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"Powerful Reductant for Decontamination of Groundwaterand Surface Streams"

PSU Inv. Disc. No 96-1647

Field of the Invention:

A novel, supported, activated iron for removal of heavy metals, radionuclides, and halogenated hydrocarbons from contaminated waste streams.

Inventors:

S.M. Ponder and T.E. Mallouk

Background:

Heavy metals, radionuclides, and halogenated hydrocarbons constitute the vast majority of problems encountered in the clean-up and decontamination of aqueous waste. Virtually every site or aqueous stream requiring remediation contains at least one of these types of contaminants. Presently, removal of these contaminants requires a very expensive treatment program. Industry is in need of highly effective treatment processes that are much more economical to implement.

Invention description:

The present inventors are developing such a process. The process uses a novel, powerful decontamination agent with wide applicability. The agent is primarily a supported, activated iron, that can quantitatively remove a very diverse number of contaminants from aqueous streams. The agent will quantitatively remove heavy metal contaminants (tested at pH 7) such as lead, mercury, and chromium from an aqueous environment. We also believe that it may remove halogenated hydrocarbons more efficiently than any product currently in use. The agent is suitable for use in situ and may be left permanently in place if the contaminants need not be recovered.

Advantages:

  • removes heavy metals, radionuclides and halogenated hydrocarbons
  • expected to be more economical than existing treatment methods
  • efficiently precipitates technetium as the dioxide from aqueous solutions
  • can be used in situ or in a column or batch mode
  • especially suited for decontamination of groundwater flows

Invention status:

U.S. Issued Patent No. 6,242,663 and 6,689,485

Contact:

Mr. Matthew Smith
Sr. Technology Licensing Officer
Intellectual Property Office
113 Technology Center
The Pennsylvania State Univ.
University Park, PA 16802-7000
Phone: (814) 863-1122
Fax: (814) 865-3591
E-mail: mds126@psu.edu