Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) define a large group of non-biodegradable fluorinated organic compounds that have garnered widespread attention because of mounting evidence of their ubiquity, prevalence in drinking waters and wastewaters, and potential negative health effects. Variations of the PFAS group are currently found all over the country and over 40,000 U.S. locations are known to emit PFAS into the air through industrial processes. PFAS are a growing challenge to the environment and the economy, especially concerning the complexities of treating PFAS in water and the significant costs of treatment. In this research, a novel treatment approach using adsorption to treated glass spheres was developed to remove PFOA from water. The effect of divalent cations on adsorption effectiveness was evaluated with the bench scale testing.

• 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

• McKenna, Patrick
• Goggin, Madeline
• Raymond, Nathan
• Elwell, Max

Subject

• Well-Being
• Environment
• Water
• Community
• Project-Based Learning
• Health

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042524-103749
• 121664

Advisor

• Kmiotek, Stephen J.
• Bergendahl, John Andrew

Year

• 2024

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 3 - Good Health and Well-being
• 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation

Date created

• 2024-04-25

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Civil Engineering
• Chemical Engineering

Source

• E-project-042524-103749

Rights statement

• In Copyright