Abstract
The University of Central Florida invention is a new specialty adsorbent for improving the targeted adsorption of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), and hexafluoropropylene oxide (HFPO) dimer acid (that is, collectively referred to as "GenX chemicals") in a surface water matrix. The substances are part of the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) class of emerging contaminants of concern. They have drawn considerable attention due to their impacts on human health and the ecosystem. PFAS are mobile in soil and groundwater and have been shown to bioaccumulate in blood and organs over time, thus posing risks to human health.
The new UCF specialty adsorbent, biochar-based iron and perlite-integrated green environmental media (BIPGEM) was formulated by mixing recycled and natural materials, thus presenting an economically viable, scalable, adaptable, and sustainable solution for surface water and groundwater treatment for removing PFAS.
PFAS have been used since the 1950s to manufacture water-resistant, stain-resistant, and nonstick commercial products such as coatings on food packaging, carpets, outdoor clothing and fabric textiles, leather goods, cosmetics and personal care products, ski and snowboard waxes, and firefighting foams. PFOA and PFOS are the two most common and widely studied compounds in the PFAS family. However, the EPA has announced the National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six PFAS, including PFOA, PFOS, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), GenX chemicals, perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and PFBS. While PFOA and PFOS are known as long-chain PFAS, PFBA and PFBS are referred to as short-chain PFAS.
Technical Details: Water collected from a drainage canal in the St. Lucie River Basin (Florida) was spiked with a mixture of the five PFAS mentioned above to test in fixed-bed columns. Each of the PFAS was spiked at a concentration of 70 ng · L-1. Owing to the synergy among biochar, perlite, and clay, BIPGEM demonstrated removal rates exceeding 98 percent for long-chain PFAS (PFOA and PFOS). However, for short-chain PFAS, removal rates ranging from 20 to 40 percent were observed during the initial 44 hours of column run. The modified dose-response model was identified as the most appropriate model to describe the adsorption behavior of the BIPGEM for the removal of PFOA, PFBA, and PFBS. The maximum adsorption capacities were determined to be 370.2 ng·g-1, 35.48 ng·g-1, and 245.32 ng·g-1 for PFOA, PFBS, and GenX, respectively.
Partnering Opportunity: The research team is seeking partners for licensing, research collaboration, or both.
Stage of Development: Prototype available.
Benefit
Can be used for both ex-situ and in-situ water treatment applicationsBesides use in water and wastewater treatment processes, BIPGEM can be applied as a fit-for-purpose treatment in most types of landscapes, including low-impact development for green buildings or green infrastructure with simple operationTwenty times less expensive than current treatments using Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) and Powder Activated Carbon (PAC)For in situ treatment, BIPGEM may be used as a pretreatment for GAC, PAC, anion exchange resins (AER), and high-pressure membranes (HPM)Market Application
Removal of PFOS and PFOA (that is, long-chain PFAS) either as a stand-alone unit or as part of a treatment trainIn situ treatment processes such as wastewater treatment plants, landfill leachate treatment, and drinking water treatment plantsEx situ treatment facilities such as stormwater runoff treatment via low-impact development and agricultural fields using localized filter cellsPublications
“Developing Biochar-based Iron and Perlite Integrated Green Environmental Media for Targeted Adsorption of Long-chain PFAS in the Aquatic Environment,” Journal of Cleaner Production, in review, Dec. 2023.
Brochure
