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TREATMENT OF PERCHLORATE CONTAMINATED WATER USING A COMBINED BIOTIC/ABIOTIC PROCESS
Impact/Purpose:
Perchlorate, a water contaminant that interferes with the thyroid's ability to use iodine to produce growth hormones, has been found in groundwater in a number of states including Texas and Alabama. While perchlorate is not regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at this time, it is listed as one of the contaminants on the EPA Contaminant Candidate List (CCL) because of potential health concerns. In addition, the state of Texas has adopted a four part per billion interim action level for remediation of perchlorate in drinking water based on the limited toxicological data available.
Very few research studies have addressed treatment alternatives for perchlorate, especially for treatment of waters that contain only the part per billion levels of contamination recently identified in groundwaters. A recent literature review suggests that anaerobic biodegradation is one of the most promising treatment technologies available. Indeed, a number of bacteria that are capable of using nitrate as an electron acceptor are also capable of using perchlorate. In addition, chemical treatment techniques such as chemical reduction appear to be favorable based on equilibrium calculations; however, perchlorate removal using this process has not been effective due to extremely slow rates of reaction.
The proposed research will evaluate one potential treatment/remediation scheme that involves a combined biotic/abiotic process using zero valent iron (iron filings) and anaerobic bacteria. Literature reports indicate that this type of combined process has potential for reducing nitrate, and the proposed research is based on the hypothesis that a similar process will work for perchlorate remediation. Preliminary research in our laboratory using the combined system for perchlorate remediation supports this hypothesis, but also highlights the need for further resea
Perchlorate, a water contaminant that interferes with the thyroid's ability to use iodine to produce growth hormones, has been found in groundwater in a number of states including Texas and Alabama. While perchlorate is not regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at this time, it is listed as one of the contaminants on the EPA Contaminant Candidate List (CCL) because of potential health concerns. In addition, the state of Texas has adopted a four part per billion interim action level for remediation of perchlorate in drinking water based on the limited toxicological data available.
Very few research studies have addressed treatment alternatives for perchlorate, especially for treatment of waters that contain only the part per billion levels of contamination recently identified in groundwaters. A recent literature review suggests that anaerobic biodegradation is one of the most promising treatment technologies available. Indeed, a number of bacteria that are capable of using nitrate as an electron acceptor are also capable of using perchlorate. In addition, chemical treatment techniques such as chemical reduction appear to be favorable based on equilibrium calculations; however, perchlorate removal using this process has not been effective due to extremely slow rates of reaction.
The proposed research will evaluate one potential treatment/remediation scheme that involves a combined biotic/abiotic process using zero valent iron (iron filings) and anaerobic bacteria. Literature reports indicate that this type of combined process has potential for reducing nitrate, and the proposed research is based on the hypothesis that a similar process will work for perchlorate remediation. Preliminary research in our laboratory using the combined system for perchlorate remediation supports this hypothesis, but also highlights the need for further rese
Description:
The results from the project will allow us to evaluate both in-situ remediation and ex-situ treatment of perchlorate contaminated waters. A project duration of three years is proposed with a first-year budget of $69,442; a budget of approximately $70,000 per year is proposed for the subsequent two years.