Soil
Science
Markus
Flury
Fate and Transport of Contaminants in the Subsurface
Waste
from nuclear facilities is often stored and deposited
in shallow subsurface repositories. When waste materials
leak from such repositories, contaminants move downward
through the unsaturated soils and sediments. Driven by
gravity, contaminants can ultimately reach the groundwater,
causing pollution of drinking water resources. Clean-up
and management of nuclear waste sites requires a sound
understanding of subsurface fate and transport of contaminants.
Of particular concern are colloidal particles, small
particles that can be suspended in the pore water, because
such particles can accelerate the migration of contaminants.
| With
a team of researchers from the Universities of Delaware
and Tennessee, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
and the Los Alamos National Laboratory, Dr. Flury
and his colleague Dr. James Harsh are investigating the
role of colloidal particles in the transport of the
radionuclide cesium-137, a major contaminant at United
States Department of Energy’s nuclear facilities. |
|
Specific
research objectives
- Characterization
and identification of mobile colloidal particles in
subsurface media.
- Determination
of interaction between colloidal particles and contaminants.
- Identification
of transport mechanisms for colloidal particles and
contaminants in the subsurface.
- Development
of mathematical models to predict the behavior of colloids
and contaminants in the subsurface.
The
outcomes of this research will lead to a better fundamental
understanding of subsurface flow and transport mechanisms,
and will provide the scientific basis for assessment,
remediation, and long-term management of nuclear waste
facilities.
Contact
Information
Markus Flury, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Crop
and Soil Sciences
Washington State University
PO Box 646420
Pullman, WA 99164-6420
Telephone:
509-335-1719
E-mail: flury@mail.wsu.edu
|
