Novel clay mineral-based technologies for the treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances-impacted matrices

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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are among the main contaminants of concern at thousands of contaminated sites in Canada and the United States and also among the most challenging pollutants to remediate. Efficient and sustainable remediation technologies are urgently needed for mobile PFAS and those retained by soils, rocks or solid surfaces. We propose to apply a systemic view to the PFAS contamination problem from source to plume and suggest developing a modular treatment train based on natural and modified clay minerals. For the treatment train, we will develop innovative, cost-effective, and sustainable approaches for in-situ and ex-situ treatment of PFAS-impacted ground- and surface water, soil, and sediment. Our objectives are (1) to develop a new treatment process that uses reactive and self-regenerating Fe-containing clay minerals for in-situ remediation of contaminant source zones via radical-accelerated PFAS degradation, and (2) to further develop and evaluate modified bentonite adsorbents for the removal of mobile/mobilized PFASs in challenging water matrices. The team will build upon preliminary data and years of experience in PFAS and clay mineral research to develop the mechanistic process understanding for future applications of clay minerals for modular in-situ and ex-situ treatment of PFAS. Our treatment train targets the source of contamination and will therefore provide a clear endpoint for clean-up operations, which enables cost predictions and environmental impact assessments. When practical and sustainable PFAS treatment solutions are identified and well developed, there will be thousands of sites where the solutions could be applied. These upcoming remediation projects will energize Canada's economy through engineering, technology development, environmental remediation and water/wastewater treatment market. Federal government departments, municipalities and private corporations most affected by the PFAS crisis to may redirect investments currently used to fund inefficient PFAS treatments to business initiatives that would greatly benefit to the Canadian economy.