Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2006MA58B

Perchlorate Reduction in Groundwater Using Elemental Sulfur

Institute: Massachusetts
Year Established: 2006 Start Date: 2006-03-01 End Date: 2007-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $5,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $13,838

Principal Investigators: Ashish Sahu, Sarina Ergas

Project Summary: Perchlorate (ClO4-) release in groundwater has primarily occurred in association with manufacturing of missiles, rockets, fireworks and industrial processes. Perchlorate contamination has been recorded in drinking water in 38 US states. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has proposed limits on perchlorate of 1 mg/L because of adverse effects to the thyroid. In 2004, nine towns in MA reported perchlorate concentrations greater than 1 mg/L. The overall objective of this proposal is to engineer a novel technology to treat perchlorate contaminated water using elemental sulfur in the presence of perchlorate reducing bacteria. The data obtained from the experiments can be used to scale up the system to pilot scale to treat perchlorate contamination in groundwater. The treatment process can be employed at a municipal water treatment facility or can be used as an in situ treatment technology for contaminated groundwater plumes such as permeable reactive barriers.