ENCHEM ENGINEERING, INC. — Environmental Protection Agency SBIR Phase I: E

Description

This project focuses on dissolution and destruction of adhered or trapped target compounds, such as pesticides on wetted porous surfaces (e.g., pipe walls). Our innovative treatment approach is based on simultaneous: (1) desorption from the pipe wall, and (2) oxidation via radical formation. OxyZone-C®, a proprietary reactive agent developed by our team, combines highly effective cyclodextrin­facilitated pesticide desorption and targeted delivery of ozone to the treatment zone. This innovative technology has the potential to provide better treatment efficiency and significant cost savings relative to the most current pipe wall treatment methods, surfactant flushing and ozone water main flushing (Dahm and Schulz, 2006), because the combination of enhanced desorption, facilitated ozone transport, and in pipe destruction significantly improves pipe wall treatment and decreases treatment times. It is reported that the ozone alone system does not work well for bacteria attached to biofilms or within sediment at the bottom of the pipe. Furthermore, the technology is applicable to a wide range of pesticide concentrations and is ideally suited to address currently difficult-to-treat pipe walls where biofilms and sediment may be present.