Perchlorate Remediation Using New Nanoscale Polymer Technology
Abstract
Perchlorate has shown carcinogenic, neurodevelopmental, reproductive, and immunotoxic effects. Perchlorate contamination of groundwater is a serious problem at Department of Defense (DOD) facilities nationwide. Ion exchange resins have been used for perchlorate remediation of water; however, the selectivity of these resins is often poor. This leads to low capacity before regeneration of the resin and high salt concentrations needed for regeneration. A scalable dendritic polymer-based filtration material with high capacity for the selective extraction of perchlorate ions from ground water was developed. The resin has binding sites throughout the volume of the resin particle not only on the surface, resulting in large capacity. Branched dendrigrafts with perchlorate binding sites were synthesized. Crosslinking was performed with poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) to strengthen the resin and reduce biofouling. Synthesis and purification was optimized for scale-up and cost reduction. Total capacities of the resins were characterized, and initial operating parameters were obtained. This technology is expected to be implemented as a fixed bed system with NaCl regeneration. Brine containing perchlorate and other ions such as nitrate and sulfate from the regeneration process could be disposed of in liquid form, if not inhibited by regulation, or in evaporated form as salt. Both uncrosslinked, water-soluble dendrigrafts and poly(ethylene glycol)-crosslinked, water insoluble dendrigrafts were investigated. Resins were tested with high perchlorate concentrations to ensure that even in the presence of high nitrate and sulfate concentrations the capacity for perchlorate is still high. With large capacities the resin is expected to be effective for the removal of low or high concentrations of perchlorate. The highest perchlorate capacities, up to 325 meq/g, were found in the soluble dendrigrafts.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA606906
Entities
People
- Anja Mueller
Organizations
- Central Michigan University