Grantee Research Project Results
Novel Method for Ferrate Production
EPA Contract Number: 68D02054Title: Novel Method for Ferrate Production
Investigators: Denvir, Adrian J.
Small Business: Lynntech Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: June 1, 2002 through June 1, 2004
Project Amount: $225,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase II (2002) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , SBIR - Waste , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
New environmental regulations have identified many of the currently used oxidizing agents employed for industrial waste control, disinfection, and wastewater treatment as a caveat that must be addressed. Ferrate has potential for becoming the alternative of choice because of its aggressive oxidation properties and its negligible impact on the environment. However, there has been little industrial interest in ferrate because of the high cost of production. All known methods of ferrate synthesis are extremely expensive and hence, less effective oxidizing agents that are much more affordable to produce are commonly employed. During Phase I, Lynntech, Inc., developed an environmentally benign electrochemical process for the production of greater than 98 percent pure potassium ferrate that is at least one-tenth the cost of conventional methods. The most attractive features of this process are its reliance on low-cost starting materials—most of which are recyclable, and the elimination of expensive ion exchange membranes. Utilizing continuous magnetic separation of ferrate from the electrochemical cell ensures that this process is ideally suited for industrial use. In Phase II, Lynntech, Inc., proposes to optimize ferrate production and extraction to develop a continuous, online system for yearly production of up to 100 kg of high-purity product. This project involves a collaborative effort between Lynntech, Inc., and leading companies in the specialty chemicals industry to develop this innovative process of ferrate production for implementation in the commercial marketplace.Widespread applications of oxidizing agents range from disinfection and sterilization to wastewater treatment and removal of hazardous waste materials as well as batteries and catalytic synthesis of explosives. However, many of the currently available oxidants are limited by the requirement of harmful starting materials or the generation of large volumes of negative-value byproducts. Ferrate has been shown to be effective in many of these applications, where the only byproduct of oxidation is environmentally benign rust. Lynntech, Inc., already has demonstrated the effectiveness of ferrate utilization in aluminum conversion coatings and nuclear waste remediation, which have combined markets in excess of $4 billion.
Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, water, wastewater, ferrate, engineering, chemistry, oxidizing agents, EPA, clean technology, pollution prevention, water disinfection, drinking water, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Water, Waste, Sustainable Industry/Business, Chemical Engineering, Wastewater, Environmental Chemistry, cleaner production/pollution prevention, Remediation, Analytical Chemistry, Hazardous Waste, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Hazardous, Environmental Engineering, hazardous liquid waste, wastewater treatment, ferrate production, hazardous waste treatment, electrochemical technology, ferrate (FeO42), industrial wastewater, advanced treatment technologies, industrial waste, oxidation, cleaner production, environmentally friendly technology, industrial wastewater , clean technologies, wastewater remediation, nuclear waste remediation, contaminated waters, clean technology, alternative technology, aluminum conversion coatings, hazardous materials, magnetic separation, potassium ferrate production, nuclear waste streams, coating processes, electrochemical techniques, hazadous waste streams, ferrous metals, innovative technology, electrochemcial treatment, industrial innovations, aqueous waste stream, aluminum conversion coating, disinfection, electrochemical treatment, oxidizing agents, green technology, electrochemical methods, aqueous waste streams, green chemistryProgress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase I:
Novel Method for Ferrate ProductionThe 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.