Fate of Perfluoroalkyl Substances on an Electrically-Polarized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube/Polyamide Composite Nanofiltration Membrane
Conference Year
January 2019
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), have drawn great attention due to their persistence and widespread distribution in various environmental systems around the globe. They have been shown to readily bioaccumulate and pose a significant risk to human and wildlife health. Their unique physical and chemical properties are similar to a “double-edged sword”, i.e., the same properties that make the PFAS attractive for industrial applications also render them persistent and toxic. As a result, PFAS are very difficult to degrade using conventional treatment processes. In this work, an innovative approach to enhance sorption and degradation of the two common groundwater contaminants (PFOA and PFOS) on electrically-polarized multiwalled carbon nanotubes/polyamide composite nanofiltration membranes under batch and cross-flow conditions was described. The effects of surface charge and electric polarization on the contaminant sorption and degradation at pH 7.0 and room temperature were studied. The PFOA and PFOS were quantified using HPLC tandem mass spectroscopy. The physical and chemical characteristics of composite membrane were characterized comprehensively using microscopy and spectroscopy techniques. The development of the composite NF membrane could potentially provide access to PFAS-free safe drinking water to the communities, create self-sustainability, environmental friendliness, compact and easy to operate, and generate new component to the local and global economy.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Appala Raju Badireddy
Status
Graduate
Student College
College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences
Program/Major
Environmental Engineering
Primary Research Category
Engineering & Physical Sciences
Fate of Perfluoroalkyl Substances on an Electrically-Polarized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube/Polyamide Composite Nanofiltration Membrane
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), have drawn great attention due to their persistence and widespread distribution in various environmental systems around the globe. They have been shown to readily bioaccumulate and pose a significant risk to human and wildlife health. Their unique physical and chemical properties are similar to a “double-edged sword”, i.e., the same properties that make the PFAS attractive for industrial applications also render them persistent and toxic. As a result, PFAS are very difficult to degrade using conventional treatment processes. In this work, an innovative approach to enhance sorption and degradation of the two common groundwater contaminants (PFOA and PFOS) on electrically-polarized multiwalled carbon nanotubes/polyamide composite nanofiltration membranes under batch and cross-flow conditions was described. The effects of surface charge and electric polarization on the contaminant sorption and degradation at pH 7.0 and room temperature were studied. The PFOA and PFOS were quantified using HPLC tandem mass spectroscopy. The physical and chemical characteristics of composite membrane were characterized comprehensively using microscopy and spectroscopy techniques. The development of the composite NF membrane could potentially provide access to PFAS-free safe drinking water to the communities, create self-sustainability, environmental friendliness, compact and easy to operate, and generate new component to the local and global economy.