Chemistry Project Abstract
THE EFFECTS OF PHYTOREMEDIATION ON AN INDUSTRIAL SITE
Presenters:
Holly Bybee, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL 60506; grvychic@imsa.edu
Zheyan (Jenny) Chen, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL 60506; jennyc@imsa.edu
Emma Goodman, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL 60506; peacocki@imsa.edu
Anna Hang, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL 60506; lucky3@imsa.edu
Lynn Peng, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL 60506; evex101@imsa.edu
Diana Tung, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL 60506; iluvya@imsa.edu
Tori Walters, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL 60506; tjw@imsa.edu
Yun Wu, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL 60506; meese923@imsa.edu
Advisor:
David Workman, Ph.D., Science, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL 60506; workman@imsa.edu; 630-907-5049
Abstract:
Phytoremediation is being used by Rafson Engineering to clean up an industrial site contaminated by organic solvents and their derivatives, mainly TCE, PCE, DCE, and vinyl chloride. Poplar trees were planted at the contaminated site in the spring of 2000 because their deep root systems are able to reach the water table and absorb the pollutants. We have completed a detailed site map and have monitored the growth of the trees for two years in order to track the correlation between the growth of the trees and the decrease of TCE. The first water samples were taken from the ten test wells at the site in March 2001. We plan to extract the volatile organic solvents from the water samples and use a gas chromatograph to measure the concentration of the contaminants. The objective is to bring the contamination levels in the groundwater to 0.001 parts/million, which is approximately equivalent to the quality of drinking water. Using the data that we will obtain, we will see if phytoremediation truly has an effect on the decontamination of ground water. We will continue to monitor the evolution of the site until it is determined to be clean and useable for commercial purposes.