ABSTRACT

Elimination Of Oxidants Using Zero Valent Metals

The proposed research seeks to develop novel techniques for the elimination of oxidants that occur during railway accidents. These oxidants are commonly associated with common chemicals such as fertilizers and propellants which are frequently shipped via rail. Also railway flares contain up to 10% potassium perchlorate and up to 70 % of strontium nitrate. The solubility of these mixtures is reportedly over 300mg/L. Thus, these two oxidants nitrate and perchlorate, have high mobility and can easily contaminate groundwater near railways. The main goal of this project is to develop a functional process that produces harmless compounds through chemical reduction (a transfer of electrons) of the oxidants. This will be achieved by developing an innovative treatment technology for destruction of perchlorate and/or nitrate in contaminated groundwaters using the pitting corrosion of Ti⁰. Research will be conducted to verify the proposed hypothetical mechanism of perchlorate reduction using Ti⁰, determine kinetic parameters that affect nitrate and perchlorate reduction such as pH, surface area, current and anion competition, and finally applicability to treatment systems including economical evaluations.