# Project 5: Oxidative Remediation of Superfund Contaminants

> **NIH NIH P42** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY · 2021 · $207,781

## Abstract

PROJECT 5: SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
In situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) with persulfate (S2O82-) or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are being employed
increasingly for hazardous waste site remediation due its potential to quickly and inexpensively remediate
recalcitrant Superfund contaminants. Similarly, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) and electrochemical
treatment technologies are promising alternatives to physical treatment processes for the ex situ treatment of
waters containing low concentrations of contaminants. Although these techniques are being employed for site
remediation, the mechanisms through which contaminants are degraded are not well understood. In particular,
available evidence suggests that oxidation of contaminants may result in the formation of toxic transformation
products. The overall goal of this research project is to assess the formation, fate and toxicity of transformation
products produced by oxidative remediation with existing ISCO approaches and emerging remediation
technologies, such as electrochemical treatment, and develop approaches for reducing potential exposure to
oxidative transformation products. Through rigorous research on reaction mechanisms, contaminant fate and
toxicity we will provide engineers with the ability to predict when oxidative treatment will be effective and to
determine under which conditions potentially toxic transformation products will be formed. The latter may lead
to the development of additional treatment steps that could be used in concert with oxidative remediation
technologies. We will focus our efforts on the identification of oxidative transformation products of substituted
aromatic compounds, including amino-, chloro-, nitro- and alkyl-benzenes. This knowledge will be used to
identify reaction mechanisms and predict the reaction mechanisms of structurally similar compounds. To
assess the stability of transformation products, we will conduct laboratory experiments with groundwater and
aquifer sediments to determine if transformation products can be degraded further by microorganisms or by
reactions with minerals or natural organic matter. To determine the potential health effects arising from the
exposure to transformation products, we will use state-of-the-art bioanalytical strategies that allow for the
determination of the interactions of reactive transformation products with biomolecules at the molecular level.
This framework will substantially increase our understanding of mechanisms that lead to the removal of
contaminants and formation of stable transformation products during oxidative treatment. It will also allow us to
better predict under which conditions oxidative treatment technologies are appropriate and steps that can be
taken to advance their adoption in situations where the production of toxic transformation products is possible.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10136018
- **Project number:** 5P42ES004705-33
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY
- **Principal Investigator:** David L. Sedlak
- **Activity code:** P42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $207,781
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1997-04-01 → 2022-08-24

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10136018

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10136018, Project 5: Oxidative Remediation of Superfund Contaminants (5P42ES004705-33). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10136018. Licensed CC0.

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