SBIR-STTR Award

This Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I project focuses on developing an advanced oxidation technology to meet current and pending regulations for concentrations of mercury that can be emitted in industrial wastewaters. In the current project, a proprietary photocatalyst will be used to investigate the ability to oxidize and remove the Hg. The research objectives of this project will be to better understand the removal process, to optimize the removal of mercury using this approach, and to define the parameters necessary for future development. Mercury concentrations below 100 ppt are anticipated via the proposed approach. The approach has the robustness to remove Hg from a variety of different waste streams and requires less O&M costs than traditional water treatment technologies. Mercury emissions, whether originating from air emissions or industrial effluents severely threaten the ecosystem and the fishing industry. Typically, environmental technologies are viewed as necessities for environmental compliance, and not as positively impacting their profit statements. The proposed approach can potentially alter this view; this process could possibly remove Hg from caustic, a commodity product for the industry

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II aims to further develop and optimize an advanced oxidation technology called Ultraviolet Activated Chelation (UVAC), which utilizes low-energy ultraviolet (UV) light for the removal of mercury (Hg) from industrial wastewaters. The Phase I project achieved Hg concentrations as low as 11 ppt (which is lower than the Hg levels commonly found in rainwater) via this process. The technology has been proven in the bench- and pilot-scales, but further work is required to consistently achieve Hg concentrations below 12 ppt and to obtain the most economical commercial design. The Phase II objectives will include the optimization of design parameters such as filtration, pH, residence time, and UV light characteristics. The effect of various water chemical characteristics on Hg removal will also be studied. It is anticipated that Phase II efforts will result in a robust and economical commercial system employing the UVAC technology for industries to comply with current and pending environmental regulations. The broader impact/commercial potential from this technology will be a process for Hg removal from water to trace levels, this technology is contributing to the protection of human health, wildlife, and the environment. Exposure to Hg, which can occur by consumption of contaminated fish, can affect cognitive thinking, memory, attention, language, and fine motor and visual spatial skills. Additionally some researchers have proposed a link between Hg and autism. A commercially viable solution for Hg removal from water to levels below 12 ppt is lacking. Development of the UVAC technology for the chlor-alkali industry may lead to the commercialization of the technology for other industries, such as coal-fired power plants and dental offices, among others. Further understanding of the UVAC process will enhance the scientific community's knowledge about Hg in the environment, particularly in relation to UV light