Commercialization of Silica-Titania Composites, a NASA Gray Water Post-Processor Technology, for Terrestrial Applications

Silica-titania composites have been engineered and proven to be a plausible post-processor technology for water recovery. The premise behind this technology is the adsorption and subsequent mineralization of organic compounds. Concurrent with this NASA-based research, faculty at the University of Florida have explored the efficacy of this technology for additional applications. Those that have shown the most promise include greater than 98% removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) from pulp and paper mills and greater than 99% removal of mercury from coal-fired power plant flue gas. Both of these industries are facing pressing regulations that may be implemented as early as 2006.

As a result of these initial successes, faculty at the University of Florida have initiated a start-up company, Sol-Gel Solutions, LLC to commercialize the silica-titania composite technology for the aforementioned applications and others that are currently being investigated.