Detecting and treating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Canadian water systems

检测和处理加拿大水系统中的全氟烷基物质和多氟烷基物质 (PFAS)

• 批准号: 571095-2021
• 负责人: Hopkins, ScottWS
• 金额: $ 26.07万
• 依托单位: University of Waterloo
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Alliance Grants
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=747445
• 关键词: Detecting; treating; per; polyfluoroalkyl; substances

On 24 April 2021, the Canadian Federal government issued a "Notice of intent to address the broad class of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)". PFAS are an emerging class of environmental contaminants, which have unknown human health effects and for which traditional methods treatment are ineffective. The United States Environmental Protection Agency lists more than 4,700 PFAS molecules in their toxicity database, but standard analytical methods have been published for only a handful of these species (e.g., the EPA has reported methods for the determination of 18 PFAS in drinking water). Professors Hopkins (University of Waterloo) and Berruti (Western University) have partnered with USP Technologies, Brown and Caldwell, the Ontario Clean Water Agency, and seven regional water supply systems in Ontario to address the presence of and treatment of PFAS in water supplies. The partnering facilities provide water and wastewater services to more than 2.5 million Canadians. Prof. Hopkins will direct research concerned with detecting trace amounts of PFAS in water and biosolid samples using ion mobility spectrometry and mass spectrometry. Following data acquisition, Hopkins will oversee the development of machine learning models to predict the physicochemical properties of PFAS and the transformation products yielded by the treatment processes. Prof. Berruti will direct research concerned with destruction of PFAS in biosolids via pyrolysis, and in water via VUV treatment in collaboration with Dr. Domenico Santoro from USP Technologies Inc. This research will determine which PFAS are present in Ontario waters, determine the chemical and physical processes underpinning treatment technologies, and provide key information to inform Canadian water systems of potential PFAS contaminants and treatment options.

2021年4月24日，加拿大联邦政府发布了一份“关于处理全氟烷基和多氟烷基物质（PFAS）大类的意向书”。全氟磺酸钠是一类新兴的环境污染物，对人类健康的影响尚不清楚，传统的治疗方法对其无效。美国环境保护署在其毒性数据库中列出了4700多种PFAS分子，但仅公布了其中少数几种的标准分析方法（例如，环境保护署报告了饮用水中18种PFAS的测定方法）。霍普金斯教授（滑铁卢大学）和Berruti教授（西部大学）与USP技术公司、布朗和考德威尔公司、安大略省清洁水局以及安大略省的七个地区供水系统合作，解决供水中PFAS的存在和处理问题。这些合作设施为250多万加拿大人提供水和污水处理服务。霍普金斯教授将指导有关使用离子迁移率光谱法和质谱法检测水和生物固体样品中痕量PFAS的研究。在获取数据后，Hopkins将监督机器学习模型的开发，以预测PFAS的物理化学性质以及处理过程产生的转化产物。Berruti教授将与USP Technologies Inc.的Domenico Santoro博士合作，指导有关通过热解和VUV处理在生物固体中破坏PFAS的研究。这项研究将确定安大略省水域中存在哪些PFAS，确定基础处理技术的化学和物理过程，并提供关键信息，告知加拿大水系统潜在的PFAS污染物和处理方案。