January 19, 2011, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM, EST (19:00-21:00 GMT)

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• January 19, 2011

This seminar will feature SRP grantees Dr. Richard G. Luthy and Dr. Charles A. Menzie. Dr. Luthy of the Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University will review recent experimental studies and modeling work that describe the up-take of hydrophobic organic contaminants by activated carbon amendment in sediment. The emphasis will be on practical aspects of testing and modeling to assess the suitability of sediment for in-place treatment of persistent organic contaminants by activated carbon sorbent. A comparison of different feeding traits of benthic organisms illustrates the degree of treatment needed to achieve a desired remedial success of sorbent amendment. Recent work with polysulfide rubber-modified activated carbon suggesting the potential to treat both mercury and hydrophobic organic compounds will also be presented. A follow-up by Dr. Charles Menzie of Exponent Inc. will discuss the efficacy of various methods of application of SediMite, a pelletized agglomerate that consists of activated carbon, to contaminated sediments. He will focus on the effectiveness of delivery methods designed to minimally disturb sediment, yet deliver activated carbon amendment to the depth inhabited by biota.

In-place Management of Sediment Contaminants: Advances in modeling performance, assessing bio-uptake, and designing new sorbents
Dr. Richard G. Luthy, Silas H. Palmer Professor, Department of Civil and Evnironmental Engineering, Stanford University
The presentation will review recent experimental studies and modeling work that describe the up-take of hydrophobic organic contaminants by activated carbon amendment in sediment. The emphasis will be on practical aspects of testing and modeling to assess the suitability of a sediment for in-place treatment of persistent organic contaminants by activated carbon sorbent. A comparison of different feeding traits of benthic organisms illustrates the degree of treatment needed to achieve a desired remedial success of sorbent amendment. Recent work with polysulfide rubber-modified activated carbon suggests the potential to treat both mercury and hydrophobic organic compounds.

In-situ treatment of PCBs and mercury in sediments employing SediMite, a low-impact delivery system for activated carbon
Dr. Charles A. Menzie, Principal Scientist & Practice Director, Exponent
There is strong interest in employing in-situ treatment with activated carbon to reduce exposures of people, fish, and wildlife to bioaccumulative chemicals in sediments. Research and demonstration projects have largely focused on amending sediments with activated carbon (AC). A challenge with such amendments is how to deliver the AC cost-effectively and without disturbing the sediments. This seminar discusses the use of SediMite as a method for addressing this challenge and for delivering amendments with minimal sediment impact. SediMite is a pelletized agglomerate that consists of AC, an inert binding agent, and an inert weighting agent. It is delivered as pellets at the surface of the water body and sinks to the sediments. As the SediMite pellets take on water they release the AC. The released AC is then mixed into the sediments through the natural process of bioturbation. This mixing targets the depth zone where biota reside. This seminar will describe field pilot studies wherein SediMite has been applied in various ways. Two methods of spreading the material are described along with possible other techniques. The mixing performance of AC into sediments is presented along with treatment efficacy. The seminar will also describe the various studies completed and underway to examine the potential that the amendment may affect the biological communities living in the sediments.

• Dr. Richard G. Luthy, Silas H. Palmer Professor, Department of Civil and Evnironmental Engineering, Stanford University (luthy@stanford.edu)
• Dr. Charles A. Menzie, Principal Scientist & Practice Director, Exponent (camenzie@exponent.com)

• Linda Fiedler, Environmental Engineer, U.S. EPA Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation (fiedler.linda@epa.gov)

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