THE ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION
PROGRAM
oEPA
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
ET
V^lVl
V
NSF International
ETV Joint Verification Statement
TECHNOLOGY TYPE: POINT-OF-ENTRY DRINKING WATER TREATMENT
SYSTEM
REMOVAL OF SYNTHETIC ORGANIC CHEMICAL
CONTAMINANTS IN DRINKING WATER
ADVANCED SIMULTANEOUS OXIDATION PROCESS
(ASOP™)
RASCO, INC.
1635-2 WOODSIDE DRIVE
WOODBRIDGE, VA 22191
703-643-2952
703-497-2905
ADMIN@RASCOENGINEERS.COM
APPLICATION:
PRODUCT NAME:
VENDOR:
ADDRESS:
PHONE:
FAX:
EMAIL:
NSF International (NSF) manages the Drinking Water Systems (DWS) Center under the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program. The
DWS Center recently evaluated the performance of the RASco, Inc. Advanced Simultaneous Oxidation
Process (ASOP™) Drinking Water Treatment Module. NSF performed all of the testing activities and
also authored the verification report and this verification statement. The verification report contains a
comprehensive description of the testing activities.
The EPA created the ETV Program to facilitate the deployment of innovative or improved environmental
technologies through performance verification and dissemination of information. The goal of the ETV
Program is to further environmental protection by accelerating the acceptance and use of improved and
more cost-effective technologies. ETV seeks to achieve this goal by providing high-quality, peer-
reviewed data on technology performance to those involved in the design, distribution, permitting,
purchase, and use of environmental technologies.
ETV works in partnership with recognized standards and testing organizations, stakeholder groups
(consisting of buyers, vendor organizations, and permitters), and with the full participation of individual
technology developers. The program evaluates the performance of innovative technologies by developing
test plans that are responsive to the needs of stakeholders, conducting field or laboratory tests (as
appropriate), collecting and analyzing data, and preparing peer-reviewed reports. All evaluations are
conducted in accordance with rigorous quality assurance protocols to ensure that data of known and
adequate quality are generated and that the results are defensible.
NSF 06/25/EPADWCTR
The accompanying notice is an integral part of this verification statement. September 2007
VS-i
-------
ABSTRACT
The RASco, Inc. ASOP Drinking Water Treatment Module was tested atNSF's Laboratory for the
reduction of the following chemicals of concern: aldicarb, benzene, carbofuran, chloroform, dichlorvos,
dicrotophos, methomyl, mevinphos, nicotine, oxamyl, paraquat, phorate, sodium fluoroacetate, and
strychnine. The ASOP is a component of RASco's Hyd-RO-Secure™ Series 2 Anti-Terrorism/Force
Protection Drinking Water Treatment System, which uses reverse osmosis (RO), the ASOP module, and a
post-ASOP activated carbon filtration to treat drinking water. The ASOP module uses ultraviolet light
(UV) and ozone to oxidize contaminants. An activated carbon filter was evaluated to demonstrate its
capability to adsorb any oxidation byproducts and/or the amounts of challenge chemicals not oxidized by
the ASOP module. The target chemical challenge concentration was 1,000 micrograms per liter (ng/L),
and each challenge was 30 minutes in length. Both the ASOP module and activated carbon filter were
tested at the same time, with the carbon filter plumbed downstream of the ASOP module. Treated water
samples were collected from both the ASOP and carbon filter effluents, so that the ASOP module's
performance could be evaluated alone, and also combined with activated carbon treatment. The percent
reductions for the ASOP module alone ranged from zero for carbofuran, chloroform, and mevinphos, to
98% for strychnine. The combination of the ASOP and activated carbon filter removed all challenge
chemicals, except paraquat, by 94% or more.
TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION
The following technology description was provided by the manufacturer and has not been verified.
The patent-pending RASco, Inc. ASOP module is marketed as a component of the point-of-entry Hyd-
RO-Secure Series 2 Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection Drinking Water Treatment System. A complete
Hyd-RO-Secure system consists of an RO module, the ASOP module, and an optional post-ASOP
activated carbon filter. The Hyd-RO-Secure is a modular system, with the RO and ASOP components on
individual platforms. The RO and activated carbon components are not standard, but rather are selected
based on the site-specific application. The main components of the ASOP module are an Aquafine model
CSL-4R-UV UV unit, an Ozotech model OZ2BTUSL ozone generator, an Ozotech model PP Phoenix
oxygen generator to supply oxygen to the ozone generator, and an ozone contact tank. A Pentek model
RFC20-BB activated carbon filter supplied by RASco was tested to demonstrate the ability of an
activated carbon filter to adsorb any oxidation by-products and/or the amounts of challenge chemicals not
oxidized by the ASOP module. The carbon filter was plumbed downstream of the ASOP module. A
sampling valve was installed between the ASOP module contact tank and carbon filter to allow sampling
of both the ASOP effluent and carbon filter effluent.
The ASOP module offers simultaneous treatment with both UV light and ozone, plus a contact tank
(volume varies depending on installation) to complete the ozone oxidation treatment. The ozone is
injected into the UV reactor vessel to oxidize contaminants synergistically with the UV light. The UV
light has an output of 30,000 microwatt-seconds/cm2. Delivery of ozone into the reaction chamber is
controlled by adjusting the flow of oxygen into the ozone generator. The ASOP module as tested did not
include any sensors for UV intensity, but it did include an oxidation reduction potential (ORP) meter
immediately downstream of the contact tank to indirectly measure the ozone residual. The contact tank
volume for the test module was 3 gallons (gal). The system is programmed so that the ozone generator
turns on when the ORP meter reaches a preset value, in this case 450 millivolts (mV) or less, and turns off
when the ORP rises to another preset value, in this case 550 mV. The preset ORP values can be changed
depending on the concentration of contaminants being treated. A green light on the system cabinet door
indicates when the ozone generator is functioning. The UV unit inside the ASOP module cabinet has four
lights to indicate whether each UV lamp is functioning.
NSF 06/25/EPADWCTR The accompanying notice is an integral part of this verification statement. September 2007
VS-ii
-------
VERIFICATION TESTING DESCRIPTION
Test Site
The testing site was the Drinking Water Treatment Systems Laboratory at NSF in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
A description of the test apparatus can be found in the verification report.
Methods and Procedures
The challenge tests followed the procedures described in the Test/QA Plan for Verification Testing of the
RASco Engineering, Inc. Hyd-RO-Secure™ Series 2 Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection Point-of-Entry
Water Treatment System for Removal of Chemical Contaminants. The chemical challenge protocol was
adapted from the ETV Protocol for Equipment Verification Testing for Removal of Synthetic Organic
Chemical Contaminants. Production of drinking water from an untreated source water was not evaluated;
this verification only evaluated the system's ability to remove chemical contaminants from an otherwise
potable drinking water. The challenge chemicals are listed in Table VS-1. Separate challenges were
conducted for each chemical in the table. The target challenge concentration for each chemical was 1,000
± 500
The ozone generator's oxygen delivery rate for the challenges was approximately 8 cubic feet per minute,
as set by RASco personnel. The flow rate was controlled at 5.0 ± 0.5 gallons per minute (gpm).
According to Aquafine, at this flow rate the 85% theoretical hydraulic residence time for the UV chamber
is 33 seconds. Dividing the contact tank volume (3 gal) by the flow rate, the theoretical hydraulic
residence time for that component is 36 seconds.
The ASOP ozone generator was set to turn on when the ORP meter read 450 mV or less, and turn off
when the ORP rose past 550 mV. The ORP can continue to rise for a period of time if the water has
minimal ozone demand. To ensure that the ozone generator was on at the beginning of each chemical
challenge, and each challenge was conducted under similar ORP conditions, each challenge, except for
sodium fluoroacetate, officially began when the ORP meter read 450 mV. Prior to the start of each
challenge, the ASOP module was turned on and deionized water was run through the unit for
approximately one minute until the ORP rose to above 550 mV. Then the water supply was switched
over to the chemical challenge water, and the ASOP module was operated using this water until the ORP
dropped back down to 450 mV and the ozone generator turned on. The point where the ozone generator
turned on was considered "time zero" for each challenge. The ASOP module was operated continuously
for 30 minutes from time zero for each challenge. For the sodium fluoroacetate challenge, the lab
technician started the challenge when the ORP was 854 mV. The technician attempted to lower the ORP
to 450 mV, but it dropped very slowly, and there was concern that the tank of challenge water would be
exhausted prior to 30 minutes of operation. The ORP only dropped to 483 mV after 30 minutes, so the
ozone generator did not operate at all during the sodium fluoroacetate challenge.
Influent and effluent samples were collected for challenge chemical analysis after 15 and 30 minutes of
operation. The ASOP effluent samples were collected downstream of the contact tank. At 30 minutes,
samples were also collected for oxidation byproducts analysis. To accomplish this, two scans were
conducted: base/neutrals and acids (BNA) according to EPA Method 625, and volatile organic
compounds (VOC's) according to EPA Method 524.2. BNA scans were performed on both the ASOP
and carbon filter effluent samples, but the VOC scan was only performed on the carbon filter effluent
samples.
NSF 06/25/EPADWCTR The accompanying notice is an integral part of this verification statement. September 2007
VS-iii
-------
VERIFICATION OF PERFORMANCE
The chemical challenges data are presented in Table VS-1. The mean challenge chemical concentrations
for the influents, ASOP effluents, and activated carbon filter effluents are presented, as well as the percent
reductions calculated for the ASOP module alone and the ASOP and activated carbon filter treatment
combined.
Table VS-1. Chemical Challenge Results
Challenge Chemical
Mean
Influent
(u.g/L)
Mean ASOP
Effluent
(Hg/L)
Mean Carbon
ASOP % Effluent
Reduction (p,g/L)
ASOP +
Carbon %
Reduction
Aldicarb
Benzene
Carbofuran
Chloroform
Dichlorvos
Dicrotophos
Methomyl
Mevinphos
Nicotine
Oxamyl
Paraquat
Phorate
Sodium Fluoroacetate
Strychnine
930
440
1100
740
850
750
1200
940
1200
1200
700
630
760
910
160
330
1100
790
430
250
830
1200
80
210
600
170
740
20
83
25
0
0
49
67
31
0
93
83
14
74
2.6
98
4
3.0
22
43
13
23
8
11
4
o
J
340
6
21
5
>99
>99
98
94
99
97
>99
99
>99
>99
51
>99
97
>99
The percent reductions for the ASOP module ranged from zero for carbofuran, chloroform, and
mevinphos, to 98% for strychnine. The combination of the ASOP module and activated carbon filter
removed all challenge chemicals, except paraquat, by 94% or more. However, as previously discussed, a
complete Hyd-RO-Secure system employs an RO system in addition to the ASOP module and activated
carbon filter, but there is no standard RO make and model employed. A previous ETV verification for the
Watts Premier M-2400 POE RO system (EPA/600/R-06/101) demonstrated that the selected RO
membrane reduced by more than 95%, 1 mg/L concentrations of various chemicals, including Paraquat
and most of the chemicals used in this study. Therefore, it is feasible that a complete Hyd-RO-Secure
configuration employing a high quality RO module may also be able to achieve significant chemical
reductions.
As discussed in the Methods and Procedures section, 30-minute influent and effluent samples were
analyzed for oxidation byproducts in addition to the challenge chemicals themselves. The BNA scans did
qualitatively detect "tentatively identified" compounds (TIC) in the contact tank effluent samples, which
may have been oxidation byproducts. However, many of the TICs were detected in both the influents and
contact tank effluents, indicating that perhaps they were impurities in the challenge chemical solutions.
The only compound detected above 10 |o,g/L in the contact tank effluent, but not in the influent, was
methyl dimethylcarbamate for the oxamyl challenge. The activated carbon filter effluent samples did not
yield any BNA scan TICs that could have been oxidation byproducts. However, the activated carbon
filter effluent VOC scans found chloroform, chloromethane, methylene chloride, and total
trihalomethanes, all at less than 10 |o,g/L.
NSF 06/25/EPADWCTR
The accompanying notice is an integral part of this verification statement. September 2007
VS-iv
-------
QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL (QA/QC)
NSF provided technical and quality assurance oversight of the verification testing as described in the
verification report, including a review of 100% of the data. NSF QA personnel conducted a technical
systems audit at the start of testing to ensure the testing was in compliance with the test plan. A complete
description of the QA/QC procedures is provided in the verification report.
Original signed by S. Gutierrez 08/14/07 Original signed by R.Ferguson 08/10/07
Sally Gutierrez Date Robert Ferguson Date
Director Vice President
National Risk Management Research Water Systems
Laboratory NSF International
Office of Research and Development
United States Environmental Protection
Agency
NOTICE: Verifications are based on an evaluation of technology performance under specific,
predetermined criteria and the appropriate quality assurance procedures. EPA and NSF make no expressed
or implied warranties as to the performance of the technology and do not certify that a technology will
always operate as verified. The end-user is solely responsible for complying with any and all applicable
federal, state, and local requirements. Mention of corporate names, trade names, or commercial products
does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use of specific products. This report is not an NSF
Certification of the specific product mentioned herein.
Availability of Supporting Documents
Copies of the test protocol, the verification statement, and the verification report (NSF report #
NSF 06/25/EPADWCTR) are available from the following sources:
1. ETV Drinking Water Systems Center Manager (order hard copy)
NSF International
P.O. Box 130140
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48113-0140
2. Electronic PDF copy
NSF web site: http://www.nsf.org/info/etv
EPA web site: http://www.epa.gov/etv
NSF 06/25/EPADWCTR The accompanying notice is an integral part of this verification statement. September 2007
VS-v
------- |