Research Projects

Per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) are manmade chemicals developed in the early 1940s, commonly used in various industries. Their unique properties, such as greater water solubility and resistance to biodegradation, make them a "Forever chemicals." The long-range transport ability and bioaccumulation in fish and other organisms necessitate the remediation of PFAs from natural ecosystems. The average concentration of PFAs in groundwater ranges from 1 to 4300 µg/L, while in wastewater, it can reach up to 100 ng/L. PFAs can cause severe health issues, including kidney disorders, endocrine disruptions, cancer, asthma, neurotoxicity, low birth weight, and obesity. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets PFAs threshold values at 70 ng/L for drinking water. Conventional wastewater treatment systems are inefficient in PFAs remediation, and membrane bioreactors are inefficient. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) can mineralize PFAs into carbon dioxide and water, but no single treatment is efficient. Comprehensive research is needed to remediate the chemical toxicity of PFAs from the environment by integrating different AOPs. Photocatalysis, a widely used technology for remediating organic and inorganic pollutants, is proposed as a novel integrated sonophotocatalysis with a sulfate-based oxidation process for the reclamation of PFAs in wastewater.