Grantee Research Project Results
Assessment of the Effects of Changes in Soil Oxidation Reduction Potential to Speciation and Transport of Heavy Metals
EPA Grant Number: GF9500249Title: Assessment of the Effects of Changes in Soil Oxidation Reduction Potential to Speciation and Transport of Heavy Metals
Investigators: Brown, Geoffrey A.
Institution: Cornell University
EPA Project Officer: Lee, Sonja
Project Period: June 1, 1995 through January 1, 2000
Project Amount: $29,032
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (1995) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Academic Fellowships , Safer Chemicals , Fellowship - Chemistry
Objective:
The purpose of this study is to determine the impact that changes in the oxidation- reduction (redox) potential in soil has on speciation and fate of heavy metals associated with direct land application of certain municipal solid wastes. Specifically, the project will: 1) determine the range and seasonal fluctuation of redox potentials that occur in ?typical? agricultural soils in the Northeastern United States, 2) determine whether changes in metal speciation/mobility occur under optimal conditions in response to changes in redox potential, 3) determine what mechanisms are responsible for these changes in speciation/mobility, and 4) assess, using computer models, how such mechanisms may apply under ?natural? conditions. Redox potential has been shown to be a key parameter controlling speciation and fate of metals in soils. Because of environmental concerns over the fate and transport of heavy metals from increased land application of wastes, a significant amount of research has been conducted on heavy metal fate. Little research, however, has focused on the role that changes in redox potential plays in metal speciation and transport of metals introduced from anthropogenic sources. The results of this study will be incorporated into water and solute transport models such as the Leaching Estimation and Chemistry Model (LEACHM) to improve analysis of issues such as waste application on agricultural soils, wetland biogeochemistry, and hazardous and solid waste site assessment and remediation.
Supplemental Keywords:
Scientific Discipline, Waste, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Chemical Engineering, Remediation, Environmental Chemistry, Chemistry, Fate & Transport, Chemistry and Materials Science, Environmental Engineering, fate and transport, heavy metals transport, oxidation reduction potential, land application, land application of waste, soil oxidation reduction potential, soils, heavy metals speciationProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.