The objective of this project was to evaluate the removal of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) from water through various oxidation and adsorption treatment methods. PFOA is a fluorosurfactant and is found in many firefighting foams. Even though the manufacture of PFOA has declined over the past few years due to its persistence in water and toxicity, there are still traces of PFOA in numerous water bodies. Treatment by chemical oxidation was performed with dichromate, calcium hypochlorite, sodium persulfate, potassium permanganate, potassium ferrate, and UV light. Adsorption with granular activated carbon and zeolites was also attempted. Adsorption proved to be a successful and promising technique for removing PFOA from water compared to oxidation.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Mullen, Julie A.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-043012-114751

Advisor

• Krueger, Robert
• Bergendahl, John Andrew

Year

• 2012

Date created

• 2012-04-30

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Interdisciplinary

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2021-01-27