Grantee Research Project Results
Nano Alumina Arsenic Filter
EPA Contract Number: 68D02087Title: Nano Alumina Arsenic Filter
Investigators: Tepper, Frederick
Small Business: Argonide Corporation
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: October 1, 2002 through July 31, 2003
Project Amount: $99,923
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2002) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Nanotechnology , Watersheds , SBIR - Water and Wastewater , SBIR - Nanotechnology , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
Improved methods are sought for removing arsenic from drinking water to meet the new 10 µg/L standard. Argonide Corporation proposes to develop point-of-entrance and point-of-use (POE/POU) filters that would efficiently remove arsenic down to this limit. The active ingredient of this filter would be a new form of "activated" alumina, with nano-sized (approximately 2 nm diameter) fibrous dimensions and a high surface area (350 to 650 m2/g). Under a National Aeronautics and Space Administration subcontract, such fibers have been fashioned into a low-pressure drop depth filter with the capability to remove virus from neutral water to greater than 99.99999 percent (7 logs). These nanofibers also absorb trace heavy metals, and initial data show that they absorb low ppb levels of As(V). They are likely to have greater arsenic capacity, as well as better sorption kinetics, than conventional activated alumina. In the first 6 months of the Phase I research project, the feasibility of filter media will be demonstrated by efficiently absorbing As(III) and As(V) for POU applications. In the last 4 months, the potential for the filter to be chemically regenerated for POE systems will be determined. In Phase II, Argonide Corporation proposes to develop and design a prototype cartridge filter for residential use that would meet the 10 µg/L standard. Should filter regeneration prove to be economically feasible, more definitive absorption/regeneration cycling for the purpose of POE applications would be performed during Phase II.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 7 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, EPA, point-of-use, POU, point-of-entrance, POE, arsenic, filter, residential drinking water systems, alumina, sorption kinetics., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Water, Sustainable Industry/Business, Environmental Chemistry, Sustainable Environment, Arsenic, Analytical Chemistry, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Environmental Monitoring, Drinking Water, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Environmental Engineering, monitoring, public water systems, Safe Drinking Water, nonocomposite filter, risk management, nanotechnology, arsenic removal, chemical contaminants, community water system, treatment, nanofiltration, nanomaterials, nano alumina filter, arsenic exposure, contaminant removal, drinking water contaminants, drinking water treatment, water treatment, nanocomposite filter, drinking water system, best available technologyProgress 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.