Fe-TAML: Catalyst for Cleanup

Abstract

Hormones occur naturally in humans, animals, and plants, but estrogens in contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy, those given to agricultural animals, and industrial chemicals that mimic estrogen add to the enormous volume of biologically active compounds in the environment. These compounds are among the PPCP (pharmaceutical and personal care product) category of contaminants that, when excreted, make their way into surface and ground-water, wastewater treatment plants, and, eventually, back into drinking water supplies. Now scientists are looking to catalysts called Fe-TAML® (iron plus tetra-amido macrocyclic ligand) activators as a promising way to remove these contaminants from wastewater.