Grantee Research Project Results
Enzymatic Nitrate Elimination Technology for Small Systems
EPA Contract Number: 68D50127Title: Enzymatic Nitrate Elimination Technology for Small Systems
Investigators: Campbell, Ellen R.
Current Investigators: Campbell, Ellen R. , Campbell, Wilbur W.
Small Business: The Nitrate Elimination Company Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: September 1, 1995 through October 1, 1997
Project Amount: $219,898
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase II (1995) Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Water and Wastewater , Watersheds , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
Nitrate contamination of ground water is a world wide problem. Nitrate at 10 ppm Nitrate-N (EPA's MCL) is toxic to infants, and chronic exposure may be harmful to adults. Physical and chemical nitrate removal methods only concentrate the pollutant, and bioremediation methods introduce other contaminants into the water. In the Phase I stage of this project, The Nitrate Elimination Company, Inc. (NECi) proved the feasibility of utilizing electrically-driven immobilized enzymes, EzNETTM, for point-of-use denitrification of potable water. This process is fast and selective, and reduces nitrate to environmentally benign nitrogen gas thereby eliminating the pollutant from the environment, without introducing contaminants into the water. In Phase II, NECi proposes to improve reactor design and optimize formulation of immobilized enzymes catalysts, and determine how to produce required quantities of the enzymes in a cost-effective manner. A variety of electrode materials will be tested in the EzNETTM reactor, and large scale enzyme production methods will be developed. Optimized prototypes will be tested for performance and stability. Finally, design of an EzNETTM reactor suitable for commercial manufacture will be developed. At the end of Phase II, project cost of the EzNETTM system relative to alternative nitrate removal methods will be known.Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 1 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, engineering, chemistry., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Water, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Drinking Water, Environmental Engineering, community water system, nitrate contamination, enzyme catalysts, groundwater contamination, chemical contaminants, contaminant removal, electrically driven enzymes, drinking water system, drinking water contaminants, drinking water treatment, groundwater, alternative disinfection methodsProgress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase I:
Enzymatic Nitrate Elimination Technology for Small Systems | 1995 Progress Report | Final ReportThe 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.