In the CyanoFox project, the University of Duisburg Essen and Stadtwerke Düsseldorf AG are developing an in situ Remediation procedure. The aim is to remediate contaminated sites contaminated with cyanides and PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) are contaminated. The new technology is based on colloidal iron oxide nanoparticles which are injected into underground and form reactive barriers there. In the project the particles are tested for their behaviour in the environment. The modified nanoparticles will be used to remove mobile cyanides and PAHs both in situ (in subsurface) and on site (in filtering facility).

The subsurface of the former gasworks at Höherweg, Düsseldorf is heavily contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Despite the good cleaning performance of the biotechnological pump-and-treat plant used, the officially-approved remediation target values could be achieved no sooner than 20 years. The project will develop customized colloidal nanoparticles based on iron oxide and and evaluates their efficiency in elimination of pollutants under environmentally relevant conditions in the laboratory and in the field.
 

For more information please contact Dr. Beate Krok.