Grantee Research Project Results

2022 Progress Report: Restoring Public Confidence in Drinking Water Safety - Education, Engagement, and New Sustainable Technology

EPA Grant Number: SV840383
Title: Restoring Public Confidence in Drinking Water Safety - Education, Engagement, and New Sustainable Technology
Investigators: Poler, Jordan C
Institution: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Phase: II
Project Period: June 1, 2022 through May 31, 2024
Project Period Covered by this Report: June 1, 2022 through May 31,2023
Project Amount: $99,999
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet - Phase 2 (2022) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Drinking Water , Drinking Water, Disinfection Byproducts , Clean Water , Human Health , Water , Green Chemistry , P3 Awards , PFAS Treatment , P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources

Objective:

All Year 1 objectives have either been completed or started. The project is on schedule and the milestones below have been reached.

Objectives	Quarterly Milestones
Objectives	Y1 Q2	Y1 Q3	Y1 Q4	Y2 Q1	Y2 Q2	Y2 Q3, Q4
Objective 1: Synthesis and optimization of functionalized cellulose
Create library of poly(vbTMAC) of lenthgs n = 10 to n = 1000
Poly(vbTMAC) functionalization of cellulose nanofibers
Objetive 2: Novem Esterification to Cellulose Nanofibrils
Synthetic methods and mechanizsms
Characterization of %Fuctionalization
Objective 3: Characterization of functionalized cellulose membranes
Fundamental Physiochemistry		Start
Membrane Testing			Start
Objective 4: POU water purifiers
Regeratability studies using POU device
Parallel regeneration and reuse of multiple POU devices
Cost Analysis of Return-Replacement Market
Objective 5: Outreach/Engagement - Education and training	Continous

Progress Summary:

This funded EPA project has supported the publication of one manuscript, and another manuscript pending editorial review. Six student presentations and local and regional meetings. One PhD student was fully funded on the project. Five undergraduate participants were funded during the summer 2022. Customer discovery and community engagement activities by five undergraduate students. A cellulose graft copolymer (cellulose nanoresin (CNR)) was synthesized by an all-aqueous method. Synthesis of cellulose nanoresin was confirmed using dynamic light scattering and zeta potential measurements and conductometric titration was used to determine the carboxylate content of cellouronic acid and the percent functionalization of the cellulose nanoresin, The maximum adsorption capacity of CNR was measured to be 26.8 ± 1.3 mg NaFL per gram of CNR with a Langmuir equilibrium binding constant of Ks = 10.5 ± 2 ppm-1. Equilibrium loading was achieved in less than 30 seconds, and that >90% of loading occurred in under 5 seconds. This data suggests that these films can be used as contact resins for anion-exchange water purification. These films maintain over 99% of loading performance over 40 trials of regeneration and reuse, meaning that these films are green and regeneratable. Initial testing shows that CNR is effective at the removal of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) from water to below our limit of detection (non-detect).

Future Activities:

Remaining activities on this project are to examine POU water purifiers using the cellulose nanoresin materials, understand their regenerability in a POU form factor, and complete a cost analysis of a return-replacement circular economy POU module. Continue outreach and engagement activities. The full library of polymers has not been completed yet. An easier and quantitative %Functionalization characterization is in progress.

Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format

Publications Views
Other project views:	All 24 publications	3 publications in selected types	All 3 journal articles

Publications
Type	Citation	Project	Document Sources
Journal Article	Sahu A, Dosi R, Kwiatkowski C, Schmal S, Poler JC. Advanced polymeric nanocomposite membranes for water and wastewater treatment: a comprehensive review . Polymers. 2023;15(3):540.	SV840383 (2022)	Full-text: FULL TEXT HTML_PUBMED Abstract: ABSTRACT HTML_PUBMED

Supplemental Keywords:

Water Purification, TEMPO oxidized nano-cellulose, Graft Copolymers, Ion Exchange, Green Chemistry

Relevant Websites:

Poler Research Group Exit

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

Final Report

P3 Phase I:

Green and Sustainable Water Purification Membranes | 2020 Progress Report | Final Report

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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.