhancement of biodegradation processes. However, improvements in their performances are still required to enhance economic feasibility. Most research on biosurfactants has been performed on the use of rhamnolipids. However, future studies on new biosurfactants and new applications as sustainable, renewable additives for nanoparticle production and use are needed to enhance efficiencies and decrease costs. Rhamnolipids and other biosurfactants including saponin have shown their potential for remediation of contaminated soil and water. Due to their biodegradability and low toxicity, biosurfactants such as rhamnolipids are very promising for use in remediation technologies. This needs to be studied further. Further research regarding prediction of their behaviour in the fate and transport of contaminants will be required. More investigation into the solubilization mechanism of both hydrocarbons and heavy metals by biosurfactants is also required to enable model predictions for transport and remediation. Although not extensively studied, due to the high specific surface area of the nanoparticles, they are highly reactive towards contaminants in the environment. The objectives of the research will include: Evaluation of the effect of biosurfactants on nanoparticle production, evaluation of the effect of biosurfactants on nanoparticle applications and development of applications for nanoparticle/biosurfactant systems, evaluation of the fate and transport of nanoparticle/biosurfactant systems and field testing of the developed products.