(2cj) Selective Separation and Degradation of PFAS Using Redox-Based Polymers
AIChE Annual Meeting
2023
2023 AIChE Annual Meeting
Meet the Candidates Poster Sessions
Meet the Faculty and Post-Doc Candidates Poster Session
Sunday, November 5, 2023 - 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent contaminants in water that have been present since the 1950s. In response to their environmental impact, multinational agencies have implemented various regulations to ban longer chain PFAS. However, this has led to the emergence of a new generation of PFAS, with hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (GenX) being the most prominent. Traditional methods employed in wastewater treatment plants have struggled to effectively target these newer, shorter PFAS compounds, as well as the traditional longer chain PFAS. To address this challenge, we have developed an electrochemically mediated adsorption method that targets long chain PFAS and GenX, utilizing redox electrodes. In our study, we evaluated poly(4-methacryloyloxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl) (PTMA)-co-poly(4-methacryloyloxy2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine) (PTMPMA), denoted as PT-co-PMA, along with redox polymers containing ferrocene and cobaltocene. These polymers were tested for their ability to selectively adsorb and release GenX and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in both batch and continuous systems. We observed faster kinetics when applying a potential, with a 35% higher uptake rate within the first 10 minutes compared to open circuit adsorption. The applicability of our system was demonstrated across various concentrations and water matrices. Additionally, in continuous flow experiments, our system achieved a removal efficiency of over 90% for GenX. Furthermore, we successfully combined our system with a boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode, resulting in complete defluorination of GenX. Through our research, we have showcased the capability of our electrochemical system, utilizing redox polymers, for the selective separation and potential remediation of PFAS contaminants.
Teaching Interests