Grantee Research Project Results
2024 Progress Report: Low-cost Household Water Filter for PFAS Removal
EPA Grant Number: SV840385Title: Low-cost Household Water Filter for PFAS Removal
Investigators: Wu, Tingting , Jiang, Daqian
Institution: The University of Alabama in Huntsville , The University of Alabama
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Phase: II
Project Period: August 1, 2023 through July 31, 2025
Project Period Covered by this Report: August 1, 2023 through July 31,2024
Project Amount: $99,998
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet - Phase 2 (2022) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Urban Air Toxics , Heavy Metal Contamination of Soil/Water , P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources
Objective:
This project aims to develop novel low-cost bio-hybrid adsorbents for point-of-use (POU) treatment of both long-chain and short-chain Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at homes/offices, and thus helps promote safe drinking water supply. Given the widespread contamination of drinking water sources by PFAS and the challenges to implementing comprehensive and uniform regulatory strategy, POU treatment can represent an inexpensive and immediate solution, which may be particularly appealing to small, rural, tribal, and disadvantaged communities. The research team attempts to develop novel hybrid functional materials for selective PFAS adsorption. The successful completion of the proposed project not only can result in an innovative solution that helps solve the problem of PFAS pollution, but also can lead to further scientific and technical development that exploits bio-hybrid materials for environmental applications. Expected results include understanding of the adsorption mechanism, fabrication of a prototype filter using the novel hybrid adsorbents, performance data under conditions simulating the practical applications, and preliminary cost analysis and user guidelines.
Progress Summary:
During the reporting period, built on the development achieved in Phase I, the research team focused on improving the synthesis procedure for more efficient product yield and conducting screening tests on these adsorbents for PFAS removal, where different granular activated carbon (GAC) substrates were examined. Results showed that the bio-hybrid adsorbents can be prepared through a simple oven drying process.
Future Activities:
While the results obtained so far may imply protein loading could be more effective for adsorption of short chain PFAS, no solid conclusion can be drawn yet and further investigation is needed to develop bio-hybrid adsorbents with high capacity for different PFAS compounds.
Supplemental Keywords:
drinking water treatment technology, water filtration, human health, point of use, cost-effectiveProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractP3 Phase I:
Low-cost Household Water Filter for PFAS Removal | 2020 Progress Report | 2021 Progress Report | Final ReportThe 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.