Real-Time Monitoring System for Phytoremediation Optimization

70474 Phytoextraction is frequently the most cost-effective method available for removing toxic metal and radionuclide contamination from the soils, sediments, and groundwater at many DOE facilities. In order to ensure that the site remediation proceeds as quickly and at the lowest cost possible, it is necessary to confirm that the plants are healthy, actively growing, and taking up the contaminants from the soil. At present, monitoring the phytoextraction efficiency is time-consuming and represents a large portion of the total cost. This project will combine two complementary technologies suitable for phytoextraction monitoring: reflectance spectroscopy for whole plant analysis and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIB) for analyzing precise plant structures. Both are capable of rapidly and inexpensively indicating metal uptake in plants. To prove the utility of the phytoremediation monitoring system, Phase I will (1) demonstrate LIBS for quantitative analysis of metals with no sample preparation in hyperaccumulators, (2) show that infrared reflectance spectroscopy can be used to indicate the health and degree of metal uptake in hyperaccumulators, and (3) provide a direct comparison between the two complementary technologies in a well controlled, sample-matched experiment. Commercial Applications And Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The combined monitoring system should improve the speed and lower the cost for phytoremediation of metal and radionuclide-contaminated DOE, DOD, and industrial sites. Additional commercial applications include screening large areas for possible contamination and, potentially, for mineral exploration.