Award Data

As the number of mobile source emissions in the United States increases, it is necessary to further reduce the emission of CO, NOx, and hydrocarbons from such sources to provide safe air quality, especially in urban environments. Significant reductions in pollution emissions can be achieved using advanced engine controls based on real-time measurements of CO, NOx, and hydrocarbon concentrations i ...

Subsurface treatment for arsenic removal (STAR) is an innovative technology for treatment of arsenic in groundwater at the wellhead. The STAR technology can result in large cost savings when compared with conventional above-ground treatment methods. The goal is to create a subsurface biogeochemical barrier composed of reactive iron hydroxide minerals and iron bacteria within the aquifer surround ...

To comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency¿s (EPA) directive of 10 ppb levels for arsenic in drinking water, there is an urgent need to develop new, simple, and effective treatment systems that can be qualified as best available technologies (BAT) to remove this toxic substance from water. Towards this goal, Materials Modification, Inc. (MMI) proposes to develop a novel arsenic-remo ...

The goal of this research project is to develop and commercialize a new generation of concrete-based wastewater infrastructure systems with substantially enhanced longevity, structural and hydrological performance, and initial and life-cycle economy. This new infrastructure would greatly reduce the cost and environmental implications of wastewater management. Concrete pipes, manholes, pump stati ...

Combined sewage outflows (CSOs) are a major contributor to water pollution in the United States. The impact of peak stormwater loads on sewage treatment plants leads to the discharge of significant amounts (1.26 billion gallons) of untreated sewage each year. The bacterial load represented by this discharge directly contributed to more than 2,200 beach closings in the year 2000, numerous closing ...

The use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect contaminants such as solvents, fuels, and pesticides in soil and water samples is now well established. Although ELISA and related methods can facilitate analysis of samples, several washing and separation steps are involved that require 30 to 120 minutes per sample to reach equilibrium. Recently, near infrared fluorescence immunoassa ...

A number of very high-volume liquid chemicals form azeotropes with water and can be dehydrated to required purity levels only through the use of entrainers or drying agents. The handling and disposal of these additional chemicals present significant environmental risks. Recently, membrane pervaporation using both polymeric and inorganic membrane modules has been commercialized as a method to deh ...

Copper compounds have been used for centuries in marine antifoulants to inhibit biofouling. This anthropogenic copper is a potential problem in confined basins and in regions that experience limited mixing. In this research project, E Paint Company will explore the feasibility of developing novel self-polishing coatings that exploit natural methods of biofouling control to produce effective and ...

More than 70 percent of U.S. arsenic consumption¿representing approximately 37 million pounds of arsenic per year¿is used to produce chromated copper arsenate (CCA), a wood preservative. Weathered lumber in decks, docks, playground equipment, and garden construction can leach significant amounts of arsenic into soil and water, where it poses health risks to humans and animals. Effective Decemb ...

There has been an alarming increase in toxic cyanobacteria during the past 2 decades, with numerous poisonings reported from Australia to the United States. The increased toxic risks led the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to include cyanotoxins on the 1998 Contaminant Candidate List. However, most cyanobacterial blooms are not toxic. Further, bloom toxicity will change over time. T ...