Synthesis of Pt-Cu/C Nanofibers for Catalytic Liquid-Phase Hydrogenation of Nitrate Solutions

This SBIR Phase I project will develop bimetallic platinum copper/carbon nanofibers in a filter media system to react and remove nitrate from drinking water. In the same operation the system will perform filtration and thereby reduce the time for the operation and cost. The bulk of the Phase I proposal focuses on the synthesis of the nanofibers. The remainder of the project involves the characterization of the nanomaterials and an analysis of their ability to remove nitrate from water. The broader/commercial impacts of the proposed project will be a technology that could be used to remove nitrate from drinking water. Due to overuse of natural and synthetic fertilizers, nitrate concentration is at a high risk level at many water works and in groundwater sources. Nitrate is an important water quality issue and has significant potential public health impacts.