Benthica is active in performing original research in the areas of sediment processes and remediation.  The research involves the interactions between microbial, chemical and physical processes, and how it affects the porewater and overlying water column.  The Benthica laboratory is equipped for running three-phase micro- and mesocosm-sized tests, and most of the associated processing and analyses. 
Benthica has performed original research on suppression of methyl mercury production and release from sediments.  The results of this research can be found under the Hg Remediation tab.  Another example of research are tests to determine the amount of porewater (potentially contaminated) that is released when methane bubbles are released.  This has significant implications for sediments that have contaminants in the porewater, as well as nutrients that can stimulate algal blooms.  Aside from the current interest in methane release as an agent for climate change, a more immediate and visible problem is the entrainment of hydrophobic chemicals from contaminated sediments to the overlying water. This is manifested as sheen on the water surface and has been observed in areas where contaminated sediments are capped with sand as a means of mitigation/remediation.  Benthica is currently developing the technology to prevent ebullition through sand caps.  This technology should be available and presented at the Battelle Contaminated Sediment Symposium in New Orleans in January of 2017.