Water. desalination + reuse

Perchlorate-removal membrane developed at Delaware University An innovative membrane, synthesized in a laboratory at the University of Delaware, USA, by Professor CP Huang, is said to offer a breakthrough development in clean technology to remove perchlorate from water. Announcing the development on 14 November 2011, the university said that it was the first attempt to quickly and easily reduce low-levels of perchlorate to non-toxic chloride by combining electrodialysis and an electrochemical reaction in one system. Perchlorate is an emerging contaminant known to interfere with the metabolism of the thyroid gland in humans. Toxic even at low levels, on the order of 4 ppb, the US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that perchlorate contamination has affected 15 million people in the US via drinking water. Valued in laboratory experiments because it does not react with any other chemical species in water, perchlorate is a chemical byproduct of common fireworks, fertilizer, hazard flares and matches, as well as rocket fuel, munitions and propellants used in the defence industry. ���Conventional electrochemical reduction of perchlorate to chloride is very slow, and requires a low pH, high perchlorate concentration and high temperature,��� explained Huang, whose work is funded through a US$ 365,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. ���Our method enables the first concentration of perchlorate at low levels - on the order of a few ppm to a few thousand ppm - to be collected and reduced under ambient conditions, specifically a neutral pH, room temperature and pressure.��� Huang and doctoral student Poyen (Kevin) Wang have synthesized the membrane to isolate perchlorate from other major anions, such as bicarbonate, nitrate and sulfate, in water. creating the difference in the desalination industry with an innovative line of air valves, check valves and bladder tanks that: Save on energy costs Save on energy costs Control pipeline Control pipeline and and system surges system surge Prevent vacuum Prevent vacuum damages damages in pipeline in the pipeline system Protect membranes from pressure transients Protect membranes from pressure transients Grants and scholarship announced by MEDRC Two grants have recently been made to the Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDRC), which has also just announced the award of a scholarship to a student from the Islamic University of Gaza. Jeff Feltman, assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs and Jill Shaunfield, vice chair of the MEDRC Executive Council confirmed a 2011 grant contribution of US$ 400,000 to be provided to Oman-based MEDRC. Shinichi Yamanaka, counselor of the Japanese embassy in Oman, visited MEDRC on 22 October 2011. He stated that the government of Japan would make a financial contribution to MEDRC in 2011 of US$ 65,300. The MEDRC-Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) Center of Excellence in Desalination & Water Reuse announced an Msc Scholarship Award to Samer El Namara for participation in the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) Masters Program His masters thesis research is entitled Applying Value Engineering Concept in Project Life Cycle Case Study: Deir El Balah Desalination Plant. The IUG supervisor responsible for the scholar was Dr Sawalhi Nabil, Construction Management, University of Salford, Manchester, UK. ��� www.arivalves.com ari@ari.co.il February-March 2012 | Desalination & Water Reuse | 33 |

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