Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2018IL341B

Groundwater phytoremediation and biofuels production for Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

Institute: Illinois
Year Established: 2018 Start Date: 2018-03-01 End Date: 2019-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $9,937 Total Non-Federal Funds: $19,880

Principal Investigators: Jia Liu, Md Hadiuzzaman

Abstract: The cost of groundwater remediation is usually very high, no matter the remediation technology adopted. In order to solve the problem of high cost, “passive” remediation and potential ecosystem deterioration, a novel remediation technology of phytoremediation with biofuel production is proposed in this study. The superfund site of Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge will be focused in this study. Groundwater, soil, surface water and sediment in the Refuge have been contaminated in different levels. The scope of this study is to produce biofuels from contaminated soil and groundwater to recover groundwater resourses. Specifically, the objectives are: 1) To test concentrations of contaminants in soil and groundwater samples from the Refuge. 2) To cultivate sunflower using either conventional fertilizer or biosolids, with either deionized (D.I.) water irrigation or Crab Orchard Lake water irrigation. 3) To obtain biodiesel from the seeds, and to characterize the biodiesel product. 4) To monitor the change in contaminant concentrations in effluents with time.