NSF Award
8860957
The objective of this project is to determine the feasibility of using electrochemically generated superoxide to rapidly dechlorinate organic compounds such as the polychlorinated biphenyls, trihalomethanes, chlorinated phenols, benzoic acids, and chlorinated polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons that are found in wastewater. A novel compact electrolytic cell will be utilized for generation of the superoxide used to dechlorinate the organic compounds. After dechlorination, the resultant products are expected to be more amenable to biochemical degradation than they were previously utilizing fixed-film and suspended culture, bio-oxidation wastewater treatment processes. The proposal leading to this project was submitted in response to NSF 88-8, Program Solicitation for Small Business Innovation Research. The contamination of ground and surface waters by organic compounds that are the target of this research is a matter of great National concern. It is imperative that technologies be developed that are responsive to the need to remove organic pollutants from water and wastewater as well as to prepare substances that are not readily biodegradable for treatment by passage through biotreatment processes.
