Exploratory studies of an innovative reactor system for the destruction of organic contaminants in water

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Project Period: 
1997
Project Investigator(s): 
RL Valentine, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Iowa
Abstract: 

A need exists for improved methods to destroy organic contaminants in drinking water, industrial waste waters, and to remediate contaminated aquifers. Advanced oxidation technologies, which involve the formation of highly reactive hydroxyl radicals, are an emerging class of technologies finding increasing use to treat a variety of these contaminated waters. Application of currently available processes are limited, however, because they require relatively expensive components, have high operating costs, involve complex reactor configurations and process control, and require a relatively high level of training to operate. A need exists for a simple and inexpensive method of oxidizing contaminants using hydroxyl radicals. Recent work at The University of Iowa has resulted in an improved understanding of the reaction mechanism describing hydrogen peroxide decomposition in the presence of iron coated media, and realization of how to possibly exploit this in an innovative fixed-bed reactor system for the destruction of organic contaminants. This project will evaluate the application of this reactor system to oxidize selected contaminants under a variety of reaction conditions, and will gather preliminary design information of use in estimating its capabilities, limitations, and costs.