Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
32
Nanomaterials Persuasive in Long
History of
Pursuing Perchlorates
Suvankar Sengupta,
1
J. Richard Schorr,
1
Rao Revur,
1
Tianmin Xie,
2
and David E. Reisner
2
1
MetaMateria Technologies LLC, Columbus, Ohio, USA
2
Inframat
®
Corp., Manchester, Connecticut, USA
CONTENTS
32.1 Problem ............................................................................................................................... 647
32.2 Perchlorate Removal Technologies .................................................................................. 648
32.2.1 Ion Exchange .......................................................................................................... 649
32.2.2 Bioreactor ................................................................................................................ 650
32.2.3 Perchlorate Transformation/Biodegradation ..................................................... 650
32.2.4 Composting ............................................................................................................ 651
32.2.5 Permeable Reactive Barrier ................................................................................... 652
32.2.6 Phytotechnology .................................................................................................... 652
32.2.7 Membrane Technologies ....................................................................................... 652
32.2.7.1 Electrodialysis ......................................................................................... 653
32.2.7.2 Reverse Osmosis...................................................................................... 653
32.2.8 Sorption Media ....................................................................................................... 653
32.2.8.1 Liquid-Phase Carbon Adsorption ........................................................ 654
32.2.8.2 Surfactant-Modiied Zeolites ................................................................. 654
32.2.8.3 Surfactant-Modiied Nanostructured Porous Media......................... 655
Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................................... 657
References ..................................................................................................................................... 657
32.1 Problem
Perchlorate is a mobile and stable ion that has been recognized as a health-threatening con-
taminant to groundwater, surface water, and soil. A majority of perchlorate ions result from
dissolution of salts that are used in energy boosters of rockets and missiles. Perchlorate ions
interfere with the iodide uptake of the thyroid gland, affecting the production of thyroid hor-
mones. Perchlorate is an especially stable ion that is dificult to remove from water. Methods
examined for the removal of perchlorate ions from contaminated soil and water sources are
reviewed in this chapter, including ion exchange, bioremediation, composting, permeable
reactive barrier (PRB), phytotechnology, membrane technologies, and sorption media. The
use of a high surface area, nanostructured porous ceramic, was found to show much prom-
ise for the economical adsorptive capture of perchlorate, and these results are described.
647
