PHOTOCATALYZED REMEDIATION OF CR(IV) IN GROUNDWATER USING PORPHYRIN

H. Eric Nuttall*
William Anderson
University of New Mexico
Department of Chemical/Nuclear Engineering
Farris Engineering Center, Rm 209
Albuquerque, NM 87122
Voice: 505-277-6112
Fax: 505-277-5433
E-mail: nuttall@unm.edu

Jim Studer
Principal, InfraSUR, LLC
Albuquerque, NM

The purpose of the study described in this presentation is to develop and test a continuous remediation process to clean ground water by chemical transformation of hexavalent chromium using porphyrin as a light activated catalyst. The study is divided into two major tasks. The first is the development and testing of porphyrin coated glass beads on a laboratory scale. And second is the design, construct, and testing of a continuous-flow bench-scale reactor.

To date, Laboratory column tests were successful in removing hexavalent chromium as a chromium (III) precipitate. The presentation will report on our progress in developing this new and innovative water treatment technology.