Superfund Research Program
Chloro-Organic Degradation by Polymer Membrane Immobilized Iron-Based Particle Systems
Project Leader: Dibakar Bhattacharyya
Grant Number: P42ES007380
Funding Period: 2000-2019
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Progress Reports
Year: 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2000
The overall accomplishment is the ability to scale up the functionalized membrane filter from bench-scale flat sheet to large-scale module, and subsequent functionalization with iron/iron oxide NPs, and to establish the effectiveness of toxic chlorinated organic and heavy metal remediation through the fundamental understanding of particle surface adsorption and reaction. Some of the significant accomplishments are: 1) joint work with a membrane company for the development of large-scale functionalized spiral wound membrane modules for groundwater remediation; 2) synthesized the highly reactive iron/iron oxide NPs in membrane modules directly for reduction of selenium and arsenic oxyanions in power plant scrubber water (joint work with an energy company); 3) extension of work to degradation of organic acids from produced water through free radical oxidation (joint work with an oil company); 4) functionalization and dechlorination studies in alternative membrane supports (hollow fiber and spongy membranes); 5) joint work with energy-related industries and a membrane company for the development of larger-scale functionalized membrane module for the above remediation application; 6) utilization of the temperature and pH responsive polymers to allow the tunable control of PCBs and TCE detoxification.