Grantee Research Project Results

Microwave-Catalytic Membrane for PFAS Degradation

EPA Grant Number: SU840150
Title: Microwave-Catalytic Membrane for PFAS Degradation
Investigators: Zhang, Wen
Current Investigators: Zhang, Wen , Liu, Fangzhou , Sai, Krishna Venkata , Potts, Courtney , Luk, Jeffrey , Solomon, Samuel , Kokkula, Ashish , Abdali, Humza
Institution: New Jersey Institute of Technology
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: December 1, 2020 through November 30, 2021
Project Amount: $25,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2020) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources

Objective:

This project will embark on an innovative microwave-assisted membrane filtration (MWM) system that combines microwave catalysis and microfiltration to enhance the removal of per- and poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The project will examine the hypothesis that under microwave catalysis (both thermal and non-thermal effects), the selected PFAS substances such as prfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) may undergo defluorination under hydroxyl radical attacks or reductive radical attack on catalyst-coated membrane surface during filtration. The challenge is the search of functional and durable microwave-absorbing catalysts that react with PFAS efficiently and also establish stable binding with membrane surface to form a porous separation layer. This invention will be critical for the development of point-of-use (POU) water treatment devices that are deployed at impaired water facilities or small rural areas without centralized water treatment capabilities.

Approach:

First, the NJIT team will select and evaluate a few microwave responsible oxides such as Co₂O₃, WO₃, V₂O₅, and MnO₂. Their microwave irradiation absorption and energy distribution among pollutant degradation and water/catalyst heating will be quantified and compared. Specially, their reflection loss (RL) will be determined with the measured impedance (Z_in/Z₀) to enable the assessment of the penetration of microwave across the catalyst film (a thin porous layer that is deposited on the membrane surface). Additionally, the batch and/or conditions filtration experiments will be conducted to evaluate the degradation performance of PFOA in the presence of these catalysts in the solution that may vary in water chemistries to represent the realistic water matrix conditions.

Expected Results:

The potential project outcome is the transformation of traditionally passive membrane filtration to the next-generation chemically or catalytically reactive membranes. The measure of success is the demonstration of the enhanced PFAS degradation and reduced toxic byproducts or incomplete degradation products when water is treated or filtered with this reactive membrane platform when compared to other membrane processes without microwave catalysis. The research outputs will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, novel microwave-assisted membrane process design guide, prototype development and demonstration, project reports, and joint educational workshops with industrial partners of water treatment companies and membrane manufacturers.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 1 publications for this project

Journal Articles:

Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 1 journal articles for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

PFAS, PFOA, PFOS, Microwave catalysis, advanced oxidation process, antifouling membrane filtration, reactive membrane

Progress and Final Reports:

Final Report

P3 Phase II:

Microwave-Catalytic Membrane for PFAS Degradation and Antiviral Applications  | 2023 Progress Report  | Final Report