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 , SBIR - Nanotechnology , SBIR - Water and Wastewater , Watersheds , 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., Sustainable Industry/Business, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Water, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Sustainable Environment, Environmental Chemistry, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Analytical Chemistry, Arsenic, Drinking Water, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Monitoring, community water system, nanomaterials, Safe Drinking Water, treatment, nonocomposite filter, chemical contaminants, monitoring, contaminant removal, best available technology, drinking water system, drinking water contaminants, water treatment, drinking water treatment, nanotechnology, nanofiltration, nano alumina filter, public water systems, risk management, nanocomposite filter, arsenic contaminated sediment, arsenic exposureProgress 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.