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Virginia Tech

Phytoremediation Mechanisms of a Creosote-Contaminated Site

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

In 1990, creosote contamination was discovered at the location of a railroad tie treatment facility active in the 1950s until 1973. In 1997, a phytoremediation field study was implemented with the planting of 1,026 hybrid poplar trees and 36 cells of vegetated and unvegetated grass and legume treatments. The hybrid poplar tree phytoremediation system was designed to control infiltration and groundwater flow and enhance subsurface remediation. The grass phytoremediation system was designed to control erosion and enhance surface soil remediation. The overall objectives of this study were to: (1) assess the extent of subsurface remediation, (2) determine the mechanisms of remediation attributable to the hybrid poplar tree phytoremediation system and microbial degradation, (3) assess the effects of the grass phytoremediation system on surface soil remediation, and (4) determine the mechanisms of surface soil remediation resulting from the grass phytoremediation system.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Civil Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Civil Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2001

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Robinson, Sandra Lynn
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Novak, John T.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Hagedorn, Charles III
  • Widdowson, Mark A.

Subjects

dc:subject × 6

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-05292001-145229
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/42806

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Robinson, Sandra Lynn. Phytoremediation Mechanisms of a Creosote-Contaminated Site. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/42806