Grantee Research Project Results
2024 Progress Report: Microwave Irradiation-enabled Household On-site Regeneration of Activated Carbon for Sustainable Point-of-Use Removal of PFAS in Drinking Water
EPA Grant Number: SU840408Title: Microwave Irradiation-enabled Household On-site Regeneration of Activated Carbon for Sustainable Point-of-Use Removal of PFAS in Drinking Water
Investigators: Deng, Yang , Lin, Qiufeng , Yang, Lisitai
Institution: Montclair State University
EPA Project Officer: Spatz, Kyle
Phase: I
Project Period: July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 (Extended to June 30, 2025)
Project Period Covered by this Report: July 1, 2023 through June 30,2024
Project Amount: $25,000
RFA: 18th Annual P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2021) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Water , P3 Awards
Objective:
This project aims to validate, optimize, and demonstrate microwave (MW) irradiation-enabled thermal destruction of PFAS sorbed on activated carbon, thereby enabling a design capable of demonstrating long-term performance for cost-effective POU removal of PFAS in drinking water. Although GAC-based POU filters have proven for effective removal of PFAS, this option is unsustainable due to the lack of on-site adsorbent regeneration. Here, a household microwave oven will be applied to treat PFAS-spent GAC, for thermal destruction of PFAS (detoxification); and recovery of GAC adsorption (regeneration), to achieve a cyclic POU treatment approach.
Progress Summary:
This project demonstrates that household microwave oven can effectively remove PFOA adsorbed on granular activated carbon used in the point-of-use water filters. The PFOA mitigation is ascribed to microwave irradiation driven thermal treatment. The PFOA removal was increased with the increasing microwave irradiation duration and temperature. The overall accumulative PFOA removal was improved with the increase of thermal exposure. The encouraging findings show that microwave oven can provide a simple but effective household PFAS treatment method for safe drinking water.
Future Activities:
We will finish the life-cycle assessment for the proposed PFAS treatment technology
Supplemental Keywords:
Drinking water, PFAS, Innovative technology, Human health, EngineeringProgress 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.