Metal-Mediated Aeration Process for Purification of Water and Wastewater
James Englehardt and Daniel Meeroff
Problem
Existing chemical processes for oxidizing organics and disinfecting water and wastewater generally use chemical, thermal, or radiant energy as inputs. Chlorination is a common water purification method. However, chlorination imparts emerging chlorinated contaminants. Membrane filtration and absorption is another common water purification method. However, applications for membrane filtration and absorption are generally limited because contaminants are transferred to another phase, and thus not destroyed. Advanced oxidation processes are generally capable of efficiently oxidizing organics in water, and include electron beam treatment, Fenton processes (using hydrogen peroxide), UV/titanium dioxide, UV/ozone processes, and simple ozonation. However, these advanced oxidation processes are generally expensive and do not effectively remove inorganic contaminants. Therefore, economical methods for effectively decomposing and removing emerging contaminants including both organic and inorganic contaminants from water, wastewater and solid media, such as sediment, are needed.
Solution
A process used in the present invention enables oxidation of a range of organic contaminants and co-precipitation of inorganic contaminants under ambient conditions. The process oxidizes the chelating agent and any associated organics, and co-precipitates inorganics from ground water, water, or wastewater. In site remediation applications, a prior step involves extraction of metal contaminants from the soil with the chelating agent. The process generates natural oxidants and coagulants in water, destroying organic pollutants and removing metals and metal oxides, through aeration in the presence of metallic media.
Competitive Advantage
One of the advantages of the present invention is that the process is more economical than existing methods currently used in wastewater treatment applications.
Applications
This invention can be used for wastewater treatment and purification.
Patent Status
U.S. patent application No.
US20070119785 A1
entitled "METAL MEDIATED AERATION FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER PURIFICATION" was published on May 31, 2007.
Licensing Opportunity
We are looking for a commercialization partner with core competency in wastewater treatment and purification technologies and with capabilities in product development, sales, and marketing. An exclusive worldwide license is available.
About the Inventors
James Englehardt is a Professor of Environmental Engineering at the University of Miami, appointed in 1992. Before receiving his Ph.D. in Civil/Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Davis, in 1993, Dr. Englehardt led research projects in the development of mineral filter media for the Manville Corporation (1983-1987). From 1978-1980, he supervised a laboratory and conducted product development and service projects for the Western Filter Company, Denver CO. His research group is currently developing mineral-mediated and catalytic processes for aquatic restoration. Applications have been to groundwater and soil remediation, wastewater treatment, and water treatment in developed and developing countries.
Daniel Meeroff is an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at Florida Atlantic University, joining the department in August 2003. Dr. Meeroff received his Masters and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Miami, and worked directly with Dr. Englehardt during development of the iron-mediated aeration technology during a post doctoral research appointment between 2001 and 2003. During his time at the University of Miami, Dr. Meeroff conducted research in a range of projects including: Industrial Wastewater Treatment, Medical Waste Management, Biosolids, Physical/Chemical Treatment Processes, and Irradiation. His research group is now expanding into Water and Wastewater Treatment Technologies, Leachate, Onsite Treatment and Disposal Systems, Microbiological Pathogens, Wastewater Reuse, and Environmental Restoration.
Selected References
Englehardt, J., L. Echegoyen, D. Meeroff, C. Woolever, and T. Shibata (2002) "In-Situ Chelation/Reduction Process for Metals and Radionuclides - Laboratory Study," Final Report, contract no. DE-AC26-01NT41302, National Energy Technology Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Morgantown, WV.
Englehardt, J., L. Echegoyen, and D. Meeroff (2001) "In-Situ Chelation and Removal of Subsurface Metals," presentation, Industry Partnerships for Environmental Science and Technology Conference, U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, Morgantown, WV, October 30.
De, D., E. Kalu, P. Tarjan, and J. Englehardt, (2004) "Kinetic Studies of the Electrochemical Treatment of Nitrate and Nitrite Ions on Iridium-Modified Carbon Fiber," Chemical Engineering & Technology, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 56-64.
Meeroff, D. and J. Englehardt (2001) "Precoat Filtration and Ultrafiltration of Emulsified Bitumen from Water," Journal of Environmental Engineering, American Society of Civil Engineers, vol. 127, no. 1, pp. 46-53.
De, D., J. Englehardt, and E. Kalu (2000) "Electroreduction of Nitrate and Nitrite Ion on a Platinum-Group-Metal Catalyst-Modified Carbon Fiber Electrode: Chronoamperometry and Mechanism Studies," Journal of the Electrochemical Society, vol. 147, no. 12, pp. 4573-4579.
De, D., J. Englehardt, and E. Kalu (2000) "Cyclic Voltammetric Studies of Nitrate and Nitrite Ion Reduction at the Surface of Iridium-Modified Modified Carbon Fiber Electrode," Journal of the Electrochemical Society, vol. 147, no. 12, pp. 4224-4228.
Englehardt, J., and C. Peng (1996) "Pozzolanic Filtration/Solidification of Radionuclides in Nuclear Reactor Cooling Water," Waste Management, Elsevier Science Ltd., vol. 15, no. 8, pp. 585-592.
Meeroff, D.E., Waite, T.D., Kazumi, J. and Kurucz, C.N. (2004). Radiation-assisted process enhancement in wastewater treatment. Journal of Environmental Engineering. Volume 130(2). pp. 155-166.
Meeroff, D.E. and Englehardt, J.D. (2001). Precoat filtration and ultrafiltration of emulsified bitumen from water. Journal of Environmental Engineering. Volume 127(1). pp. 46-53.
Meeroff, D.E. and Englehardt, J.D. (2000). Ultrafiltration flux restoration of tubular PVDF membranes for applications involving bitumen emulsions. Separations Science and Technology. Volume 35(13). pp. 2019-2044.
Meeroff, D.E. and Bloetscher, F. (1999). Sludge management, processing, treatment, and disposal. Florida Water Resources Journal. Volume 51(11). pp. 23-25.
Brown, A.B., McKay, S.E., and Meeroff, D.E. (1997). Scope and stereochemistry of [2+2] photocycloadditions between cyclopentenones and 1,2-dichlorocycloalkenes. Synthetic Communications. Volume 27(11). pp. 1989-2012.
