High Rate and Cost Effective Arsenic Removal in Drinking Water Using MnO2/Fe2O3 Nanocomposite Media

In the Airforce SBIR Phase I project, Inframat has demonstrated nanofibrous MnO2 outperformed the benchmark oxidant Filox-R for As(III) to As(V) conversion and MnO2/Fe2O3 nanocomposite being superior to the best currently available GFH adsorbent for total arsenic reduction. Successful Phase I has provided the scientific and technological groundwork for further nanocomposite arsenic removal technology advancement in Phase II. The Phase II program scales-up the MnO2/Fe2O3 nanocomposite performed in Phase I. Emphasis is on rapid commercialization of nanocomposite water filters for military and commercial applications. Key Phase II milestones include: (1) scale-up the chemical synthesis into pilot-scale production, (2) fabricate prototype MnO2/Fe2O3 nanocomposite filtration media and cartridge via Omnipure's Aquabond and carbon block technologies, (3) evaluate prototype filtration media and cartridges following NSF/ANSI standard 53. A prototype water treatment unit will be built using MnO2/Fe2O3 nanocomposite cartridge. The unit will be evaluated using source water from USEPA's arsenic technology demonstration sites, and delivered to AFFTC at the end of phase II. The Phase II participants include Omnipure Filter Co. and the Univ. of Houston. Omnipure has pledged $150,000 cost share to the Phase II program and will carry the follow-on commercialization funding of $200,000 contingent on Phase II milestones being met.