ABSTRACT
Perchlorate is a mobile and stable ion that has been recognized as a health-threatening contaminant to groundwater, surface water, and soil. A majority of perchlorate ions result from dissolution of salts that are used in energy boosters of rockets and missiles. Perchlorate ions interfere with the iodide uptake of the thyroid gland, affecting the production of thyroid hormones. Perchlorate is an especially stable ion that is difcult to remove from water. Methods examined for the removal of perchlorate ions from contaminated soil and water sources are reviewed in this chapter, including ion exchange, bioremediation, composting, permeable reactive barrier (PRB), phytotechnology, membrane technologies, and sorption media. The use of a high surface area, nanostructured porous ceramic, was found to show much promise for the economical adsorptive capture of perchlorate, and these results are described.
