A -- ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION: REMOVING OXIDIZED CONTAMINANTS FROM WATER

Notice Date

December 17, 2001

Contracting Office

Battelle, Pacific Northwest National Laboratories (PNNL), P.O. Box 999, (MSIN K3-04), Richland, WA 99352

ZIP Code

99352

Solicitation Number

11272

Response Due

April 1, 2002

Point of Contact

Licensing, Technology Commercialization, 902 Battelle Boulevard, P.O. Box 999, MSIN: K9-89, Richland, Washington 99352 [Phone: 509-375-6401] [e-mail: technology@pnl.gov]

E-Mail Address

Click here to send an e-mail to a Licensing Associate (technology@pnl.gov)

Description

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), operated by Battelle Memorial Institute under contract to the U.S. Department of Energy, solicits interest from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology (hereinafter referred to as "technology"). License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. PNNL may also be available to licensee(s) to assist in further research and development of the technology under a sponsored research agreement or CRADA program. The present invention is a method for removing oxidized contaminant(s) from water. More specifically, the invention has the steps of contacting water containing the oxidized contaminant(s) with a layered aluminosilicate having Fe(II). The aluminosilicate may contain naturally occurring Fe(II), or the Fe(II) may be produced by reducing Fe(III) that is initially present. Reduction may be either by exposure to a chemical or biological reductant. Contacting the water containing oxidized contaminant(s) may be by (1) injection of Fe(II)-containing layered aluminosilicate, via a well, into a saturated zone where it is likely to intercept the contaminated water; (2) injection of contaminated water into a vessel containing the Fe(II)-bearing layered aluminosilicate; and (3) first reducing Fe(III) in the layered aluminosilicate to Fe(II) by injection of a biological or chemical reductant, into an aquifer or vessel having sufficient Fe(III)-bearing aluminosilicate to produce the necessary Fe(II). The invention is a permeable barrier consisting of a nonhazardous, volume conservative reductant that is injected into a high-porosity aquifer for removal of oxidized contaminants from groundwater. The reductant is ferrous iron [Fe(II)] contained in the structure of low-charge, colloid-sized, layered-aluminosilicate minerals (i.e., members of the smectite clay-mineral group such as montmorillonite, nontronite, beidellite). These minerals occur in most soils and sediments and contain varying amounts of iron} almost all of which is in the oxidized state [i.e., Fe(III)]. By virtue of their small particle size and correspondingly high specific surface area, they are quite reactive and the Fe(III) in their structure can be reversibly reduced to Fe(II) without destroying the mineral structure. Once in the reduced state, the structural Fe in these minerals is quite effective in dechlorinating organic compounds such as tetrachloromethane and its decomposition products, as well as in reducing inorganic species such as hexavalent chromium [(Cr(VI)] and uranium [U(VI)], to less-mobile and, in the instance of Cr(VI), less toxic forms. This technology has been demonstrated in field trials to be fully effective for remediation of Cr (chromate) contaiminated groundwater. Also shown to effective for remediation of halogenated solvents in groundwater. US Patent No. 5,783,088. Note: THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT. Any company interested in licensing this technology must respond with a letter of interest (may be submitted by e-mail) no later than 30 days from the publication date of this Notice summarizing the company's business and technical expertise and motivation for pursuing this opportunity. Companies deemed appropriate will be provided with further information on the technology. Such information may require an executed Nondisclosure Agreement. Respondents wishing to enter into negotiations for a commercial license will be required to submit a business plan for the commercialization of the technology prior to licensee selection and negotiations. Please send letters of interest to the attention of the POC identified within this Notice.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20011219/ASOL005.HTM (W-351 SN5153F0)