A Novel System for the Separation and Destruction of Perchlorate from Contaminated Waters

The remediation of perchlorate contaminated ground water through conventional ion-exchange technology requires frequent regeneration of the ion exchange resins and subsequent disposal of the regenerate solutions. The disposal of these wastes poses environmental challenges, and it is not an economically favorable option. This research focuses on the development of a two stage process for the separation and destruction of perchlorate from contaminated waters. The separation stage employs a transition metal-functionalized DOW3N- based ion exchangers which has shown promise as a remediation strategy for trace anionic contaminates such as perchlorate and can be successfully regenerated using mild solution conditions. Three transition metals (Fe(III), Ni(II), and Cu(II)) have been used to functionalize Dowex M4195 polymeric ligand exchangers. The resulting materials were compared with respect to their perchlorate selectivity, capacity, kinetics and regeneration efficiency through a series of batch and column experiments. In parallel studies, perchlorate reduction in batch laboratory cultures could indicate the potential to couple these two processes through the biological destruction of perchlorate in regenerant solutions. The destruction of perchlorate through functionalized zero-valent-iron (ZVI) nanoparticles may be an alternative or complimentary second stage to this process. Kinetic data from batch perchlorate reduction experiments in the presence of functionalized ZVI nanoparticles will be included.