| MIOX electrolytic cell |
ALBUQUERQUE, NM, July 18, 2012 -- MIOX Corporation, a leader in innovative electrochemical water treatment technologies, has received a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the amount of $150,000.
The MIOX Product Development team, in collaboration with Dr. Benjamin Stanford at Hazen and Sawyer, PC, will use the funding to develop electrochemical methods that eliminate inorganic disinfection by-products such as chlorate and perchlorate from water.
Chlorate and perchlorate, two compounds that are regulated in drinking water by some states and that will likely be regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, are related to the disinfection processes used by many utilities. These compounds arise from either natural degradation of concentrated hypochlorite or through chlorine on-site generation processes.
While the degradation of concentrated hypochlorite is fairly well understood, the mechanisms responsible for chlorate and perchlorate production during brine electrolysis are much less clear. According to Hazen and Sawyer's Dr. Stanford "There is enormous variability in output of chlorate from on-site hypochlorite generators, and in many cases those levels would likely exceed the EPA's health reference level of 210 parts per billion at normal chlorine use levels. In light of EPA's potential regulation of chlorate, a technology that can minimize its formation will be of utmost importance to the water industry."
Additionally, compounds such as perchlorate are known contaminants at several industrial sites, and current remediation technologies are often extremely costly and difficult to operate. MIOX's research program will develop novel electrolytic systems capable of providing economic, green alternatives to existing remediation technologies. According to MIOX's CEO Craig Beckman, "The MIOX team is excited to begin work on this critical study by leveraging our history of innovation in electrolytic cell design and helping to solve a serious water treatment issue at the same time."
About MIOX Corporation
MIOX designs and manufactures systems that provide on-demand disinfection chemistry, eliminating the need to transport hazardous chemicals and reducing carbon footprint. MIOX systems are used in multiple applications through a wide range of products, cost-effectively producing disinfection chemistry from 0.5 to 2,000 pounds per day FAC (free available chlorine). With this flexibility, the applications range from large industrial cooling towers and water and wastewater treatment plants to smaller swimming pool and clean-in-place applications.
About Hazen and Sawyer
Since their founding in 1951, Hazen and Sawyer has focused on two things: providing safe drinking water and controlling water pollution. Their range of services encompasses the planning, design, and construction management of water and wastewater-related projects -- from clean water treatment, storage, and distribution to wastewater and stormwater collection, treatment, and reuse.
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