PLANTECO has received a Phase I Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency entitled “Use of Surfactant Modified Clay and Zeolite for Treatment of Perchlorate-Contaminated Water.” PLANTECO will use surfactants to produce low cost clays (SMC) and zeolites (SMZ) capable of simultaneously removing perchlorate (ClO4-), organic contaminants and metals from freshwater and brines.  The award is for the six-month period from March through August 2007.  Successful completion of the project may lead to larger scale Phase II SBIR.

 

In support of this grant, PLANTECO has developed cost effective surfactant modified clays (SMC) and natural zeolite (SMZ) that are effective filtration media for perchlorate contaminated freshwater, brine solutions and process wastewater. 

These unique clays and zeolite are produced from widely available natural resources and provide a less expensive alternative to ion exchange resins, granular activated carbon (GAC) and other filtration products currently in use.

Applications of the Surfactant Modified Clay and Zeolite include:

• Stand alone filtration media to remove all major categories of water contaminants;
• Pre-treatment of the influent to ion exchange resin, GAC filters, reverse osmosis units and other related systems.  When used in combination with these systems, SMC and SMZ optimize overall system performance;
• Treatment for waste brine produced during regeneration of ion exchange resins and GAC currently used to treat perchlorate-contaminated drinking water;
• In-situ SMC sorption barrier for perchlorate contaminated warer;
• In-situ immobilization of perchlorate and other contaminants in groundwater;
• Sorbent for large volumes of perchlorate contaminated agricultural irrigation and industrial wastewater;
• Filtration and immobilization of leached contaminants from military training and testing ranges;
• Point of use filtration media for units installed in homes, hospitals and offices.