This Project Grant award from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under the Assistance to State Water Resources Research Institutes program (CFDA 15.805) provides $620,000 in funding to Colorado State University to conduct research on the fate and transformation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) precursors in surface water environments influenced by daily (diel) cycles.
The key objectives are to: 1) Identify PFAS precursor presence, fate, and transport in a field-scale diatom-based constructed wetland; 2) Discern the influence of diel cycling on targeted precursor transformation rates and products through lab studies, analytics, and molecular modeling; and 3) Evaluate the biogeochemical drivers of precursor transformation. Expected outputs include a USGS PFAS mass spectrometry library and training of interdisciplinary scientists to address PFAS challenges. The research aims to inform remediation strategies and understanding of PFAS fate in surface waters like wetlands, rice paddies, and shallow ponds.