Investigation of Catalysts to Enhance the Photo-Oxidation of Organics in Wastewaters
EPA Contract Number: 68D60026Title: Investigation of Catalysts to Enhance the Photo-Oxidation of Organics in Wastewaters
Investigators: Porter, James H.
Small Business: UV Technologies Inc.
EPA Contact: Manager, SBIR Program
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 1996 through March 1, 1997
Project Amount: $70,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (1995)
Research Category: Water and Watersheds , SBIR - Water
Description:
In the past five years, UV-Peroxide and/or Ozone systems have become the treatment of preference for removal of toxic organics in waste water because the contaminant species are chemically converted to benign components. These systems, however, have been limited to treating organics in groundwaters where organic concentrations rarely exceed a few tens of parts per million by weight. At higher organic concentrations, commercial systems have had very limited success.The full potential of UV oxidation has not been achieved because of the limited understanding of the interaction of fluid mechanics, energy transfer and absorption, and reaction kinetics on the optimal design of photochemical reactors. Recent advances made by UV Technologies, Inc. scientists have allowed them to extend the concentration range for treatment and suggest further improvements which may be made.
One such suggestion is the use of a photo-catalyst in a novel, in situ arrangement in a photo-catalytic reactor. This project will explore the effectiveness of a catalyst employed in this arrangement.
Supplemental Keywords:small business, SBIR, wastewater treatment, engineering, chemistry. , Water, Scientific Discipline, Wastewater, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Analytical Chemistry, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Chemistry, wastewater treatment, wastewater remediation, catalysts, catalyzing oxidation, aqueous waste stream, oxidation chemistry, groundwater contamination, photochemical reactor design, UV oxidation, aqueous phase organics, UV treatment, catalytic oxidation, photooxidation, alternative technology