The main objective of this consortium’s project METAFORE consists of a comparative study of three novel polymer-based methods to remove heavy metals at Tarnita contaminated site: i) batch decontamination; ii) reflux decontamination through polymer layer; and iii) reflux decontamination of chelator-treated contaminated waters. Uptake of metals into the polymer will be calculated. Contaminating heavy metals will be removed from resin by acid treatment. The polymer mass will be used many times. The main advantage of our approach against others is the rapid removing of heavy metals and well monitoring of the decontamination process. An evaluation of vegetation state (dry mass of biological material, before and after treatment, number of plants on square meter etc) will be made on this site. Measurements will be addressed to the determination of metal concentrations in soil and waters before and after remediation.

High amounts of copper, nickel, zinc, cobalt, arsenic, cadmium, molybdenum, barium,
manganese, mercury, and lead are expected to be removed from soil and collection ponds. The pH values will be determined to investigate metal mobilization. A comparison between metal concentrations in soil and those in plants will be made. Growth and survival of forest trees and carpet plants will be monitored during the project span. Metal toxicity will be correlated with nutrient uptake, climate changes, and animal browse. Trace element uptake and translocation of metals will be monitored in leaves, tree rings growth, annual plants, and roots. The plant accumulation factor values (ratio of concentration in plant: that in soil) at Tarnita site will be established. These values will be calculated for each metal in dead leaves, fresh leaves, dead stems, and fresh stems, respectively. A laboratory facility will be built as a model of soil decontamination device. Then, a field prototype consisting of resin reactors, pumps, pipes, and sprinklers will be created and studied. The project presented herein will focus on rigorously identifying pollution sources, mitigating and proposing economical solutions for them and on advancing a comprehensive conceptual model that will stand as a scientific basis for the conservation of the local natural heritage. Results from this project will be disseminated in many ways (international conferences, workshops, peer review papers, patents, project booklet, and project web site).
Specific objectives i) Inventory of perimeters of the soil affected by pollution and the areas affected by surface mining (stripped surfaces, waste dumps, ponds);

ii) The chemical analysis of the soil content in different heavy metals and the correlation of
the results with the health status and ecosystem biodiversity and with the annual ring
increases for main species;

iii) Determination of a series of chemical properties (acidity, degree of saturation with bases,
humus content) and results analysis in correlation with the soil pollution degree by
heavy metals;

iv) The analysis of the physical characteristics of the soil like: granulometry of the soil and
waste dumps; specific weight and volumetrical weight (density), the porosity and
compactness with the purpose of identifying the physical conditions for waste dumps
and the polluted soil for their remediation;

v) The analysis of herbaceous vegetation as well as the wood one;

vi) Framing clases and habitat mapping.