April 6, 2005 Page 5 Groundbreaking Soil Research Lab Coming to UNBC Br BELINDA Li AND BECKY CARMICHAEL, PRODUCTION COORDINATOR AND CONTRIBUTOR Northern reseanh at UNBC is about to receive another boost in the form of a brand new environmental research lab, thanks to Dr. Jianbing Li. As a relatively new faculty member, Li is already leading the construction of Northern Soil and Groundwater Remediation Research Lab (NOR- REL). : Li is an assistant professor of Environmental Engineering at UNBC. His research specializes in groundwa- ter hydrology, soil and groundwater remediation, contaminant transport, and optimization for environmental management. He proposed to build ~ NORREL when he arrived at UNBC in July 2003. As industries such as oil and pulp continue to grow in northern B.C., the impact that they have on the environ- ment will continue to increase. NOR- REL will be important in conducting innovative research in soil remedia- tion, especially in the north. The projected cost of building NORREL is currently at $530,000. Li ‘has received grants from the Canadian Foundation of Innovation, the B.C. Knowledge Development Fund, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada to aid in the funding of this project. NORREL will be located on the first floor of the research lab building at UNBC. It will house a large stainless steel tank in a temperature-controlled room. According to Li, “northern cli- mate conditions can be mimicked” in this temperature-controlled room so that researchers “can evaluate the tem- perature change impacts on the conta- minants.” The original plan was for the room te maintain temperatures from -20 to 35 degrees Celsius. Due to funding restraints, the room will only vary from zero to 35 degrees Celsius because the equipment required to maintain sub- zero temperatures is too-costly for the budget. The lab will still accommodate temperatures from -20 to 0 degrees Celsius by installing a smaller, freezer- like compartment in the lab. At NORREL, “we are going to compare a computer simulation with a physical model,” stated Li. Using vari- ous modeling software, Li is currently working on mathematical models of the remediation process. When NOR- REL is built, he will be able to test his models with actual soil samples in varying physical conditions. The research performed at NOR- REL will allow for new soil remedia- oN ty inoculum +-D Pilot-Scale Simulation Veasel DIAGRAM BY FIANBING LI Researchers will be able to analyze the properties of soil contaminants in varying conditions using NORREL/’s temperature-controlled room, shown in this schematic diagram. tion techniques to be tested for their feasibility. Such techniques include injecting soils with compressed air, steam, electromagnetic energy, or ozone to optimize remediation condi- tions. “For example, you can pump steam into the soil to-raise the temper- ature, “ explained Li. In the near future, after sufficient testing has been done, Li plans to “go to field sites such as Fort St. John, col- lect soil samples, and analyze the prop- erties of the soil and the contami- nants.” NORREL is still in its intermediate stage as Li is still in the process of test- ing the mathematical software and awaiting price quotes for lab: equip- ment. If everything goes as planned, - Li expects NORREL to be built by December 2005 so he can begin his research at the beginning of 2006. PuHOTO BY SALAR MOTAHARI This beautiful waterfall photograph was taken by UNBC student Salar Motahari. Motahari will be part of the largest graduate class ever at UNBC, in May 2005. ples. samples. ing samples. Over the Edge is Hiring! 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