(290e) Chemical-Free UV Unit That Degrades PFAS in Landfill Leachate Using Non-Toxicboron Nitride
AIChE Annual Meeting
2024
2024 AIChE Annual Meeting
Sustainable Engineering Forum
Sustainable Engineering Forum Plenary/Award Session (Invited Talks)
Tuesday, October 29, 2024 - 10:00am to 10:30am
Despite being a well-known chemical contaminant, per/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are used extensively due to their commercial, industrial, and household applications in
nonstick cookware, water-resistant fabrics, firefighting foam, fast food packaging, and more. Once these products are no longer in use, they are disposed of and processed by hazardous waste facilities. PFAS contained in these products can potentially leak into landfill leachate and subsequently seep into the local water supply. The contamination of the water supply near hazardous waste facilities poses a tremendous health concern for the communities that live nearby and consume this as their sole source of water. According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, PFAS consumption in humans is directly linked with higher rates of kidney and testicular cancers, impaired endocrine systems, fertility issues, and more. Additionally, landfills are disproportionately located in underserved areas, resulting in low-income and minority communities being unequally vulnerable to these health concerns. Due to the pressing need for effective and affordable water treatment solutions, our team aimed to explore the ability of BN/UVC photocatalysis to break down PFAS in landfill leachate. Our team also examined the location of known and suspected PFAS occurrences, socially vulnerable communities (i.e., communities with increased susceptibility to the adverse impacts of natural hazards due to systemic barriers and structural inequalities), and landfill sites in the Harris County area to better understand the relationships between these variables. Providing an energy-efficient, non-toxic method to treat PFAS-containing wastewater emanating from landfills will reduce the amount of PFAS and other organic pollutants entering the water supplies of nearby communities, giving many people the chance to enjoy the prosperity of cleaner water.
nonstick cookware, water-resistant fabrics, firefighting foam, fast food packaging, and more. Once these products are no longer in use, they are disposed of and processed by hazardous waste facilities. PFAS contained in these products can potentially leak into landfill leachate and subsequently seep into the local water supply. The contamination of the water supply near hazardous waste facilities poses a tremendous health concern for the communities that live nearby and consume this as their sole source of water. According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, PFAS consumption in humans is directly linked with higher rates of kidney and testicular cancers, impaired endocrine systems, fertility issues, and more. Additionally, landfills are disproportionately located in underserved areas, resulting in low-income and minority communities being unequally vulnerable to these health concerns. Due to the pressing need for effective and affordable water treatment solutions, our team aimed to explore the ability of BN/UVC photocatalysis to break down PFAS in landfill leachate. Our team also examined the location of known and suspected PFAS occurrences, socially vulnerable communities (i.e., communities with increased susceptibility to the adverse impacts of natural hazards due to systemic barriers and structural inequalities), and landfill sites in the Harris County area to better understand the relationships between these variables. Providing an energy-efficient, non-toxic method to treat PFAS-containing wastewater emanating from landfills will reduce the amount of PFAS and other organic pollutants entering the water supplies of nearby communities, giving many people the chance to enjoy the prosperity of cleaner water.