Simultaneous Reduction/Oxidation Process for Destroying an organic Solvent

Technology Description: The invention provides a method for decontaminating water by chemically destroying organic contaminants through a series of oxidation and reductive dechlorination reactions. Contaminated water i.e. water containing organic compounds is treated by adding solid phase zerovalent iron and persulfate to the contaminated water activating persulfate and oxidizing and reducing said organic contaminants. This invention is particularly effective at destroying trichloroethylene (TCE) among many other contaminants. TCE is a very commonly detected organic contaminant in ground water. The EPA has recently set a Maximum Contaminant Level of 5 parts per billion for TCE so there is a large demand for methods of removing this solvent from the water supply. Applications: Water decontamination