SBIR Phase I: A Cost-Effective Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS_ Electrolyzer for Groundwater Remediation

小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目的更广泛影响是安全、成本效益高地消除地下水中的全氟烷基物质和多氟烷基物质，以保护人类健康和环境，同时降低补救的成本和复杂性。全氟辛烷磺酸是世界上最难处理的污染物之一，已经污染了美国和世界各地的地下水和饮用水水源。全氟辛烷磺酸的毒性、流动性和生物累积需要进行补救，因为它们对人类健康造成了一系列不利影响。地下水中的PFAS不能通过传统的化学过程分解；因此，目前的PFAS处理方案是非破坏性的、昂贵的，只是将PFAS转移到固体或浓缩的废物流中，在那里处置的有效性和安全性仍然不确定。该项目的重点是开发一种低成本、可持续的处理方法，在不产生二次废物和不使用昂贵消耗品的情况下消除全氟辛烷磺酸。这项技术消除了与不完全消除和二次废物处置相关的责任以及环境和健康风险。该SBIR第一阶段项目的目标是开发一种安全、不含化学物质和低成本的PFAS电解槽，用于地下水修复。该电解槽由具有去极化阴极和高比表面积的低成本阳极电催化剂材料的分割径向场单元电池结构组成。电催化剂旨在提供高压下的直接氧化，处理过程将在几分钟内一步实现全氟辛烷磺酸的矿化，没有分解副产品或二次废物。将设计和建造一种可扩展的单电池台式电解槽，用于测试受PFAS污染的地下水的可处理性。将优化阳极电催化剂材料组成，并将其涂覆在高比表面积衬底上。将开发一种去极化阴极，以消除阴极回路和氢气生成，并降低能耗。PFAS的矿化效果将作为运行参数和水质的函数来衡量。对新型负极材料的电催化性能和降解机理进行了研究。利用实验结果，将估计地下水修复系统的资本和运营成本。这一奖励反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in providing safe, cost-effective elimination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from groundwater in order to protect human health and the environment while reducing the cost and complexity of remediation. PFAS are some of the world’s most intractable pollutants and have contaminated groundwater and drinking water sources across the US and the world. The toxicity, mobility, and bioaccumulation of PFAS pose a need for remediation as they cause an array of adverse impacts on human health. PFAS in groundwater cannot be broken down through traditional chemical processes; Hence, current PFAS treatment options are non-destructive, expensive, and simply transfer the PFAS to a solid or concentrated waste stream where the efficacy and safety of disposal are still uncertain. This project focuses on the development of a low cost, sustainable treatment method that eliminates PFAS with no secondary waste generation and no costly consumables. This technology removes the liability and environmental and health risks associated with incomplete elimination and secondary waste disposal.The objective of this SBIR Phase 1 project is to develop a safe, chemical-free and low cost PFAS electrolyzer for groundwater remediation. The electrolyzer consists of a divided radial-field unit cell architecture with a de-polarized cathode and a high surface area and low-cost anode electrocatalyst material. The electrocatalyst is designed to provide direct oxidation at high voltage and the treatment process will mineralize PFAS in a single step, in minutes, with no breakdown byproducts or secondary waste. A scalable, single unit cell bench-top electrolyzer will be designed and built for treatability testing of PFAS-contaminated groundwater. The anode electrocatalyst material composition will be optimized and coated onto high surface area substrates. A de-polarized cathode will be developed to eliminate the catholyte loop and hydrogen generation, and lower energy consumption. The PFAS mineralization effectiveness will be measured as a function of operating parameters and water quality. The electrocatalytic performance and the degradation mechanism of the new anode material will be determined. Using the experimental results, the capital and operating cost of a groundwater remediation system will be estimated.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.