Novel Zeolite Photocatalyst for Reductive Dechlorination of Chlorinated VOCs

描述（由申请人提供）：Zeomatrix是一家小型企业，正在研究和开发氯化挥发性有机碳（CVOCs）的修复技术。CVOCs是普遍存在的地下水污染物。它们在自然中存活了100多年。大多数对人类有毒，有些（包括三氯乙烯）与癌症有关。美国地质调查局（United States Geological Survey）最近完成的一项历时17年的研究发现，美国几乎每个含水层都存在氯化挥发性有机化合物。据估计，全面修复地下水中这些化合物的费用将超过2 000亿美元。正在开发的产品是一种可见光催化剂，它将促进CVOC化合物快速还原为毒性较小的物质。目前的商业光催化剂被用作氧化催化剂，因此它们在存在溶解有机物（地下水的常见成分）的情况下修复效率较低。Zeomatrix利用高通量筛选方法，快速和成本有效地开发新的光催化剂。第一阶段的研究将使用定制的平行光催化剂筛选仪器进行，以评估大量候选材料并确定最佳的还原性光催化剂。该研究将集中在以下具体目标上：第一，基于实验设计（DoE）协议，使用Zeomatrix定制的自动沉积系统合成一系列催化剂支撑几何形状，沉积各种金属/金属氧化物组合，然后在可见光下筛选还原性光催化活性；第二，在一系列实验条件（pH值、离子强度、溶解有机含量）下，筛选从初始筛选实验中选择的还原性光催化剂与选定的测试化合物（三氯乙烯、三氯乙烷）的活性。最佳光催化剂的选择将基于快速降解动力学（翻转频率）和在不利条件下（高离子强度、pH值极端和高溶解有机含量）的功效。第一阶段的研究结果将用于确定所选光催化剂用于CVOCs修复的可行性。第二阶段的研究将进一步优化光催化剂，并对实际污染的地下水进行大规模的试点研究。快速动力学与低成本可见光的结合将使其成为解决广泛的CVOC污染问题的有吸引力的修复选择。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Zeomatrix, a small business, is proposing to research and develop a remediation technology for chlorinated volatile organic carbons (CVOCs). CVOCs are ubiquitous groundwater pollutants. Left on their own they persist in nature for over 100 years. Most are toxic to humans, and some (including trichloroethylene) have been linked to cancer. A recently completed 17 year study by the United States Geological Survey found that chlorinated VOCs are present in nearly every aquifer in the United States. It is estimated that full scale remediation of these compounds in groundwater will cost in excess of $200 billion. The product being developed is a visible light photocatalyst which will promote the rapid reduction of CVOC compounds to less toxic materials. Current commercial photocatalysts are employed as oxidative catalysts, and thus they are less efficient at remediation in the presence of dissolved organic matter, a common component of groundwater. Zeomatrix utilizes high throughput screening methods to rapidly and cost effectively develop new photocatalysts. The Phase I research will be performed using custom-designed parallel photocatalyst screening instrumentation in order to evaluate a large number of candidate materials and identify the optimal reductive photocatalyst. The research will be focused on the following specific aims: one, to synthesize an array of catalyst support geometries based on design of experiments (DoE) protocol and using an automated deposition system custom-engineered by Zeomatrix to deposit various metal/metal oxide combinations and then screen for reductive photocatalytic activity under visible light; and, two, to screen the reductive photocatalysts selected from the initial screening experiments for activity versus chosen test compounds (trichloroethylene, trichloroethane), under a range of experimental conditions (pH, ionic strength, dissolve organic content). Selection of the optimal photocatalyst will be based on rapid degradation kinetics (turn over frequency), and efficacy under adverse conditions (high ionic strength, pH extremes, and high dissolved organic content). The results of the Phase I research will be used to determine the feasibility of applying the selected photocatalyst for the remediation of CVOCs. Phase II studies would be performed to further optimize the photocatalyst, and to perform a large scale pilot study on actual polluted groundwater. The combination of rapid kinetics with the use of low cost visible light would make this an attractive remediation option to address the extensive problem of CVOC contamination. The goal of this research is the development of a novel remediation technology for the break down of chlorinated volatile organic carbons in water. Chlorinated volatile organic carbons are found in nearly every aquifer in the US. Left on their own they persist in nature for over 100 years. Most are toxic to humans, and they accumulate in fatty tissue making them a danger to human health even at low levels. Some have been linked to cancer and over twenty are currently regulated in public water supplies by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.