Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
University of British Columbia
$117,915.00
Ion-chromatograph for detection of perchlorate in high salt solutions
EF 2007-08
Résumé
The purchase of an ion chromatograph will allow the measurement of perchlorate and nitrate in high salt solutions. Perchlorate is a contaminant that is being found more and more frequently in drinking water sources throughout North America and Europe as a result of contamination from military and industrial activities such as the manufacture and use of rocketry, fireworks, and automobile airbags. Recent studies also suggest that perchlorate may occur naturally. Perchlorate has also been found in many foods such as lettuce and milk. Removing perchlorate from agricultural water sources may be important to protect the food sources. The health effects of perchlorate are related to the function of the thyroid gland, which controls early development and life long metabolic processes. Recent studies suggest that even very low levels of perchlorate in drinking water correlate with decreased thyroid function in humans. Nitrate has long been known to cause changes in the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood of infants causing "blue baby" syndrome. It is typically a co-contaminant with perchlorate. The ion chromatograph will be used to support a research program designed to develop biological systems to remove perchlorate and nitrate from physical or chemical treatment process residuals. The waste streams generated from these processes should (must) be treated before they are disposed of to the environment. The biological treatment process converts perchlorate to harmless chloride, oxygen, and water and nitrate to nitrogen gas. The use of this equipment will improve the ability of engineers to develop sustainable, economically sound processes to remove perchlorate from contaminated water. This will be of direct benefit to Canadian engineering practice and environmental policy development. Strong scientific proof of the applicability of a process to remove a contaminant is required before any full-scale treatment process can be approved or constructed. This will be one of only a few instruments with this capability in Canada.
Programme
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Bénéficiaire
Emplacement
British Columbia, Canada
Type de bénéficiaire
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
Tel que publié
Application id
345437-2007
Name nom
Roberts, Deborah
Department département
Okanagan - Engineering, School of
Organization id
2
Institution établissement
University of British Columbia
Province en
British Columbia
Province fr
Colombie-Britannique
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2007
Competition year année de concours
2007
Award amount
117915
Program id
EQPEQ
Program name en
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche - catégorie 1 (<150 000$)
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
6
Committee name en
Civil Engineering
Committee name fr
Génie civil
Area of application code
902
Area of application group en
Commercial services
Area of application group fr
Services commerciaux
Area of application en
Waste, waste management and recycling
Area of application fr
Déchets, gestion des déchets et recyclage
Research subject code
1502
Research subject group en
Environmental engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie de l'environnement
Research subject en
Waste water treatment
Research subject fr
Traitement des eaux usées
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Ion-chromatograph for detection of perchlorate in high salt solutions
Keyword
NA
Application summary
The purchase of an ion chromatograph will allow the measurement of perchlorate and nitrate in high salt solutions. Perchlorate is a contaminant that is being found more and more frequently in drinking water sources throughout North America and Europe as a result of contamination from military and industrial activities such as the manufacture and use of rocketry, fireworks, and automobile airbags. Recent studies also suggest that perchlorate may occur naturally. Perchlorate has also been found in many foods such as lettuce and milk. Removing perchlorate from agricultural water sources may be important to protect the food sources. The health effects of perchlorate are related to the function of the thyroid gland, which controls early development and life long metabolic processes. Recent studies suggest that even very low levels of perchlorate in drinking water correlate with decreased thyroid function in humans. Nitrate has long been known to cause changes in the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood of infants causing "blue baby" syndrome. It is typically a co-contaminant with perchlorate. The ion chromatograph will be used to support a research program designed to develop biological systems to remove perchlorate and nitrate from physical or chemical treatment process residuals. The waste streams generated from these processes should (must) be treated before they are disposed of to the environment. The biological treatment process converts perchlorate to harmless chloride, oxygen, and water and nitrate to nitrogen gas. The use of this equipment will improve the ability of engineers to develop sustainable, economically sound processes to remove perchlorate from contaminated water. This will be of direct benefit to Canadian engineering practice and environmental policy development. Strong scientific proof of the applicability of a process to remove a contaminant is required before any full-scale treatment process can be approved or constructed. This will be one of only a few instruments with this capability in Canada.
