Grantee Research Project Results
A systems-based approach to understand the role of waste type, management strategies and treatment methods on the occurrence, source, and fate of PFAS in landfills
EPA Grant Number: R839620Title: A systems-based approach to understand the role of waste type, management strategies and treatment methods on the occurrence, source, and fate of PFAS in landfills
Investigators: Townsend, Timothy
Current Investigators: Townsend, Timothy , Solo-Gabriele, Helena , Bowden, John , Deliz-Quiñones, Katherine
Institution: University of Florida
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: August 1, 2019 through July 31, 2022 (Extended to July 31, 2023)
Project Amount: $898,758
RFA: Practical Methods to Analyze and Treat Emerging Contaminants (PFAS) in Solid Waste, Landfills, Wastewater/Leachates, Soils, and Groundwater to Protect Human Health and the Environment (2018) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Water , Drinking Water , PFAS Treatment , Water Quality , Human Health
Objective:
Project objectives include (1) Comprehensive Baseline Characterization of PFAS in Different Landfills, (2) Detailed Landfill Case Studies and Refinement of Current Practical Leachate Treatment Technologies for PFAS Removal, (3) Waste Stream Component PFAS Characterization, (4) Fate of PFAS in Landfills with Different Biogeochemical Environments.
Approach:
A three-year methodology is proposed to address the project objectives following a two-track approach to study the partitioning and fate of PFAS and its precursors in landfills. One focuses on PFAS characterization from samples collected from full-scale landfills, first for a broad baseline characterization of PFAS occurrence and concentration in landfill leachate and related environmental media at a large array of landfill sites (Objective 1), followed by a detailed temporal and spatial assessment of selected landfill sites and experimentation with full scale leachate treatment systems (Objective 2). The second track aims to better determine the sources of PFAS compounds in the current US domestic waste streams using laboratory-scale batch leaching (Objective 3) and landfill simulation (Objective 4). The research team is working in concert with Battelle Environmental Analytical Laboratories for all PFAS analysis. This relationship serves as an external quality assurance metric and an opportunity for the most experienced in PFAS analytical techniques to collaborate and validate experimental results.
Expected Results:
- a data set of targeted and non-targeted PFAS concentrations in landfill leachates and other landfill media from a minimum of 30 landfill sites, including detailed spatial and temporal characterization for at least six landfill sites;
- data on the efficacy of current PFAS leachate treatment technologies and recommendations for realistic process improvements;
- a data set of targeted and non-targeted PFAS concentration for six as-disposed waste streams, broken down by waste component, including a weighted average leachable PFAS concentration for each source; and
- data sets of targeted and non-targeted PFAS compounds derived from PFAS containing waste into leachate and landfill gas through simulated landfill lysimeters.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 20 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 18 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), fate and transport, non-targeted screening (NTS), environmental engineering, solid waste, landfill gas, mass spectrometry, emerging contaminant of concern, Florida, FL.Progress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.