Engineering Commons^™

Enhanced Removal Of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (Pfoa) Via Microwave-Fenton-Reactive Membrane Filtration, Fangzhou Liu

Theses

Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), one of the common per- and poly fluorinated alkylated substances (PFASs), is increasingly detected in the environment due to the diverse industrial applications and high resistance to degradation processes. This study evaluated degradation of PFOA in microwave-assistant catalytic membrane filtration, a process that integrates microwave catalytic reactions into a ceramic membrane filtration. First, water permeation of the pristine and catalyst-coated membranes were examined under the influence of microwave irradiation to analyse the impacts of the coating layer and water temperature increase on permeate flux, which were well interpreted by three models. Then, the PFOA removal was first …

Does Circularizing Source-Separated Food Waste Present A Risk To Our Food?, Astha Thakali

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

About a third of the food produced annually is wasted. Food waste recycling can be a way to close the loop and attain a more sustainable food system, however, the system must be carefully monitored and managed to avoid the introduction and build-up of contaminants. To study the potential presence of contaminants in food waste, source-separated food waste was collected and screened for five classes of contaminants (physical contaminants, heavy metals, halogenated organic contaminants, pathogens, and antibiotic resistance genes) from two separate regulatory environments (voluntary vs mandated food separation). The regulatory environment did not affect the level of contamination, except …

Smouldering Combustion Treatment Of Soils And Granular Activated Carbon Contaminated With Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, Alexandra L. Duchesne

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are emerging contaminants, ubiquitous in the environment, and are challenging to remediate. Self-sustaining Treatment for Active Remediation (STAR) destroys organic contaminants embedded in porous media using smouldering combustion. Self-sustaining smouldering conditions allow the reaction to propagate through the contaminated media without external energy. This study explored STAR as a remediation option for PFAS-impacted granular activated carbon (GAC) and PFAS-contaminated soil. Three smouldering mixtures were used (i) PFAS-spiked GAC and sand, (ii) PFAS-spiked soil and GAC, (iii) PFAS-contaminated field site soil and GAC. Smouldering temperatures were greater than 900˚C, destroying the GAC. Post-treatment PFAS concentrations of …

Pfas Removals And Increases In The Effluent Of Thirteen New Hampshire Wastewater Treatment Facilities Due To The Effects Of Biological Treatment Processes, Zachary P. Harvell

Honors Theses and Capstones

PROPOSAL/ABSTRACT:

Perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are an emerging contaminant of concern in environmental engineering. This group of chemicals has been used by manufacturers since the 1940s due to their desirable waterproofing qualities. They also have a high chemical stability at high temperatures, which makes treatment difficult. A large variety of manufactured items contain PFAS, such as fabrics and apparel, non-stick items, and food wrappers. Recently, these compounds have come under question due to studies supporting harmful health effects, such as low birthweight, cancer, thyroid hormone disruption, and a weakened immune system. Due to their chemical structure, PFAS compounds are difficult …