Grantee Research Project Results

Hybrid Filtration/Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) Membrane Process for Point of Use PFAS Removal from Drinking Water

EPA Grant Number: SV840831
Title: Hybrid Filtration/Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) Membrane Process for Point of Use PFAS Removal from Drinking Water
Investigators: Fidalgo, Maria , Lin, Chung-Ho
Institution: University of Missouri - Columbia
EPA Project Officer: Brooks, Donald
Phase: II
Project Period: September 1, 2024 through May 10, 2025
Project Amount: $100,000
RFA: 18th Annual P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet Phase 2 (2024) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Drinking Water , Endocrine Disruptors , Heavy Metal Contamination of Soil/Water , P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources , PFAS Treatment , Urban Air Toxics , Water , Water Quality , Water Treatment

Description:

The overall objective of this project is to develop a modular, stand alone, low-cost treatment unit, that can be built with broadly available materials and does not require additional supplies. The system consists of an iron oxide coated alumina tubular ceramic filter in a continuous filtration set up with recirculation. The filter, an ultrafiltration membrane, separates contaminants by size, adsorbs smalls molecules on the ceramic surface and catalyzes the chemical oxidation of organic contaminants through Fenton-type reactions. The membrane is fabricated in our laboratory through a simple process using low-cost, widely available supplies; the system operates at low pressure with light-emitting diodes (LED) as the UV light source, resulting in minimal energy demands.

We propose to create highly active catalysts for Fenton-like reactions with tunable surface charge for enhanced adsorption of PFAS. Mixed metal – iron based nanostructured catalysts will be fabricated, following an iron replacement reaction in aqueous media in an environmentally benign approach. We will investigate adsorption capacity and mechanisms of PFOA to the nanostructured iron oxide materials (iron and mixed metal); finally, we will evaluate the fabricated reactive filter effectiveness in a continuous process for removal of PFOA by ceramic membranes coated with nanostructured iron oxide materials (iron and mixed metal), incorporating the separation capabilities and catalytic properties of the ceramic membrane. 

The project will provide research opportunities for STEM students interested in sustainability including chemistry, engineering or natural resources, at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Objective:

This project addresses EPA Strategic Plan goal of ensuring Safe and Sustainable Water Resources by proposing a new technology for the point of use removal of Per and Poly Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) from drinking water. PFAS have been widely used since mid 1900s industry; they are resistant to natural degradation mechanisms in the environment, and as a consequence have been detected worldwide in bodies of water, soil, and animals. PFAS are not effectively removed by conventional drinking water treatment. Adsorption or filtration processes can separate the contaminants from the water, but a technology that separates and degrades PFAS is highly desirable. Moreover, point use treatment systems with advanced capabilities as the proposed in this project benefit small, rural or underserved communities; these units should be designed with simple, low-cost materials, to be able to operate off the grid and have low energy demand and minimal added chemical consumption at affordable cost.

Expected Results:

The expected output of this project is a novel process for the degradation of persistent organic contaminants in drinking water that is low cost, environmentally benign, easy to operate and can be built with simple materials. Such a system is a unique approach to the provision of drinking water when small rural municipalities or individual household water sources are contaminated with PFOA.

The outcome of this work is an improvement in drinking water quality for the affected population, therefore maintaining human health while preserving the environment by using environmentally benign materials and supplies in the treatment, and minimizing the energy intensity of the process.

The educational benefits of the project are the development of a more sustainability-conscious STEM workforce through the experiential learning opportunities created by this project.  

Supplemental Keywords:

metal oxides, adsorption, Fenton reactions, PFAS, ceramic membranes, drinking water.

P3 Phase I:

Hybrid filtration/AOP membrane process for point of use PFAS removal from drinking water  | Final Report