Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: 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 , 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:
This project consists of four objectives, which is accomplished following a twotrack approach.
Track 1: PFAS characterization in samples from full-scale landfills and leachate treatment systems
Objective 1 – baseline characterization of PFAS occurrence and concentration in landfill samples Objective 2 – detailed assessment of selected landfill sites and experimentation with leachate treatment
Track 2: Determine the sources of PFAS compounds in US domestic waste streams and landfill simulations Objective 3 – measurement of leachable PFAS in waste streams with batch leaching tests Objective 4 – measurement of PFAS through lysimeter studies using simulated waste streams.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
During the duration of this project, we successfully accomplished tasks related to Objectives 1 through 3 and have made noteworthy progress on Objective 4. Our collaboration with the EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD) ensures that the advancements towards Objective 4 will persist beyond this project timeline.
Objective 1 (August 2019 - August 2021): The collaboration between University of Florida and University of Miami resulted in the sample collection of from 43 landfills (39 in Florida, 4 elsewhere). Analysis at Battelle and Katahdin revealed that MSW and C&D landfill leachates had comparable PFAS concentrations, whereas ash monofills showed markedly lower levels.
Objective 2 (December 2019 - October 2022): We delved into the effect of waste and operational conditions on PFAS presence in landfill leachate. PFAS concentrations were consistently higher in landfill leachate compared to stormwater, groundwater, and gas condensate. When evaluating traditional leachate treatments for PFAS mitigation, membrane treatment emerged as the most effective. Field studies showed comparable PFAS removal efficiencies between reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) for landfill leachate. Additional studies explored innovative treatments, with vertical flow wetlands transforming precursor PFAS and foam separation achieving a median removal of 92%.
Objective 3 (Implemented in Year 2 & 3): An MSW composition study was done, examining 23 MSW components. All components showed PFAS presence with a weighted average concentration of 410 ng/L.
Meanwhile, a C&D study detected the highest PFAS in carpet and gypsum drywall. Extra research highlighted significant PFAS levels in biosolids, with precursors possibly being underestimated in other studies. MSWI ash showed lower PFAS levels than unburned waste, but co-disposal can amplify PFAS concentrations in landfill leachate.
Objective 4 (Ongoing): Progress includes the expanded characterization of PFAS to volatile compounds using GC-MS, evaluating resins for future gas sampling, and pioneering gas sample collection from lysimeters. Two operational lysimeters are frequently sampled for both gas and leachate.
Additionally, beyond our main objectives, we have published several manuscripts improving PFAS characterization, optimized PFAS extraction and analysis, and launched a pioneering software for PFAS non-targeted identification workflow.
Conclusions:
Research pertaining to Objective 4 is set to extend beyond the current project's timeframe.
Journal Articles on this Report : 4 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 21 publications | 19 publications in selected types | All 19 journal articles |
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Chen Y, Zhang H, Liu Y, Bowden J, Townsend T, Solo-Gabriele H. Evaluation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) released from two Florida landfills based on mass balance analyses. WASTE MANAGEMENT 2024;175:348-359 |
R839620 (Final) |
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Lin A, Thompson J, Koelmel J, Liu Y, Bowden J, Townsend T. Landfill Gas: A Major Pathway for Neutral Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) Release. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS 2024;11(7):730-737 |
R839620 (Final) |
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Liu Y, Lin A, Thompson J, Bowden J, Townsend T. Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in construction and demolition debris (CDD):discerning sources and fate during waste management. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024;472(134567). |
R839620 (Final) |
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Timshina A, Robey N, Oldnettle A, Barron S, Mehdi Q, Cerlanek A, Townsend T, Bowden J. Investigating the sources and fate of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food waste compost. WASTE MANAGEMENT 2024;180:125-134. |
R839620 (Final) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), fate and transport, environmental engineering, solid waste, landfill gas, mass spectrometry, emerging contaminant of concern, Florida, FLProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe 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.