CAREER: Transformation potential of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water distribution systems

职业：全氟烷基物质和多氟烷基物质 (PFAS) 在饮用水分配系统中的转化潜力

• 批准号: 2338480
• 负责人: Kirin Furst
• 金额: $ 55万
• 依托单位: George Mason University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2024-03-01 至 2029-02-28
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2338480&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Transformation; potential; per; polyfluoroalkyl

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are fluorinated organic chemical contaminants that are commonly referred to as forever chemicals due to their persistence, stability, and resistance to natural environmental degradation processes. During the last two decades, PFAS have been increasingly detected in surface water systems (lakes and rivers) and groundwater aquifers which serve as sources of drinking water for many communities throughout the United States. In addition, many PFAS can be transformed through abiotic and biotic pathways in natural and engineered water systems to produce toxic perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). There is a critical need for new data and knowledge to advance the fundamental understanding of the fate, transport, and reactivity of PFAS in drinking water systems. The overarching goal of this CAREER project is to investigate and evaluate the abiotic and biotic transformations of PFAS in drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) as the treated water transits through the distribution systems to customers’ taps. To advance this goal, the Principal Investigator proposes to integrate field studies of PFAS transformations in selected DWDS with controlled laboratory and pilot scale experiments. The successful completion of this project will benefit society through the generation of new data and fundamental knowledge to advance the design of engineering solutions and policy recommendations to address and mitigate PFAS drinking water contamination. Additional benefits to society will be achieved through student education and training including the mentoring of two graduate students at George Mason University. Many drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) exhibit environmental conditions comparable to those of natural aquatic systems in which the transformations of PFAS compounds and precursors to toxic perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), have been observed. In addition, the components of DWDS (e.g., pipes, tanks, and water towers) can serve as substrates for the accumulation of scales/sediments and the formation of biofilms that cause/catalyze the abiotic/biotic transformations of dissolved contaminants in these systems. This CAREER project will test the hypothesis that PFAS transformations in DWDS are primarily mediated by the biotic transformations of PFAS compounds and precursors that accumulate in their scales and sediment biofilms. To test this hypothesis, the Principal Investigator (PI) proposes to evaluate and characterize the chemical and microbial processes controlling PFAS transformations in DWDS with a focus on storage facilities in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The specific objectives of the research are to 1) investigate PFAS partitioning and transformations in drinking water storage facilities and develop methods and infrastructure for the design of controlled experiments to generate fundamental insights; 2) evaluate the effects of storage tank/sediment materials and environmental parameters on PFAS partitioning and transformations in drinking water storage facilities; and 3) evaluate the effect of treatment residuals on PFAS transformations in the biofilms of drinking water storage facilities. The successful completion of this project has the potential for transformative impact through the generation of new fundamental knowledge to advance the design and implementation of engineering solutions to minimize and mitigate PFAS contamination in drinking water storage facilities and distribution systems. To implement the educational and outreach activities of this CAREER project, the PI proposes to leverage existing programs and resources at George Mason University (GMU) to carry out curricular research on chemistry education to support learning and success for community college transfer, non-traditional and traditional students in environmental engineering (EE). More specifically, the PI proposes to 1) investigate the impact of student chemistry preparation, attitudes, and demographics on performance and interest in EE); 2) evaluate correlations between student performance in chemistry and mastery of concepts in introductory EE courses; and 3) use the knowledge gained from this research to design lessons to remediate student chemistry preparation gaps and prepare students for the successful completion of EE undergraduate education at GMU.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.

全氟烷基和多氟烷基物质（PFAS）是氟化有机化学污染物，由于其持久性，稳定性和对自然环境降解过程的抗性，通常被称为永久化学品。在过去的二十年中，PFAS越来越多地在地表水系统（湖泊和河流）和地下水含水层中被检测到，这些含水层是美国许多社区的饮用水来源。此外，许多PFAS可以通过自然和工程水系统中的非生物和生物途径转化，产生有毒的全氟烷基酸（PFAAs），包括全氟辛酸（PFOA）。迫切需要新的数据和知识，以促进对PFAS在饮用水系统中的命运，运输和反应性的基本了解。这个CAREER项目的总体目标是调查和评估PFAS在饮用水分配系统（DWDS）中的非生物和生物转化，因为处理过的水通过分配系统输送到客户的水龙头。为了推进这一目标，主要研究者建议将选定DWDS中PFAS转化的实地研究与受控实验室和中试规模实验相结合。该项目的成功完成将通过产生新的数据和基础知识来促进工程解决方案和政策建议的设计，以解决和减轻PFAS饮用水污染，从而造福社会。通过学生教育和培训，包括指导乔治梅森大学的两名研究生，将为社会带来更多好处。许多饮用水配水系统（DWDS）的环境条件与天然水生系统相当，其中PFAS化合物和前体转化为有毒的全氟烷基酸（PFAAs），包括全氟辛酸（PFOA），已被观察到。此外，DWDS的组件（例如，管道、罐和水塔）可以用作水垢/沉积物的积累和生物膜的形成的基质，所述生物膜引起/催化这些系统中溶解的污染物的非生物/生物转化。该CAREER项目将测试DWDS中PFAS转化主要由PFAS化合物和前体在其尺度和沉积物生物膜中积累的生物转化介导的假设。为了验证这一假设，主要研究者（PI）建议评价和表征控制DWDS中PFAS转化的化学和微生物过程，重点关注美国大西洋中部地区的储存设施。本研究的具体目标是：1）调查饮用水储存设施中PFAS的分配和转化，并开发控制实验设计的方法和基础设施，以产生基本的见解; 2）评估储存罐/沉积物材料和环境参数对饮用水储存设施中PFAS分配和转化的影响;评价处理残留物对饮用水储存设施生物膜中PFAS转化的影响。该项目的成功完成有可能通过产生新的基础知识来推动工程解决方案的设计和实施，从而最大限度地减少和减轻饮用水储存设施和分配系统中的PFAS污染，从而产生变革性影响。为了实施该职业项目的教育和推广活动，PI建议利用乔治梅森大学（GMU）的现有计划和资源，开展化学教育课程研究，以支持社区学院转学，非传统和传统学生在环境工程（EE）中的学习和成功。更具体地说，PI建议1）调查学生化学准备、态度和人口统计学对EE表现和兴趣的影响; 2）评估学生化学表现与EE入门课程概念掌握之间的相关性;和3）使用从本研究中获得的知识来设计课程，以弥补学生化学准备的差距，并为学生的成功完成做好准备该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。