Anion Exchange Resin and Inorganic Anion Parameter Determination for Model Validation and Evaluation of Unintended Consequences during PFAS Treatment.

When implementing anion exchange (AEX) for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances treatment, temporal drinking water quality changes from concurrent inorganic anion (IA) removal can create unintended consequences (e.g., corrosion control impacts).

Riparian Spiders: Sentinels of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxin and Dibenzofuran-Contaminated Sediment.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDD/F) are persistent, toxic, and bioaccumulative. Currently, PCDD/F monitoring programs primarily use fish and birds with potentially large home ranges to monitor temporal trends over broad spatial scales; sentinel organisms that provide targeted sediment contaminant information across small geographic areas have yet to be developed. Riparian orb-weaving spiders, which typically have small home ranges and consume primarily adult aquatic insects, are potential PCDD/F sentinels.

Practical implications of perfluoroalkyl substances adsorption on bottle materials: Isotherms.

To assess the practical implications of various bottle materials used in anion exchange (IX) or granular activated carbon (GAC) isotherm experiments, adsorption of seven per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) onto three common bottle materials (silanized glass, polypropylene, and high-density polyethylene [HDPE]) were screened. Results were similar between bottle materials; therefore, only HDPE was used in a detailed bottle material isotherm study with 11 PFAS. For each PFAS, an HDPE bottle isotherm was generated with equilibrium liquid phase concentrations relevant to drinking water (<2000 ng/L).

Developing innovative treatment technologies for PFAS-containing wastes.

The release of persistent per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into the environment is a major concern for the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA).

Supercritical Water Oxidation as an Innovative Technology for PFAS Destruction.

Water above 374 °C and 22.1 MPa, becomes supercritical, a special state where organic solubility increases and oxidation processes are accelerated. Supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) has been previously shown to destroy hazardous substances such as halogenated compounds.

Design and evaluation of degassed anaerobic membrane biofilm reactors for improved methane recovery.

Anaerobic treatment of domestic wastewater (DWW) produces dissolved methane that needs to be recovered for use as an energy product. Membrane-based recovery systems have been reported in the literature but are often limited by fouling. The objective of this study was to develop a methane producing biofilm on the shell side surface a membrane to allow for immediate recovery of methane as it was produced, negating mass transfer resistance caused by fouling.

Occurrence of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Source Water and Their Treatment in Drinking Water.

Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) occurrence in drinking water and treatment methods for their removal are reviewed. PFAS are fluorinated substances whose unique properties make them effective surface-active agents with uses ranging from stain repellants to fire-fighting foams. In response to concerns about drinking water contamination and health risks from PFAS exposure, the United States Environmental Protection Agency published Health Advisories (HAs) for perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid.

Energy and greenhouse gas life cycle assessment and cost analysis of aerobic and anaerobic membrane bioreactor systems: Influence of scale, population density, climate, and methane recovery.

This study calculated the energy and greenhouse gas life cycle and cost profiles of transitional aerobic membrane bioreactors (AeMBR) and anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBR). Membrane bioreactors (MBR) represent a promising technology for decentralized wastewater treatment and can produce recycled water to displace potable water. Energy recovery is possible with methane generated from AnMBRs.

Significance of dissolved methane in effluents of anaerobically treated low strength wastewater and potential for recovery as an energy product: A review.

The need for energy efficient Domestic Wastewater (DWW) treatment is increasing annually with population growth and expanding global energy demand. Anaerobic treatment of low strength DWW produces methane which can be used to as an energy product. Temperature sensitivity, low removal efficiencies (Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Suspended Solids (SS), and Nutrients), alkalinity demand, and potential greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have limited its application to warmer climates.

Interface Design Principles for High-Performance Organic Semiconductor Devices.

is demonstrated to suppress interface recombination in an organic photo-voltaic device. These strategies lead to a dramatic improvement in a model bilayer system and bulk-heterojunction system. These interface strategies are applicable to a wide variety of donor-acceptor systems, making them both fundamentally interesting and technologically relevant for achieving high efficiency organic electronic devices.