This is a special notice issued by Westinghouse Savannah River Company (WSRC), management and operating contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site near Aiken, South Carolina. WSRC wishes to determine public interest in licensing for commercial applications a novel method of creating in situ metal peroxides, which slowly release oxygen in a soluble form in aqueous environments. The new approach to the clean up of groundwater containing organic and/or inorganic contaminants involves the creation of in situ oxygen reservoirs. This continuous release of oxygen creates oxidative conditions sufficient to promote the growth of microbial agents and to precipitate certain contaminants. Naturally released, soluble oxygen provides a critical nutrient for aerobic microbes useful in treating many types of organic contaminants. This method may be of particular use for controlling oxidation states required for redox reactions. This controlled release of oxygen should increase the efficiency of treating groundwater contaminated with redox-sensitive metals that are mobile under reducing conditions. For other metals, such as chromium and uranium, the presence of oxygen will enhance mobility. By using known extraction techniques, these solubilized metals can then be extracted from groundwater for treatment. For groundwater contaminated by acid mine drainage or coal pile runoff, the continuous supply of oxygen creates an environment in which ferrous iron is converted to ferric iron. In its ferric state, iron is very effective in co-precipitating a number of contaminating metals. The precipitated metals are immobilized and will not be transported to downstream water sources. WSRC has filed a Patent Cooperation Treaty application for this invention. For more information on the In Situ Generation of Oxygen-Releasing Metal Peroxides for Environmental Remediation and licensing opportunities, contact Joseph P. Dugan via telephone at (803) 725-0848 or (800) 228-3843; via Fax at (803) 725-4988; via email at
[email protected]; or via mail at Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Building 773-41A, Room #243, Aiken, SC 29808. Responses to this notice should be received by May 24, 2002. This is not a request for a formal subcontract; it is a request for interested parties and licensing opportunities only.