Generation of Free Radicals and Oxidative Destruction of Organic Chemicals and Bacterial Disinfections by Using Zero Valent Iron and Other Metals

Category: Agriculture

Reference Number: 00493

Description

UH researchers have discovered a creative use of zero valent iron and/or other metals to generate reactive oxygen species and undergo subsequent oxidation reactions to destroy organic chemicals and disinfects bacteria. This new technology is based on the oxidation mechanism mediated by zero valent iron or other metals, rather than commonly used reduction mechanism. The reaction mechanisms can be readily controlled and standardized for various applications. Applications of this technology have been demonstrated in a wide range of industrial effluents and domestic wastewater treatments for efficient pollutant mineralization and bacterial disinfection. In addition, this technology can be used in analytical chemistry to measure carbohydrate and vitamin contents in fruits, juices, soft drinks and formulated drugs.

Applications

• Wastewater treatment of pesticides effluents
• Domestic wastewater treatment
• Treatment of petroleum industry effluents
• Treatment of paper industry wastewater effluents
• Disinfections of water polluted by bacteria
• Treatment of food industry wastewater
• Hospital wastewater treatment
• Remediation of chemically-contaminated sites
• Analytical methodologies for quality control of carbohydrates in fruits and juices
• Analytical methodologies for quality control of formulated drugs

Main Advantages

• Economical
• Versatile
• Wide applications
• Efficient mineralization of organic pollutants
• Efficient bacterial disinfection

Inventor(s)

Jamil Rima, Lizette Aouezova
Faculty of Science II, The Lebanese University, Fanar Matn, Lebanon

Qing X. Li
Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering
College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources

Contact Information

For licensing information, please contact Lisa Matsunaga at matsunag@hawaii.edu

For all other inquiries, please write to:

Office of Technology Transfer & Economic Development
University of Hawai’i
2800 Woodlawn Drive, Suite 280
Honolulu, HI 96822