Grantee Research Project Results
2023 Progress Report: Enhancing the anion-exchange capacity of biochar for per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) stabilization in contaminated soils
EPA Grant Number: SU840411Title: Enhancing the anion-exchange capacity of biochar for per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) stabilization in contaminated soils
Investigators: Xu, Wenqing , Samsonte, Pam-Rose , Magee, James , Fitzpatrick, Megan , Neumann, Bridget , Giovanniello, Connor , Irizzary, Joseph
Current Investigators: Xu, Wenqing , Samonte, Pam Rose , Magee, James , Fitzpatrick, Megan , Neumann, Bridget , Giovanniello, Connor , Irizzary, Joseph
Institution: Villanova University
EPA Project Officer: Spatz, Kyle
Phase: I
Project Period: July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 (Extended to August 31, 2023)
Project Period Covered by this Report: July 1, 2022 through June 30,2023
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: P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
In this project, we proposed to tailor biochar from two waste sources to promote their anion exchange capacities (AEC) for PFAS sequestration during the land application of biosolids: (i) coagulant-rich water treatment residuals and (ii) agriculture waste. Subsequently, these biochar materials will be incorporated into municipal biosolids to understand their efficacy in sequestering PFAS in agricultural soils. This project aimed to create an educational ecosystem where students worked collaboratively across disciplines (engineering, science, and business) and interacted with advisory committee members from academia, government, industry, and agricultural sector to design a strategy that is economical, scalable, and feasible PFAS remediation and ultimately protect public health.
Progress Summary:
This project provided invaluable insights into the efficacy and economic advantages of water treatment residual (WTR) biochar as soil amendments for PFAS adsorption compared to commercial products, such as powdered activated carbon (PAC) and almond shell char (AS Char). Key parameters affecting the WTR adsorption were measured and compared to PAC and AS char to identify the critical WTR properties for PFAS sequestration. These parameters include the pyrolysis temperature, the metal pre-treatment effect, PFAS adsorption kinetics, PFAS partition coefficients, and the PFAS breakthrough curves from lysimeter testing. Our results suggest that WTR biochar could potentially compete with commercially available products, such as PAC and AS char, for PFAS sequestration in contaminated soils.
Future Activities:
PFAS contamination is a prevalent issue in today’s society. Commercial products such as activated carbon are effective but cost-prohibitive for PFAS sequestration from diffuse sources. A promising alternative is using waste materials (e.g., WTR or biomass) to create biochar as a valueadded soil amendment. As shown in our batch and column tests, the biochar prepared from WTR pyrolyzed @ 700C° performed well compared to commercial products in retaining PFOA and PFBA. Further analyses, such as life-cycle analysis and techno-economic analysis, are needed.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 1 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Biochar, Water Treatment Residual, PFAS, Soil RemediationProgress 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.