Nitrate, bromate, and perchlorate are groundwater contaminants that are responsible for a variety of health-related issues. A technology based on catalytic hydrogenation has emerged that transforms nitrate, bromate, and perchlorate into less hazardous secondary products. This is done through the use of platinum group metal (PGM) catalysts. PGMs are expensive, and their use for oxyanion treatment in water raises environmental and financial concerns for industrial applications.  To address these concerns we have honed our interest on developing highly active, less expensive and long-lasting catalysts. Our approach involves synthesizing a suite of nanostructured catalysts, which include: 1) palladium nanoparticles only, 2) palladium alloy nanoparticles substituted with semi-precious metals to reduce costs, and 3) only relatively inexpensive semi-precious metal alloy nanoparticles.  These catalysts are deposited onto a variety of supports, and then used to evaluate nitrate, bromate, and perchlorate reduction.  The supports include several different materials, including silica alumina and carbon nanotube-based materials.  The catalyst materials are characterized for structure and elemental content before and after oxyanion reduction to evaluate the impacts of these properties on activity and catalyst stability during use.  We aim to develop highly active and robust catalyst materials and reactors for industrial-scale treatment of oxyanions.

Reduction and removal of water contaminants through the use of mono-metallic and bi-metallic nanoparticles <i>via</i> catalytic hydrogenation

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.

Reduction and removal of water contaminants through the use of mono-metallic and bi-metallic nanoparticles via catalytic hydrogenation