Electrochemical Remediation of Wastewater

Technology

• Electrochemical in-situ process for degrading organic contaminants, mobilizing nitrogen, and/or disinfecting wastewater.
• Flow-through cell, high local concentration of active chlorine or reactive oxygen species (depending on electrode configuration) effective in neutralizing high loads of pathogens, organic contaminants, and/or inaccessible nitrogen.
• Rapid regeneration of free active chlorine; excess is passively converted back to chloride leaving only low free active chlorine residuals, well below phytotoxicity limits.

Applications and Advantages

• Regenerative in-situ oxidation is effective against microorganisms, recalcitrant pesticides (e.g. organophosphates, carbamates), drugs, hormones, antibiotics, suspended or dissolved organic macromolecules (raw or treated sewage, manure, offal, dairy wastewater, etc.)
• Can release nitrogen locked in organic matter (e.g. proteins in fertigation water) via oxidative degradation, without producing N₂O or N₂ reducing fertilizer requirements.
• Requires only background levels of chloride ions in solution, no chemical replenishment.
• Low power draw, no moving parts beyond pumps, no hazardous chemicals to handle.

Status

Provisional utility patent application pending in the US.

Seeking licensee(s).

Contacts

Michael Fowler, michaelf@uoguelph.ca, 519-824-4120 x53808