Method of increasing hydrophobicity of native water-bearing zones

A method for the retardation of the migration of hydrophobic contaminants through the subsurface of a water-bearing zone comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a non-degradable, solid, colloidal material to which said hydrophobic contaminants will sorb, said colloidal material having a particle size of less than 10 microns and having a surface treatment formed thereon to facilitate distribution of the colloid material through soil and groundwater;
• b) applying said colloidal material provided in step a) to the subsurface of said water-bearing zone by a method selected from the group consisting of injection within the subsurface of said water-bearing zone at a pressure of less than 100 psi, gravity feed and percolation such that once applied, said surface treatment is operative to facilitate distribution of said colloidal material into position within the subsurface of said water-bearing zone a distance up to 5 meters;
• and
• c) permanently embedding said colloidal material distributed within the subsurface of said water-bearing zone in step b) as facilitated by said surface treatment to sorb said hydrophobic contaminants passing therethrough for a period of at least 30 years.