Development of a prototype filter for the selective removal of arsenate from contaminated water supplies
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Earth Science and Engineering
Abstract
We will identify an industry or sector specialist to act as a consultant to advise the needs within the industrial water treatment and household/consumer sectors and on the route to market.
This primary market research will most importantly bring in views of various stakeholders such as water companies, government organizations, development agencies and NGOs, interested in water quality.
The applicants will work alongside Imperial Innovations, drawing on their networks of contacts, to select an appropriate sector expert.
This primary market research will most importantly bring in views of various stakeholders such as water companies, government organizations, development agencies and NGOs, interested in water quality.
The applicants will work alongside Imperial Innovations, drawing on their networks of contacts, to select an appropriate sector expert.
Planned Impact
The potential impact is to provide a novel technology for household and/or water companies that enables to the removal of toxic arsenic from water to concentrations below the limit of 10 ng/ml in a cost effective, energy efficient and user- friendly way.
Currently, water treatment companies simply increase the amount of sorbents (mainly mineral oxides) the water has to pass through. However, this method is increasingly problematic due to space (larger containers are needed, restricting seriously the application to household water devices), to time (the percolation through larger resins is a lengthy process), to regeneration costs (more eluents needed to regenerate the resin) and to replacement intervals (faster saturation leads to increased sorbent exchange and hence larger waste volume). This leads to a significant increase in the cost/benefit ratio.
With the likely decrease of the governmental detection limits for arsenic in potable water, the current method of removing arsenic will become even more unfavorable in future. Leading water companies are now interested in novel technologies that remove arsenic with higher selectivity, thus making our technology timely for the market.
Currently, water treatment companies simply increase the amount of sorbents (mainly mineral oxides) the water has to pass through. However, this method is increasingly problematic due to space (larger containers are needed, restricting seriously the application to household water devices), to time (the percolation through larger resins is a lengthy process), to regeneration costs (more eluents needed to regenerate the resin) and to replacement intervals (faster saturation leads to increased sorbent exchange and hence larger waste volume). This leads to a significant increase in the cost/benefit ratio.
With the likely decrease of the governmental detection limits for arsenic in potable water, the current method of removing arsenic will become even more unfavorable in future. Leading water companies are now interested in novel technologies that remove arsenic with higher selectivity, thus making our technology timely for the market.
Publications
Cheng A
(2016)
Investigating Arsenic Contents in Surface and Drinking Water by Voltammetry and the Method of Standard Additions
in Journal of Chemical Education
Segues Codina A
(2023)
Functionalised polymeric materials for the removal of arsenate from contaminated water
in Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology
Zafar R
(2017)
Organic compound-mineral interactions: Using flash pyrolysis to monitor the adsorption of fatty acids on calcite
in Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis
Description | this grant was to conduct a market study regarding the further direction for our recently developed arsenic sorbent we needed to know (i) what the current market is and (ii) which sector we should focus on. we found that (i) the market for an As sorbent is huge and significant, (ii) the preferred market for the sorbent is the point of use market and (iii) the problem of arsenite removal needs to be addressed to and has a huge potential for the industrial/municipal service sector the patent has now been granted and discussions regarding licensing is ongoing |
Exploitation Route | Yes - we now are preparing now one proposal for funding for commercialization of the resin (NERC Follow Up) and one proposal for the development of bicomposites for the oxidation of arsenic This proposal got to the final interview stage but then was not funded. we were asked to reapply. |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Healthcare |
Description | The findings were used to develop a market strategy for the sorbent we developed (originally published in Moffat et al., Chem, Eur J, 2014 and patented by us in 2015). The market study was also used to prepare an application for a NERC Follow Up funding.This application was rejected but we were encouraged to re submit. (Which is what we plan to do). The findings were key to inform us during the patent application process, i.e. which geographical areas to focus upon. We filed the patent for Europe and US |
First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Healthcare |
Impact Types | Societal Economic |
Description | Beam time |
Amount | £8,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Diamond Light Source |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2015 |
End | 02/2015 |
Description | Global Challenges |
Amount | £80,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2016 |
End | 03/2017 |
Description | Chemistry Department - Ramon Vilar |
Organisation | Imperial College London |
Department | Department of Chemistry |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | analytical expertise problem definition supervison of students |
Collaborator Contribution | synthetic work |
Impact | papers funding joint supervision |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | Innovations Imperial |
Organisation | Imperial Innovations |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | designed resin and material |
Collaborator Contribution | filed patent facilitated commercial contacts |
Impact | NERC Market study has been financed networking with water companies |
Start Year | 2012 |
Title | Selective removal of arsenic |
Description | Selective sorption of Arsenic from groundwater |
IP Reference | |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2013 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | We have been awarded funding to conduct a market study |
Title | Bi metallic resin |
Description | development of new resin for selective scavenging of As |
Type Of Technology | New Material/Compound |
Year Produced | 2015 |
Impact | improves selectivity of As scavenging |
Description | Macromolecular Chemistry Conference Prague 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | gave a presentation at the COST 2015 meeting in Prague (Moffat) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Talk at CEREGE - University of Aix en Provence |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I gave a talk at the Geoscience Centre of the University of Aix `en Provence |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Workshop Organisation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | We organised a workshop on Arsenic removal activities held in Kolkata between 24 and 27.9.2018. Young career scientists were invited from UK and India |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |