Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Novel Sorbent Technology for Simultaneous Removal and Degradation ofWaterborne PFAS
EPA Contract Number: 68HERD19C0024Title: Novel Sorbent Technology for Simultaneous Removal and Degradation ofWaterborne PFAS
Investigators: Brockgreitens, John
Small Business: Claros Technologies, Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: May 1, 2019 through October 31, 2019
Project Amount: $100,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2019) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR): Phase 1 (2019) , SBIR - Water Quality
Description:
Poly- and per- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a broad category of highly conjugated synthetic organofluorine compounds that have been shown to be highly mobile and bioaccumulative in the environment. These compounds do not degrade naturally and are so persistent that they have been found in Artic wildlife and in human tissues. While the potential toxic impacts of PFAS are still being researched, the prevalence of these chemicals has raised concern from public health and environmental protection agencies.
Claros Technologies Inc. has developed a process for growing nanoparticles within solid supports and has applied this process to create a novel sorbent technology for simultaneous removal and degradation of waterborne poly- and per- fluoroalkyl substances. There is a growing market need for technologies that overcome the limitations of current commercial methods which suffer from sorbent inefficiencies and issues with disposal due to leaching of PFAS. This project has resulted in a novel nanocomposite material containing catalytically active titanium nanoparticles with the capacity to remove two major PFAS compounds from water and break them down into non-toxic components.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
The main objectives of the Phase 1 project were to develop a novel nanoparticle enabled sorbent material, characterize this material in terms of sorption performance, and demonstrate defluorination of the captured PFAS compounds within the sorbent material. Results of the Phase 1 project are described below for each major objective.
- Creation of a novel nanocomposite material: In this work, titanium nanoparticles were successfully grown in polymeric support materials. The growth process resulted in a stable, uniform coating of active nanoparticles throughout the support, allowing enhanced sorbent performance and catalytic degradation.
- Superior capture of two major PFAS compounds: The titanium degradative sorbent nanocomposite boasts high loading capacities and ultra-fast sorption kinetics for two major PFAS targets perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). The sorbent loading capacity for the developed material is nearly 30 times higher than materials currently used for PFAS removal. Furthermore, the sorbent material removes these compounds in less than 5 minutes. This high efficiency sorbent enables industrial treatment with small footprints and low capital costs.
- Defluorination using low energy catalytic methods: Defluorination refers to the breakdown of the very strong carbon-fluorine bond in PFAS compounds which results in final products of water, carbon dioxide and fluoride (F-) ions. Defluorination is preferred over other methods of PFAS degradation which break down larger compounds like PFOA and PFOS into shorter chain fluorocarbons through the cleavage of the carbon-carbon bonds. These short chain fluorocarbons present issues as their toxicity and environmental mobility have not been studied at length. Using a simple UV enabled catalytic treatment the developed material defluorinates up to 35% of the captured PFAS compound within 2 hours.
Conclusions:
The SBIR Phase 1 project resulted in a novel sorbent nanocomposite material with superior sorption performance compared to currently used technologies and the ability to break down the captured PFAS into non-toxic components. The nanocomposite has nearly 30 times the capacity of activated carbon and reaches sorption equilibrium at a fraction of the time. This sorbent performance enables rapid removal of target compounds in small footprint installations, which reduces capital costs and filter turnover. Furthermore, the catalytic defluorination of PFAS within the support minimizes waste products and mitigates the need for hazardous waste disposal of the sorbent material. Future development will seek to improve performance in both sorption and defluorination and apply the material under diverse treatment conditions in industrial and environmental settings.
Claros will seek to commercialize the sorbent material through strategically aligning with partners present in the industry of wastewater treatment both from a materials and engineering perspective. Claros is in discussion with industry partners in high priority, early adoption remediation areas.
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.