Grantee Research Project Results

Novel Method for DBP Removal

EPA Contract Number: 68D50145
Title: Novel Method for DBP Removal
Investigators: Olson, Edwin S.
Small Business: Universal Fuel Development Associates Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: September 1, 1995 through July 1, 1998
Project Amount: $220,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase II (1995) Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Water and Wastewater , Watersheds , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)

Description:

The treatment and disinfection of water for drinking continues to be a major public health issue. It is clear that disinfection methods involving chlorine compounds result in the formation of byproducts that constitute a health risk. The proposed work addresses the removal of the disinfection byproducts (DBPs), especially the haloacetic acids, or their humate and fulvate precursors by using an inexpensive inorganic material as a catalytic or anion exchange material, respectively. The Phase I work demonstrated that one of the ion exchange materials can effect nearly complete removal of the precursor humic substances present in the water. These materials can also catalyze the decomposition of the haloacetic acids at ambient conditions. The goal fo the Phase II work is to develop a viable technology for water treatment that either:

1. removes the DBP precursor so that low levels of DBPs are obtained with disinfection one or
   
2. removes the haloacetic acids from the chlorinated water.

Sufficient data is needed to reach a go/no go decision that either process is competitive with activated carbon and membrane filtation and the proceeding with either process to the pilot stage is a convincing investment.

Supplemental Keywords:

small business, SBIR, engineering, chemistry., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Water, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Drinking Water, Environmental Engineering, chlorine-based disinfection, chlorination, Safe Drinking Water, treatment, chlorinated by products, haloacetic acids, drinking water system, drinking water contaminants, water treatment, drinking water treatment, anion exchange material, chemical byproducts, disinfection byproducts (DPBs), public water systems, municipal water, chlorinated DBPs, alternative disinfection methods

Progress and Final Reports:

Final

SBIR Phase I:

Novel Method for DBP Precursor Removal