Grantee Research Project Results

Final Report: Electrochemical Arsenic Remediation in Rural Bangladesh

EPA Grant Number: SU834017
Title: Electrochemical Arsenic Remediation in Rural Bangladesh
Investigators: Gadgil, Ashok , Wang, John , Sedlak, David L. , vanGenuchten, Case M. , Wart, Sarah van , Enscoe, Abby , Torkelson, Andrew , Soares, Carol , Cheng, Deborah , Zielke, Eric , Abed, Farzana , Mangold, Jennifer , Huang, Jessica , Fulton, Julian , Harrington, Kayley , Kowolik, Kristin , Muller, Marc , Itten, Michèle , Cousino, Nicole , Lin, Rebecca , Kostecki, Robert , Ramesh, Shreya , Amrose, Susan , Srinivasan, Venkat
Institution: University of California - Berkeley
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: II
Project Period: August 15, 2008 through August 14, 2010
Project Amount: $75,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet - Phase 2 (2008) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources , Sustainable and Healthy Communities

Objective:

Arsenic in drinking water is a major public health problem throughout the world. In Bangladesh and West Bengal (India), between 40 - 80 million people drink arsenic-laden water from shallow wells everyday. Current technical approaches to low-cost arsenic removal involve chemical adsorbents, which frequently fail to reduce arsenic to WHO recommended levels (10 ppb), need strong alkalies and corrosive acids to regenerate, produce large quantities of arsenic-laden toxic waste, have a short shelf life, and/or require an extensive continuous supply chain. In light of these shortcomings, we have developed ElectroChemical Arsenic Remediation (ECAR). This method is effective, efficient, low maintenance, produces little waste, and requires only electricity, iron and possibly a low-cost coagulant (such as Alum). Electricity can be provided to a small community system via intermittent grid, solar or battery power.

Phase I research brought ECAR technology development to the point of prototyping and testing in the field. The purpose and scope of Phase II is to prove technical viability of an ECAR prototype in the field through preliminary and extended field trials and develop a pilot project with a business plan for implementation over 2 years. We are currently in the beginning of the second year of Phase II.

Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):

In Year 1, we built a bench-scale continuous flow prototype (dubbed “Sushi” for its sushi-like electrode roll) and completed preliminary field trials in Bangladesh. We were also able to leverage additional funding to complete preliminary field trials in arsenic-affected Kandal Province, Cambodia. Across both locations, we were able to reduce arsenic below the WHO limit of 10 ppb in every tested sample (11 well samples total, with initial arsenic concentrations ranging from 80 to 760 ppb).

We have identified a location and partnerships to perform an extended technical trial of a 100 L ECAR prototype device in Armirabad Village, Murshidabad District, West Bengal, India (just across the border from Bangladesh). The site was chosen based on fruitful and positive collaborations we have formed with Jadavpur University, Kolkata, Kandi Raj College in Murshidabad, and an NGO local to Amirabad village known as BAJS. We also have positive relationships with the Arsenic Task Force (Government of India) and the District Magistrate of Murshidabad – all key to running a successful field trial.

In Berkeley, our student team has built and tested a 20 L and 100 L prototype device for the extended field trial. The 20 L device has been used to optimize electrode configuration, study different low-cost coagulants, and choose a low-power agitation method for the 100 L prototype.

Our team worked with a team of 6 graduate students in Haas School of Business to develop marketing tools aimed at finding business partnerships for our Pilot Project and beyond. We created a pamphlet, a business oriented marketing document, an FAQ document, and a 5-minute pitch presentation. University of California’s Tech Transfer Office is currently in discussions with several promising companies interested in licensing the ECAR device for Bangladesh and India.

Conclusions:

The economic slowdown of 2008 and 2009 (and subsequent disruption of partner availability) have led us to move our field trial focus from Bangladesh just across the border to West Bengal, India, and to purposely delay our trial schedule by a few months. Though the technology is being tested in West Bengal, our target population continues to include Bangladesh, and our findings will be transferable. Despite these setbacks, we have built a strong series of collaborations and partnerships critical to field trial success, and have built and tested a prototype device for the field trial. University of California’s Tech Transfer Office is also in negotiations with several promising business partners for our upcoming pilot project with the capability and interest to take this technology to scale.

Supplemental Keywords:

drinking water, groundwater, adsorption, chemicals, toxics, heavy metals, Bangladesh, West Bengal, arsenic

Relevant Websites:

Main Project Site: http://arsenic.lbl.gov
Article: http://m.timesofindia.com/PDATOI/articleshow/4703737.cms

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

2009 Progress Report

P3 Phase I:

Electrochemical Arsenic Remediation in Rural Bangladesh  | Final Report