Grantee Research Project Results
High-Performance Electrolysis for In-Situ Remediation of Heavy Metals
EPA Contract Number: 68D98123Title: High-Performance Electrolysis for In-Situ Remediation of Heavy Metals
Investigators: Exner, Jurgen H.
Small Business: Environmental Chemical Corporation
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 1998 through March 1, 1999
Project Amount: $70,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (1998) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , SBIR - Waste , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
Widespread contamination of soil and groundwater by heavy metal ions such as cadmium, mercury, copper, and lead is a global problem and poses a significant hazard to the environment and human health. This Phase I project pursues the use of innovative, high-surface-area cathode materials for an in-situ electrolytic process to effectively and efficiently remove heavy metal ions from groundwater and soil. Testing will be on a laboratory scale to evaluate the capability of achieving maximum contaminant level (MCL) treatment of aqueous wastes. High-performance cathodes offer the potential of reaching very low (ppb) treatment residuals at lower costs than common water treatment processes (pump-and-treat with precipitation, adsorption, or membrane separation). The use of HSA electrodes in an in-situ electrolytic process promises notable technical, public, and regulatory benefits. The Phase I work will determine conditions of current density and flow rate for treatment of cadmium, mercury, and copper ions. It also will test simulated and real groundwater waste streams.Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, remediation, engineering, chemistry, groundwater, heavy metals, EPA., Scientific Discipline, Economic, Social, & Behavioral Science Research Program, Toxics, Waste, Water, National Recommended Water Quality, Physics, Contaminated Sediments, Remediation, Wastewater, Chemistry, Engineering, 33/50, Groundwater remediation, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Economics & Decision Making, Mercury, electrochemical technology, cadmium & cadmium compounds, in situ remediation, soil and groundwater remediation, soil sediment, measuring benefits, lead & lead compounds, lead, cost benefit, contaminated soil, soils, soil and groudwater remediation, soil remediation, mercury & mercury compounds, copper, groundwater contamination, cadmium, heavy metal contamination, groundwater, heavy metals, electrochemical methods, electrochemical treatment, aqueous waste streamProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.