STTR Phase I: Electrochemical Water Treatment Devices to Combat Harmful Algal Blooms

这一小型企业技术转让(STTR)第一阶段项目的更广泛/商业影响是开发一种有害藻华(HAB)缓解技术。赤潮是一种蓝藻羽毛，由于它们释放的氰基毒素，通常对水生生物、动物和人类都有剧毒。赤潮已经成为对湖泊娱乐使用和饮用水供应的新威胁。对于传统的集中式水处理工艺来说，减少由于营养物质排放增加和全球气候变化而频繁和不规则地发生的HAB事件和氰化毒素是具有挑战性的。据估计，哈伯斯对美国的直接经济影响为每年5000万美元。拟议的赤潮缓解技术旨在在早期阶段拦截或消除这种水华。该技术基于电化学氧化，具有更快地去除蓝藻和氰化毒素的特点。与传统的氯化和臭氧方法相比，该溶液还应产生较少的消毒副产品。该技术使用更便宜的、来自当地的电极材料，从而降低了资本成本和潜在的供应链挑战。这些改进可以使更多的客户能够使用这项技术，从而改善更多人口的水质。此外，能源消耗可能会显著降低，从而实现更有效的治疗。哈布斯的减少将确保继续将水资源用于娱乐，降低健康风险，并提高湖边住宅的财产价值。该项目的重点是开发一种创新的电化学技术，以安全有效地从水体中去除赤潮。有害藻华的去除是通过电氧化(EO)过程完成的，该过程不需要添加任何化学品，而且快速且易于使用。第一阶段的研究和开发将包括开发新的电极材料，旨在通过取代涂层电极材料中的母材和掺杂剂，将电极成本降低高达50%。该团队还将评估处理过程对非藻类模型生物的环境影响。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is in the development of a harmful algal bloom (HAB) mitigation technology. HABs are cyanobacterial plumes that are often acutely toxic to aquatic organisms, animals, and humans because of the cyanotoxins released by them. HABs have become an emerging threat to the recreational use of lakes and drinking water supplies. It is challenging for conventional centralized water treatment processes to mitigate HAB events and cyanotoxins that occur frequently and irregularly due to increased nutrient discharge and global climate change. The direct economic impact of HABs in the U.S. is estimated to be $50 million per year. The proposed HAB mitigation technology aims to intercept of eliminate such blooms at the early stage. The technology is based on electrochemical oxidation and features faster removal of both cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins. The solution should also result in fewer disinfection byproducts compared with conventional chlorination and ozonation methods. The technology uses cheaper, locally sourced electrode materials thereby reducing capital costs and potential supply chain challenges. These improvements could make the technology accessible to larger customer base and as such, improve water quality for larger populations. In addition, energy consumption may be reduced significantly allowing for more effective treatment. The reduction in HABs would ensure the continued use of water resources for recreation, reducing health risks and increasing property values of lakeside residences. The project is focused on the development of an innovative electrochemical technology to remove HABs safely and effectively from bodies of water. Removal of harmful algal blooms is accomplished through an electro-oxidation (EO) process that does not require the addition of any chemicals, is quick, and easy to use. Phase I research and development will include the development of new electrode materials aimed at reducing the electrode costs by up to 50% by substituting the base metal and the dopant in the coated electrode material. The team will also evaluate the environmental impact of the treatment process on non-algae model organisms.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.