Sbir phase II: next-generation deep ultraviolet photochemical reactor

The National Science Foundation awarded Water Illumination Inc. a cooperative agreement totaling $1,239,973 on August 1, 2026, under the NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships program (CFDA 47.084) to design, optimize, and validate a next-generation deep ultraviolet photochemical reactor for destroying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water without requiring additional chemicals or producing harmful byproducts.

The award funds four core technical objectives: designing a DUV reactor with optimized photon distribution and compact footprint; enhancing mixing regimes to overcome mass transfer limitations and mitigate interference from matrix constituents; executing pilot-scale testing under real-world conditions; and developing engineering design strategies for modular scale-up to municipal-level capacities. The work integrates reactor engineering, experimental validation, and high-resolution chemical analysis to quantify degradation kinetics and transformation products across variable water matrices.

Water Illumination Inc., a minority-owned, woman-owned small business, is the recipient. The cooperative agreement runs from August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2028, with place of performance in Lake Forest, California. The project aims to lower treatment costs, simplify operations, and enhance efficiency while fostering strategic industry partnerships to enable nationwide deployment of the technology.

Abstract

The broader/commercial impact of this small business innovation research (sbir) phase II project is developing an innovative light-based process designed to degrade PFAS without requiring additional chemicals or producing harmful byproducts. The proposed technology aims to lower costs, simplify operations, and enhance treatment efficiency. Furthermore, the project fosters strategic industry partnerships to ensure these practical solutions can be deployed effectively nationwide. This project proposes an innovative, high-risk approach utilizing deep ultraviolet (DUV) photolysis. The primary technical challenge lies in scaling this photochemical process into a continuous, energy-efficient system capable of maintaining high destruction efficiencies at commercially relevant flow rates. The project scope encompasses the design, optimization, and validation of a next-generation flow-through UV reactor, with a core intellectual contribution involving the integration of advanced photochemistry, fluid dynamics, and reactor engineering to enhance mass transfer and minimize energy consumption across variable water matrices. The research is structured around four technical objectives: designing a DUV reactor with optimized photon distribution and a compact footprint; enhancing mixing regimes to overcome mass transfer limitations and mitigate interference from matrix constituents; executing pilot-scale testing to evaluate performance under real-world conditions; and developing engineering design strategies for modular scale-up to municipal-level capacities. The methodology integrates reactor engineering, experimental validation, and high-resolution chemical analysis to quantify degradation kinetics and transformation products. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.