Field testing solar photocatalytic detoxification on TCE-contaminated groundwater
- National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States)
The Solar Detoxification Field Experiment was designed to investigate the photocatalytic decomposition of organic contaminants in groundwater at a Superfund site at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The process uses ultraviolet (UV) energy available in sunlight in conjunction with a photocatalyst, titanium dioxide, to decompose organic chemicals into nontoxic compounds. The destruction mechanism, as in many other advanced oxidation processes, involves hydroxyl radicals. The field experiment was developed by three federal laboratories: The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratory, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The United States Department of Energy funded the experiment. Groundwater at the test site was contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE). A factorial test series examined four separate process variables: pH, catalyst loading, flow velocity, and solar intensity. Lowering the pH from pH 7 to pH 5 had the largest single effect, presumably by minimizing interference by bicarbonate. The catalyst was found to operate more efficiently at low, e.g. ambient sunlight, UV light levels. Information from these field tests suggest that treatment costs for the solar process would be similar to those for more conventional technologies. 8 refs., 10 figs., 4 tabs.
- OSTI ID:
- 6762061
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Progress; (United States), Vol. 12:3; ISSN 0278-4491
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Pilot-scale study of the solar detoxification of VOC-contaminated groundwater
Operation of a solar photocatalytic water treatment system at a Superfund Site
Related Subjects
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
REMOVAL
GROUND WATER
REMEDIAL ACTION
TITANIUM OXIDES
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
OPERATING COST
PH VALUE
SOLAR CONCENTRATORS
US DOE
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COST
EQUIPMENT
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
US ORGANIZATIONS
WATER
540220* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)