Anion exchange resin mass transfer: method development & parameter determination for inorganic anions & PFAS
Citation:
Smith, S., D. Wahman, L. Haupert, B. Gray, E. Hughes, E. Kleiner, S. Pedigo, E. Stebel, C. Gastaldo, G. Abulikemu, J. Quinn, T. Sanan, J. Pressman, AND G. Sorial. Anion exchange resin mass transfer: method development & parameter determination for inorganic anions & PFAS. Innovations in Environmental Science: Panel Discussion with EPA Early Career Researchers, Cincinnati, OH, November 02, 2023.
Impact/Purpose:
1) The environmental or health problem addressed by the study: Understanding removal of per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from drinking water using strong-base anion exchange (SBA) resins. 2) A general description of the work and results: Batch experiments have been conducted with strong-base anion exchange (SBA) resins using a newly adapted approach (stirrer devices) to determine kinetic mass transfer coefficients for inorganic anions and PFAS. 3) The long-term importance or significance of the findings: Provides necessary input parameters for water treatment models, which are currently scarce in the literature. Intraparticle diffusion coefficients for a resin/anion are transferrable among systems. 4) Who would be interested in or could apply the results (e.g. program or regional partners, general public, local communities): Drinking water utilities, researchers, regulators, engineers, Regions, OW
Description:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous in the environment and some are known to have deleterious health effects. Predictive models can help understand the design, engineering, and costs of PFAS treatment in drinking water; however, the necessary kinetic parameters for PFAS on ion exchange (IX) resins tend to be scarcely reported. This research uses batch stirrer devices, adapted from literature, to estimate kinetic mass transfer parameters for PFAS on IX resins by creating high flow over a small mass of resin, minimizing film layer thickness to isolate the effect of intraparticle diffusion. This presentation covers method development and preliminary parameter estimates for nitrate, sulfate, and several PFAS.