Generation of free radicals, analytical methods, bacterial disinfections, and oxidative destruction of organic chemicals using zero valent iron and other metals

• US 20060175266A1
• Filed: 12/13/2005
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Hawai'i
• Original Assignee: University of Hawai'i
• Inventors: Li, Qing X., Rima, Jamil, Aouezova, Lizette
• Granted Patent: US 8,048,317 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/764
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/505 by oligodynamic treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/725 by catalytic oxidation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/727 using pure oxygen or oxygen rich gas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/74 with air aeration of stretches of water C02F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/363 PCB's; PCP's
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/003 Wastewater from hospitals, laboratories and the like, heavily contaminated by pathogenic microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/06 Contaminated groundwater or leachate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2305/023 Reactive oxygen species, singlet oxygen, OH radical
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2305/026 Fenton's reagent
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/22 Testing for sterility conditions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/908 Organic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/909 Aromatic compound, e.g. pcb, phenol

Abstract

Disclosed are methods for chemical analysis, bacterial disinfection, oxidative destruction and/or mineralization of organic compounds comprising using zero-valent iron and/or zero-valent iron-containing bimetallic compounds, preferably in acidic solution and/or in the presence of oxygen.

Claims

1. A method for the disinfection of water polluted by microorganisms comprising adding a zero-valent iron to the water in the presence of oxygen.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the zero-valent iron is a bimetallic compound with zinc, nickel, or palladium.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein zero-valent iron is at concentration of about 0.01 g/L to 10 g/L.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the water is selected from the group consisting of river water, wastewater, groundwater, swimming pools, domestic wastewater, industrial effluents, hospital liquid wastes, petroleum liquid wastes, industrial olive oil effluents, food industrial effluents, paper industrial effluents and contaminated soil treatment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the microorganisms comprise bacterium.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the bacteria are pathogenic.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the microorganisms are selected from the group consisting of Enterobacteria, staphylococci, streptococci, fungi, and protozoa.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising pumping oxygen gas or air into the water.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein oxygen gas or air is pumped into the water at 0.1 to 15 liters/min.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the water further comprises chemical pollutants.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the chemical pollutants are selected from the group consisting of organic chemicals such as pesticides, PCB'"'"'s, PAHs, organochlorines, organophosphates, and phenolic compounds.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the water is selected from the group consisting of river water, wastewater, groundwater, swimming pools, domestic wastewater, industrial effluents, hospital liquid waste, petroleum liquid waste, and industrial olive oil effluents.

13. A method of determining content of a thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance in a matrix comprising preparing a solution of the matrix with zero-valent iron and 2-thiobarbituric acid and measuring a concentration of a 2-thiobarbituric acid-complex.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the concentration of zero-valent iron in the solution is about 0.1 μ

L to 10 g/L.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the zero-valent iron is a bimetallic compound with zinc, nickel, or palladium.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance comprises an aldehyde, ketone, polyphenol, alcohol carboxylic acid, or ketone acid.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance comprises a carbohydrate or vitamin C.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the measurement of the concentration is performed by a spectroscopic technique.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the measurement of the concentration is performed by visible absorption spectroscopy.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the solution has a pH in the range of about 2-6.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the solution comprises an acetate buffer, phosphate buffer, an acidic buffer, or acidified water.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein thiobarbituric acid concentration in the solution is in the range of about 0.1% (w/v) to 5% (w/v).

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising pumping oxygen gas or air into the water.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein oxygen gas or air is pumped into the water at 10 to 15 liters/min.