Controlled Release Polymer Structures for In Situ Chemical Oxidation of Contaminated Groundwater

 描述(由申请人提供)：环保局估计，每四个美国人中就有一个居住在危险废物场地三英里以内的地方。超过45万个棕地遗址正在等待补救，1280个遗址被列入国家优先事项名单。潜在的责任方或超级基金计划的任务是补救这些地点，但资金不足和地点数量的增加导致了严重的延误。自2009年以来，美国修复市场一直在稳步增长，平均每年增长2%-3%，预计2019年全球环境修复技术市场将扩大至805亿美元。显然，社会对降低成本和提高效率的创新补救技术有一定的需求和市场潜力。原位化学氧化法(ISCO)是发展最快的修复技术，与其他方法相比，它具有成本低、效率高、破坏性小等优点。然而，目前的Isco方法需要气态或液态氧化剂，这些氧化剂在运输和运输过程中对工人构成重大危险，而且往往需要多次注射，这增加了成本和暴露风险。AxNano与北卡罗来纳州A&T合作开发了缓释聚合物结构(CRPS)，作为一种缓释ISCO技术，将通过以下方式改变环境修复行业：(1)通过将反应剂封装在安全、易于操作的固体基质中，降低部署期间的暴露风险；(2)通过单一应用程序持续释放高剂量反应剂，允许高效处理受污染的地下水。这个第一阶段的项目将确定设计参数，以提高我们的专利CRPS对受污染地下水的ISCO修复的效率。通过最大限度地增加氧化剂(S)的负载量，同时保持稳定的固体结构，CRPS将得到优化。概念验证测试将在不同条件下(即，pH、温度和密度)在动态流柱研究中进行，以模拟地下环境中存在的那些条件。优化的CRPS转化两类与超级基金相关的污染物(即氯化化合物和多环芳烃)的广谱效率将在一定浓度范围内进行测试，以产生剂量响应曲线。总体而言，第一阶段的结果将用于模拟这些材料在现实环境中的性能，并指导试点规模实地研究的规划。第一阶段的工作还将包括设计一项扩大制造计划，并为试点现场测试做准备。还将评估这种固相材料与当前的液态和气态Isco修复技术相比的放大设计、制造成本和部署策略，以确定将该技术转化为商业产品的可行性。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The EPA estimates that one out of every four Americans lives within three miles of a hazardous waste site. Over 450,000 brownfield sites are awaiting remediation and 1,280 sites on the National Priorities List. Potential Responsible Parties or the Superfund program are tasked with remediating these sites, but insufficient funding and growing number of sites have led to significant delays. The US remediation market has been growing steadily since 2009, averaging 2-3% increases per year, and the global environmental remediation technology market is forecasted to expand to $80.5 billion in 2019. Clearly there is a societal need and market potential for innovative remediation technologies that decrease cost and increase efficacy. In Situ Chemical Oxidation (ISCO) is the fastest growing remediation technique as it is lower cost, more effective, and less disruptive than other methods. However, current ISCO methods require gaseous or liquid-form oxidizers that pose significant hazard to workers during transport and delivery and often require multiple injections, which increase cost and exposure risk. AxNano, in collaboration with North Carolina A&T, has developed Controlled Release Polymer Structures (CRPS) as a slow release ISCO technology that will transform the environmental remediation industry by: (1) mitigating exposure risk during deployment by encapsulating the reactive agents within a safe, easy to handle, solid matrix; (2) allowing for efficient treatment of contaminated groundwater via sustained release of high doses of reactive agents with a single application. This Phase I project will determine design parameters to enhance the efficacy of our patented CRPS for ISCO remediation of contaminated groundwater. The CRPS will be optimized by maximizing the oxidative agent(s) loading while maintaining a stable solid structure. Proof-of-concept tests will be conducted under varied conditions (i.e., pH, temperature, and density) in dynamic flow column studies that mimic those present in the subsurface environment. Broad spectrum efficacy of the optimized CRPS to transform two classes of Superfund-relevant contaminants (i.e., chlorinated compounds and polyaromatic hydrocarbons), will be tested over a range of concentrations to yield dose response curves. Collectively, the results of this Phase I will be used to model the performance of these materials in realistic environments and guide planning of pilot scale field studies. Phase I work will also involve designing a plan for scale-up manufacturing and preparing for pilot field testing. Scale-up design, cost of manufacturing, and deployment strategies of this solid phase material compared to current liquid and gaseous ISCO remediation technologies will also be evaluated in order to determine the feasibility of transitioning this technology to a commercial product.