Microwave Water Purification Process

CHA Corporation372 W. LyonLaramie, WY 82072Telephone: (307) 742-2829Fax: (307) 742-3415Website: www.chacorporation.comEmail: ccha@chacorporation.com

CHA Corporation

CHA Corporation Microwave Water Purification Process January 2005

CHA Corporation Microwave Water Purification Process

CHA Corporation Background

The Army Research Office has awarded CHA Corporation an SBIR grant to build a prototype microwave water purification system. This process will be capable of eliminating hydrocarbons and hazardous chemical agents in water contaminated by washing combat vehicles at front lines. For the past 13 years, CHA Corporation has focused on utilizing microwaves to induce or enhance chemical reactions. These efforts, made possible through industrial and

governmental support, emphasize the development of new technologies for gas and water cleanup through selective destruction in contaminated waste streams. When combat vehicles become contaminated with any number of chemical agents, washing these vehicles is required. This wash water may contain any combination of contaminants, including: engine oil, fuel, mud, chemical warfare agents or biological agents. The

Continuous Process

Alternating Hydrocarbon Destruction / GAC Reactivation Process

Microwave Oxidation of Hazardous Off-gases

Chemical Warfare Agent Destruction

Biological Agent Destruction

Creates Reusable Vehicle Wash Water

CHA Corporation Microwave Water Purification Process January 2005

Microwave Water Purification Process

treatment of this waste stream can eliminate many of the health and environmental risks presented to military personnel associated with the washing of combat vehicles. Also, by allowing the reuse of the wash water, the need to transport water is greatly reduced, a major benefit in locations where water supplies are scarce.

Our Process

CHA Corporation studied several possible options for the microwave water purification system. After extensive laboratory testing, the best option for this project was determined to be an alternating system capable of both microwave destruction of aqueous contaminants and on-site reactivation of activated carbon. This process, coupled with a pair of microwave catalytic oxidizers, provides the highest overall DRE (destruction and removal efficiency), yielding both clean water and a harmless off-gas.

The advantage of our process lies in its ability to simultaneously act as both a destruction reactor and a GAC re-activator. Three reactors are filled with granular activated carbon, and at any time, two act as microwave destruction and removal reactors, and the other acts as a reactivation reactor. Once the GAC becomes inactivated in one of the removal reactors, a series of valves can be operated and the inactivated GAC can be reactivated, while the other two reactors act as destruction and removal reactors.

The gases produced from the reactivation process are sent to a microwave oxidizer, which will oxidize any hazardous gaseous compounds, and vent safe air to the atmosphere. Our technology provides a continuous process with effective hydrocarbon removal and in place GAC reactivation.