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Phytofiltration of Arsenic-Contaminated Drinking Water

Award Information
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Branch: National Institutes of Health
Contract: N/A
Agency Tracking Number: 1R43ES011065-01
Amount: $100,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 2001
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
15100 ENTERPRISE CT, STE 100
DULLES, VA 20151
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 MARK ELLESS
 () -
Business Contact
Phone: (703) 961-8700
Email: FERGUSON@EDENSPACE.COM
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

DESCRIPTION (Applicant's Abstract): Arsenic contamination of drinking water
poses significant health risks to millions of people worldwide. Current cleanup
technologies have substantial drawbacks, including high cost and high-volume
toxic byproducts. Edenspace Systems Corporation proposes to propose to study
the ability of a recently identified arsenic-hyperaccumulating fern to remove
arsenic from drinking water. The investigator's preliminary research
demonstrates that this fern is able to concentrate arsenic to levels more than
16,000 fold higher than the concentration in the soil solution and to rapidly
remove arsenic from water containing 200 ug/L of arsenic, 4-fold higher than
the current drinking water standard. In the proposed research, the
investigators will study the ability of this fern to reduce arsenic levels
below the proposed EPA drinking water limit of 5 ug/L by varying factors (plant
density, water pH, chlorination/fluoridation, and arsenic species) that are
likely to affect arsenic removal rates from drinking water and will also test
both a batch and a flow-through technique for phytofiltration of
arsenic-contaminated drinking water. This research will provide the foundation
for development of a solar-powered (photosynthetic) hydroponics technique,
enabling cost-effective, small-scale cleanup of arsenic-contaminated drinking
water.
PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: NOT AVAILABLE

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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