High Surface Area Titanium Oxide Nanostructures for Photo-catalytic Water Remediation

Fractal Systems Inc responds to HSARPA needs for the development of novel alternate technologies to Cl2 in municipal water purification purposes. Our recent experience, in collaboration with our consultants Prof. Paul (University of South Florida/Aqua Virotech, and Prof. Valsaraj, Louisiana State University), indicates that the purification of E.coli using high surface area TiO2 can be performed by the use of all the wavelengths of UV-visible light via surface modification of the oxide nanostructures and use of a specially designed photo-catalytic reactor. In phase I, we will synthesize and characterize the photo-catalyst; and design, fabricate and characterize membranes that will be used in photo-catalytic water remediation experiments in the photo-catalytic reactor. In Phase II, we will optimize our photo-catalyst material to achieve the highest photo-catalytic activity to ensure 100% pathogen remediation efficiency. We will optimize the photo-catalytic reactor construction to achieve maximum illumination and thus efficiency. We will also expand on the number of species to be detected to ensure viability of the technology towards commercialization in collaboration with one of the major water filter companies, located in the Tampa Bay area (Florida). Applications include private wells, bottlers, aquaculture, hospitals, food, restaurants, breweries, water systems, laboratories, pharmaceutical, dairies and counter-terrorism measures.