APPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY:
- Arsenic removal
BENEFITS:
- Improved arsenic removal performance at high current density and high charge dosage rate
- Lower cost of operation and small space requirements
BACKGROUND:
- Current ECAR technology, albeit successful in the field, has some limitations:
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- The dissolution of atmospheric oxygen that is necessary for successful functioning is a slow process.
- It requires high manual maintenance and is therefore cumbersome and expensive.
TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW:
Researchers at Berkeley Lab led by Ashok Gadgil have overcome several limitations of the conventional ECAR technology.
The present device allows for much higher water throughput for a given reactor size and low labor costs owing to minimal manual maintenance requirements of the iron anodes. It is a favorable ZLD (Zero Liquid Discharge) technology and offers greater reliability. Testing demonstrated an effective treatment from 30-50 ppm arsenic to < 3 ppm arsenic in a given water sample. Ultimately, the novel process enables arsenic safe drinking water at high flow rates.
DEVELOPMENT STAGE: Proven principle
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
https://autm.net/about-tech-transfer/better-world-project/bwp-stories/ecar,-safr
https://eta.lbl.gov/news/article/lab-water-technology-among-best-world
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS:
OPPORTUNITIES: Available for licensing or collaborative research.
SEE THESE OTHER BERKELEY LAB TECHNOLOGIES IN THIS FIELD:
Air-Cathode ECAR (ACE) 2017-189
ECAR: Low Cost Electrochemical Arsenic Removal from Drinking Water Supplies IB-2126