A new catalyst composed of palladium and rhenium, supported on activated carbon, has been developed which can destroy harmful perchlorate contained in groundwater.

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed the catalyst, which uses hydrogen gas to remove and destroy the dangerous contaminant.

Graduate student Keith Hurley, who co-developed the catalyst alongside professor of chemistry John Shapley, explained: "In catalytic operation, the rhenium removes an oxygen atom from the perchlorate molecule in what is called an atom transfer reaction.

"Meanwhile, the palladium activates the gaseous hydrogen atoms so they will react with the freed oxygen."

The result is harmless chloride and water, with the dangerous perchlorate removed completely from the equation.

Professor Shapely added that the difference between this catalyst and previous techniques to remove perchlorate is that all other efforts only remove the perchlorate but do not destroy it.

"Our catalyst would take a concentrated stream of perchlorate and get rid of it altogether," he added.


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