Grantee Research Project Results
Decreasing polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in municipal wastewater effluent and minimizing release from land-applied biosolids
EPA Grant Number: R839640Title: Decreasing polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in municipal wastewater effluent and minimizing release from land-applied biosolids
Investigators: Lee, Linda S. , Chaplin, Brian , Judy, Jonathan
Institution: Purdue University , University of Florida , University of Illinois at Chicago
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: August 1, 2019 through July 31, 2022 (Extended to July 31, 2023)
Project Amount: $899,960
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: Human Health , Water , Drinking Water , Water Quality , PFAS Treatment
Objective:
The hundreds of millions of gallons of water per day treated by major WWTPs make achieving low ng L-1 PFAS concentrations through direct treatment of effluent challenging. However, opportunities exist to decrease PFAS concentrations in both WWTP effluent and sludge from which biosolid-based fertilizers originate, by treating influent inputs of smaller volume but higher PFAS loads such as the dewatering solution/filtrate (centrate) resulting from the dewatering of sludge that is recycled back into the WWTP and landfill leachate. Our objectives are to determine the technical and economic feasibility of treating WWTP centrate using a treatment train approach consisting of nanofiltration followed by electrochemical oxidation of the PFAS present in the nanofiltration retentate solutions (Obj. 1); determine the degree to which these methods are applicable for treating leachate from municipal solid waste and construction and demolition landfills (Obj. 2); estimate the potential PFAS load reduction to WWTP influent resulting from electrochemical treatment of each of these waste streams (Obj. 1 & 2); quantify and correlate PFAS leaching potential from biosolids as a function of biosolids characteristics including iron, aluminum and organic matter (OM) content, production practices and PFAS properties (Obj. 3); and determine the reduction in PFAS leaching from biosolids after amending biosolids with sorbents at different rates, including drinking water treatment residuals (WTRs) and cost-effectiveness of using amendments (Obj. 4). Our central hypotheses are that targeted separation and subsequent electrochemical treatment of PFASs in WWTP centrate and landfill leachate can reduce PFAS concentrations in WWTP effluent and biosolids (Obj. 1 & 2); PFAS leaching from biosolids will be correlated to quantifiable biosolid characteristics (Obj. 3) and amending biosolids with low cost sorbents will reduce PFAS leaching from biosolids (Obj. 4).
Approach:
All hypotheses will be tested using laboratory-based studies. We will use a treatment train consisting of ultrafiltration (UF) followed by nanofiltration (NF) and subsequent electrochemical oxidation using microporous and UF REMs to reduce PFAS concentrations in centrate and targeted landfill leachates. We will quantify PFAS release from amended and unamended biosolids as a function of PFAS, aluminum, iron, OM, and water-soluble carbon concentrations as well as specific PFAS characteristics
Expected Results:
The proposed research will address, foremost, area one (PFAS reduction) as well as area two (understanding/characterization) and three (fate/transport knowledge). We expect our treatment train approach will result in PFAS removal from centrate and targeted landfill leachate at relatively low energy costs and subsequently lower PFAS loads in both wastewater effluent and biosolids. We expect our proposed research on biosolids and low cost amendments will improve our stewardship of biosolids and lead to continuing in the economic, ecological and societal value of biosolid-based fertilizers, which also prevents biosolid incineration contributing to atmospheric pollutants and landfilling with its own hazards.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 14 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 4 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
abiotic remediation, trace organics, availabilityProgress 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.