In situ remediation of contaminated soil using EZVI (Emulsified Zero-Valent Iron)

Purpose and goal

The goal of the planning visit was to identify, describe and plan a research project for an application to VINNMER Academy Outgoing in the spring of 2016 for a project combining biochar and the EZVI technology. An application will be sent in by September 13th since it was not possible to get a support letter from my prospective host organization NASA before the spring deadline. The focus of the project will be different from the one I planned since the visit at NASA opened my eyes for the Trash-to-Gas project which I believe is more relevant for me than the EZVI project.

Expected results and effects

The visit at SSI was scheduled for November 2015, but due to illness I had to postpone the visit to 8-14 February 2016. The visit was very successful and I got to meet representatives of two companies and also visit Kennedy Space Center and NASAs research lab there. A mobility project is now planned in collaboration with NASA, UCF and the Swedish Space Corporation, SSC. The VINNMER-proposal will be submitted in September 2016 due to the lengthy process of obtaining a support letter from NASA. SSI will possibly be involved in the project but not as host organization.

Planned approach and implementation

The researchers at UCF, mainly prof Cherie Yestrebsky, had prepared an excellent program for my stay and arranged meetings with representatives of two companies, SSI and Provectus. They also had, thanks to their good contacts with leading researchers at Kennedy Space Center, arranged with security clearance for me to visit. Provectus is a consulting firm that works with several interesting projects and environmental technology applications, whereas NASAs research lab is more applied and problem-oriented, so I aim for a project with NASA as main partner.