Grantee Research Project Results

Practical PFAS Treatment with Functionalized Sawdust

EPA Grant Number: SV840386
Title: Practical PFAS Treatment with Functionalized Sawdust
Investigators: Tu, Maobing , Lu, Mingming , Udeshi Edirisinghe, Don Isanka , Harrison, Canaan
Current Investigators: Tu, Maobing , Lu, Mingming , Harrison, Canaan , Udeshi Edirisinghe, Don Isanka
Institution: University of Cincinnati
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Phase: II
Project Period: April 1, 2022 through March 31, 2024 (Extended to March 31, 2025)
Project Amount: $99,895
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet - Phase 2 (2022) Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources

Description:

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly fluorinated aliphatic compounds that are persistent in the environment and resistant to environmental degradation due to the very stable bonds between the carbon and fluroine. They have been released to water, soild and air through manufacturing and disposal of PFAS-containing products. EPA is especially interested in advancing the understanding of PFAS developing innovative strategies to treat and manage PFAS in the environment. The rationale of this research is cheap biomass-based materials will be cost effective and practical approach in removing PFAS from wastewater and drinking water. The research team successfully synthesized sawdust-based anion exchange resin, which can reduce PFOA and PFOS compounds in batch process through the Phase I project. The overall goal of this Phase II project is to develop and demonstrate a practical and cost-effective approach to treat PFAS in wastewater using functionalized sawdust (FS) biomass in a pilot-scale test. The main hypothesis of this research is that cellulose and lignin-based sawdust can be functionalized into anion exchange resin, which can remove negatively charged PFAS in wastewater and/or drinking water. The project seeks to demonstrate sustainable biomass-based materials to remove PFAS from various water bodies, in which it will protect the environment from PFAS contamination and reduce the risks of PFAS to human health. The project has potential to reduce PFAS in wastewater and drinking water system and improve water quality in the Greater Cincinnati area and strengthen our communities’ needs.

Approach:

The objective of the Phase II project is to further expand the FS for short chain and long chain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA) and PFAS removal from water samples, demonstrate the PFAS removal with FS in a pilot-scale test from wastewater and conduct techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA). In the Phase II project, the experimental approach consists of four tasks:

1. Determine the effect of PFAS chain length and functional group on PFAS removal with FS;
2. Develop a pilot-scale test for PFAS removal from wastewater with FS and granular activated carbon (GAC);
3. Integrate combustion and mineralization for spent FS;
4. Conduct TEA and LCA of PFAS removal from wastewater with FS.

The phase II project involves partnership between the P3 team at UC and the following organizations in Cincinnati: Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW), Metropolitan Sewer District of Great Cincinnati (MSDGC) and UC Honors program. The project will enable interdisciplinary engagement and education for the next generation of scientists, engineers and external communities to understand the PFAS environmental impacts and to develop innovative technologies for PFAS treatment. The educational benefits of this project include the interdisciplinary teamwork experience, exposure to the whole process of PFAS sampling, analysis, control and destruction, and to the ability to apply their knowledge into real world application and design of the pilot-scale test process. Various recruiting programs will be tapped in to recruit female and under-represented minorities, and students with different backgrounds.

 

Expected Results:

This project aims to develop and demonstrate new functionalized sawdust anion exchange resin for PFAS removal and subsequent combustion to destruct PFAS into mineralized forms. Phase I project efforts focused on the functionalization of sawdust-based anion exchange resin, and examination of the removal of PFOA and PFOS in batch process lab scale treatment. The student team has conducted literature review on other PFAS treatment technologies to better understand the PFAS issues. In the Phase II project, the expected outcomes include determination of the association of chain length/functional group and removal efficiency, determination of PFAS removal efficiency from wastewater in a pilot-scale test with FS, and intergradation of combustion and mineralization of spent FS. At the completion of this work, it is anticipated that a FS-based new technology for PFAS removal will be demonstrated in a pilot-scale, and TEA and LCA will be conducted for PFAS removal. An interdisciciplinar team with students and faculties from environmental engineering, chemical engineering, chemistry and biology at UC will be established. The research results will be disseminated through through conference presentations and peer-reviewed journals . The team will attend public outreach activities to show case their research, such as the Earth Day, UC community Day, and the Confluence.

 

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 2 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

PFAS, anion exchange resin, functionalized sawdust, treatment, practical methods, pilot-scale, mineralization, LCA, wastewater     

Progress and Final Reports:

2022 Progress Report

2023 Progress Report

P3 Phase I:

Practical PFAS Treatment with Sawdust  | 2020 Progress Report  | Final Report