Towards an Improved Understanding of Plastic Pollutant Generation and Minimization Processes for Cured-in-Place-Pipe Manufacture

水利基础设施对社区的安全和经济健康至关重要。恢复和维护供水和废水基础设施是该国面临的持续挑战。现场固化管道(CIPP)技术是修复埋地排水管道的一种常用方法。这在很大程度上是出于经济考虑，因为它的成本可以比其他修复方案低60%-80%。不幸的是，新塑料在受损管道内的就位和固化过程可能会将有害物质释放到空气中。这些泄漏已导致暴露、疾病和至少一名工人死亡，其中化学品暴露是一个重要的促成因素。本研究的总体目标是通过了解化学挥发的机理来减少CIPP的化学挥发。这一目标将通过具体的研究目标来实现，这些目标旨在：i)确定在各种固化技术下控制化学排放的因素，ii)检查注入蒸汽以产生CIPP如何影响排放的化学物质的分布，以及iii)估计过程中的改变可能导致的毒性降低。这项研究的成功完成将阐明制造过程如何影响CIPP的化学品排放。监管机构、公共卫生专业人员和其他利益相关者可以利用这些信息来制定政策和指导方针，以最大限度地减少污染物排放并保护公众健康。这将通过利益攸关方的直接参与来促进，以传播项目结果并加速行业采用。为社会带来更多好处的还有一个培训模块，以帮助用户群体就使用CIPP进行废水管道升级做出决定。目前正在使用CIPP技术修复下水道，在现有受损管道内就地制造新的塑料衬里。CIPP的使用已记录了数十起化学品暴露事件。CIPP的气体排放是一种挥发性和半挥发性有机化合物的复杂混合物，已知对人类和生态健康构成重大风险。然而，减少这类排放的根本机制和方法一直相对研究不足。这项研究的总体目标是阐明CIPP排放的机制，以达到减少污染和保护健康的目标。为实现这一目标而设计的具体目标是：i)确定使用各种固化技术控制各种CIPP配方的化学排放分布和大小的因素，ii)探索注入蒸汽如何影响排放的化学品的大小和分布，以及iii)研究空气暴露和减排控制措施导致的相关毒性减少。这项研究的成功完成将产生防止排放和保护人类健康所急需的数据。研究结果通过提供有关树脂、引发剂和蒸汽固化对污染物排放的作用的基础知识，有可能改变CIPP行业和更广泛的塑料复合材料行业。这项研究直接针对国家科学、工程和医学研究院的多项重大挑战，重点关注恢复基础设施、可持续供水、建设健康城市和减少污染。该奖项反映了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。

Water infrastructure is critical to the safety and economic health of communities. The restoration and maintenance of water supply and wastewater infrastructure are ongoing challenges for the Nation. Cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) technology is a popular method for repairing buried sewer pipes. This is due in large part to economic considerations, as it can be 60-80% less costly than other repair alternatives. Unfortunately, the process of emplacement and curing of new plastic inside the damaged pipe can release hazardous materials into the air. These releases have resulted in exposures, illnesses, and at least one fatality of a worker where chemical exposure was a significant contributing factor. The overall goal of this research is to reduce chemical volatilization from CIPP by understanding mechanisms of chemical volatilization. This goal will be achieved through specific research objectives designed to: i) determine the factors that control chemical emission under various curing techniques, ii) examine how injecting steam to create the CIPP impacts the distribution of emitted chemicals, and iii) estimate the toxicity reductions that could result from alterations in the process. Successful completion of this research will clarify how manufacturing processes influence the emission of chemicals from CIPP. This information can be used by regulators, public health professionals, and other stakeholders to develop policies and guidelines to minimize pollutant release and protect public health. This will be facilitated through direct engagement of stakeholders to disseminate the project findings and accelerate industry adoption. Further benefits to society result from a training module to assist user groups in making decisions regarding the use of CIPP for wastewater pipe upgrades.Sewer pipes are being repaired using CIPP technology to create a new plastic liner inside existing damaged pipes in situ. Dozens of chemical exposure incidents have been documented from CIPP utilization. Gaseous releases from CIPP are a complex mixture of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds that are known to pose significant risks to human and ecological health. However, the underlying mechanisms and ways to reduce such emissions has been relatively understudied. The overall aim of this research is to elucidate mechanisms of CIPP emissions towards the goal of reducing pollution and protecting health. Specific objectives designed to achieve this goal are to: i) identify factors that control chemical emission distribution and magnitude for various CIPP formulations using various curing techniques, ii) explore how injected steam impacts the magnitude and distribution of emitted chemicals, and iii) study air exposure and associated toxicity reductions resulting from emission reduction control measures. Successful completion of this research will produce urgently needed data to prevent emissions and protect human health. Results have potential to transform the CIPP industry and broader plastic composites sector by providing fundamental knowledge on the roles resin, initiators, and steam curing have on pollutant emissions. This research directly addresses multiple National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine grand challenges focused on restoring infrastructure, sustainably supplying water, building healthy cities, and reducing pollution.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.