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:
    1. The dissolution of atmospheric oxygen that is necessary for successful functioning is a slow process.
    2. 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