This $499,988 Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) seeks to develop and validate an integrated sorption-photocatalytic process for the ex-situ treatment and remediation of groundwater contaminated by mixtures of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and chlorinated solvents like trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE). The principal investigator and research team at Southern Illinois University Carbondale will design, evaluate, and optimize a two-phase dark-light reactor that utilizes nanomaterials to first sorb PFAS and partially destroy TCE/PCE, then expose the nanomaterials to UV light to fully degrade the remaining contaminants. The project includes bench-scale lab studies to assess environmental factors impacting the reactor's efficiency, as well as pilot field studies to evaluate and optimize the technology's effectiveness for full-scale groundwater remediation. This research aims to advance the development of sustainable treatment solutions for the growing challenge of commingled PFAS and chlorinated solvent contamination in groundwater aquifers.
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