Discipline: Ecology Environmental and Earth Sciences
Subcategory: Water
Emily H. Daniels - College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Co-Author(s): Dinusha Siriwardena, Thomas Holsen, and Michelle Crimi, Clarkson University Christopher Bellona, Colorado School of Mines
There is evidence showing that human activities have resulted in the ubiquitous contamination of the environment with perfluorochemicals (PFCs). The purpose of this research is to assist in the development a predictable and low cost in situ treatment train for remediating PFC contaminated groundwater. The treatment train involves first the sorption of onto granular activated carbon (GAC), followed by treatment and regeneration of the GAC using activated persulfate. The sorption capacity for PFCs tested to date include: Jacobi Carbon (type 6), F400 Carbon (type 4), and Coconut based carbons (type 7). In this research the impact of pretreatment of these carbons with HCl, NaOH, and hydrogen peroxide catalyzed with Fe(III) on their sorption capacity was investigated. It was found that the sorption of PFHxS and PFOA depended upon the concentration of the wastewater, the type of AC used, and the pretreatment methods. Of the methods tested, NaOH was the most effective (as hypothesized) for increasing the sorption capacity of the carbons.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program Environmental Security Technology Certification Program. Thank you to the CUPO Clarkson Program this summer for sponsoring my research and allowing me to find the mentor right for me, and supporting me through the summer with graduated school preparation, fun experiences every weekend, and a new experience. Thank you to Dinusha Siriwardena, Michele Crimi, Thomas Holsen, and Christopher Bellona for mentoring me through this research and being available when I needed assistance the most.
Faculty Advisor: Thomas Holsen,