Faradaic electrochemically-mediated processes for micropollutant remediation

微污染物是对人类和水生生物健康造成危害的化合物，由于其稳定性，它们在环境中具有持久性。 这类化合物的一些例子包括药品、杀虫剂和家用产品中存在的许多化学品。 微污染物通常以非常小的浓度存在于水中，这使得它们难以通过传统的水处理工艺去除。 电化学处理是一种可能更有效地去除微污染物且不产生废物的方法。然而，有两个主要障碍阻碍了这项技术的广泛应用。 首先，这种方法在捕获和去除微污染物方面缺乏选择性。其次，电化学处理通常需要高能量输入。该研究项目的目标是开发更具选择性的电化学驱动的微污染物去除系统，具有较低的相关能源成本。 作为该项目的一部分，研究小组将在芝加哥K-8特许学校进行教育推广，并开发工具，用于对中学生对相关科学知识的理解进行形成性评估。 此外，研究人员还将电化学水处理案例纳入新的本科生选修课程，以培养下一代水处理专业人才。 这些教育目标将与提案中开展的研究密切相关，以利用智力优势和更广泛的社会影响。 该项目的成果将增加STEM的参与，并更好地为下一代领导人做好准备，以改善我们国家的水安全。本研究项目的目的是开发一种电化学介导的系统，在低过电位下选择性地去除微污染物。 从水中去除微污染物是一个持续的挑战，因为它们在环境中具有高度的化学稳定性和持久性。 此外，微污染物的电化学降解的基本机制和化学途径在很大程度上仍然未被探索。 所提出的系统是基于功能化的法拉第电极，具有高离子选择性和快速的电子转移性能内的水稳定性窗口。 在该项目中，研究人员将探索法拉第（氧化还原活性）电极对选定微污染物的去除和转化的有效性，并将使用转化产物分析来阐明离子选择性和电化学降解的机制。 研究人员还将开发一个连续流系统和参数模型，以便对该过程进行比较技术经济分析。 待研究的微污染物包括重金属含氧阴离子、药物和亚硝胺前体以及全氟烷基和多氟烷基物质（PFAS）。这项研究的成果预计将导致新的见解法拉第过程中的作用，微污染物降解，并可能导致一个实用的处理技术。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过评估使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准的支持。

Micropollutants are chemical compounds that can cause harm to human and aquatic health, and due to their stability, they are persistent in the environment. A few examples of such compounds include pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and many chemicals present in household products. Micropollutants are often found in water at very small concentrations, which makes them difficult to remove via conventional water treatment processes. Electrochemical treatment is a method that potentially can remove micropollutants more effectively and without generating waste. However, there are two major barriers preventing this technology from being deployed more widely. First has been the lack of selectivity for this method in capturing and removing micropollutants. Second is that electrochemical treatment typically requires high energy inputs. The objective of this research project is to develop more selective electrochemically-driven micropollutant removal systems that have lower associated energy costs. As part of this project the research team will undertake educational outreach at a Chicago K-8 charter school and develop tools for the formative assessment of middle schooler's understanding of relevant scientific knowledge. In addition, the researchers will incorporate electrochemical water treatment cases into a new undergraduate elective course to train the next generation of water treatment professionals. These educational aims will be closely aligned to the research carried out in the proposal to leverage intellectual merit and broader societal impacts. The results of this project will increase STEM engagement and better prepare the next generation of leaders to improve our nation's water security. The objective of this research project is to develop an electrochemically-mediated system that selectively removes micropollutants at low overpotentials. The removal of micropollutants from water is an ongoing challenge due to their high chemical stability and persistence in the environment. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms and chemical pathways of the electrochemical degradation of micropollutants remain largely unexplored. The proposed system is based on functionalized Faradaic electrodes that have high ion selectivity and fast electron-transfer properties within the aqueous stability window. During this project the researchers will explore the effectiveness of Faradaic (redox-active) electrodes for the removal and conversion of selected micropollutants and will use transformation product analysis to elucidate mechanisms for ion-selectivity and electrochemical degradation. The researchers also will develop a continuous flow system and parametric model to enable a comparative technoeconomic analysis of the process. Micropollutants to be studied include heavy metal oxyanions, pharmaceutical and nitrosamine precursors, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The outcomes of this research are expected to lead to new insights into the role of Faradaic processes for micropollutant degradation and potentially lead to a practical treatment technology.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.