CICEET Progress Report for the period 3/1/04 to 9/10/04

Project Title: Development of a Technology in In Situ Remediation of PAH Contaminated Sediment
Principal Investigator(s): Gerald Matisoff

Accomplishments
Scheduled Tasks:
The major tasks or this reporting period were to develop and refine analytical methods, perform the repeat experiment, and begin analysis of repeat data.

Progress on Tasks
A student (Derek Smith) was identified to conduct the project as his Honor’s Thesis. During this reporting period he completed the development of the analytical methods and initiated and conducted, but did not yet complete, the repeat experiment. Approximately a quarter of the samples remain to be examined in the repeat experiment. Only cursory and preliminary analysis of the data has been done, largely in the form of data conversion.

Difficulties Encountered
No difficulties have been encountered; the new experimental plan to use lower concentrations of the PAH and surfactant has allowed the survival rate of the worms to be greatly increased and the experiment appears to be progressing as planned. The analytical methods took nearly two months to refine, ensuring proper detection limits. Multiple sets of preliminary experiments were run to establish proper methodology. Once these were defined, an exact protocol for the repeat experiment was developed. It was determined after some examination that field collection of worms was necessary in order to obtain sufficient numbers for the experiment. Once completely prepared, the repeat experiment required two months to run, before any breakdown could be performed. The full breakdown of the repeat experiment will require over three hundred and fifty hours of student time.

Anticipated Success in Meeting Project Objectives in Scheduled Project Period
The experiment should be concluded by 10/2004, with analysis continuing over the following months. It is expected that a final report should be completed by April, 2005.

Preliminary Data
Raw GC data has been collected for the repeat experiment but it has not been reduced nor analyzed since additional data is still being collected.

Tasks and activities for the next reporting period

Tasks for the next reporting period
1. Conclude experiment
2. Process data
3. Interpret results
4. Report findings

Work plan to accomplish tasks
1. Conclusion of experiment (9/2004-10/2004)
2. Process experimental data (10/2004-2/2005)
3. Analyze results (10/2004-2/2005)
4. Write up findings of experiment and research (10/2004-3/2005) for Thesis
5. Report results to CICEET (3-4/2005)

Expenditures
All project funds have been spent. Current charges are minor, except for student effort. Student effort level far exceeds project funds and is in excess of that being charged. Student effort is no longer being compensated except in the form of academic credit. It is not anticipated that progress will be delayed because of lack of funding.