SBIR Phase I: A Tunable Deep Ultraviolet (UV)-based Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) Destruction Technology for Water Treatment

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目解决了饮用水资源中全氟烷基物质(PFAS)和多氟烷基物质(PFAS)的全球污染问题，这些物质也被称为“永久化学品”。这项技术旨在开发一种概念验证、成本效益高的技术，即使在非常低的水平上也能摧毁全氟辛烷磺酸化学品，并将其转化为无毒的。周围环境中的无害产品。最终，该项目团队的目标是提供更好的水可持续性，并保障公众健康。该项目通过促进美国公众的健康和福利，与美国创新和竞争力法案保持一致。这些影响的初步示范预计将在缺水和经济快速增长的南加州内陆地区感受到，无论是集中式水处理还是分散式水处理。这项工作的重点是开发一种高效和成本效益高的光化学处理系统，以销毁饮用水资源中的全氟辛烷磺酸。使用一种新型的可调深紫外光(也称为。真空紫外线或真空紫外线)，该技术旨在实现几乎完全销毁全氟辛烷磺酸，而不会在饮用水中产生二次废流或有毒副产品。真空紫外光是最容易获得和最有效的水电离光子源之一，因为它利用了丰富的水分子作为光子敏化剂，可以很容易地从普通的紫外灯产生，并且易于控制和操作。通过调节光源和其他良性化学物质，可以为高效销毁全氟辛烷磺酸创造一个高活性的环境，将水性全氟辛烷磺酸转化为无毒的氟化物。这项工作将结合化学动力学研究、先进的化学分析和与潜在客户合作的技术扩展。这一奖项反映了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。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project addresses the global contamination issues of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – also known as “forever chemicals” – in drinking water resources. The technology aims to develop a proof-of-concept, cost-effective technology that destroys PFAS chemicals even at very low levels and converts them to non-toxic. benign products in an ambient environment. Ultimately, the project team aims to provide improved water sustainability and safeguard public health. The project is aligned with the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act by advancing of the health and welfare of the American public. Initial demonstration of these impacts is expected to be felt in the water-scarce and economically fast-growing inland southern California region for both centralized and decentralized water treatment. This effort focusses on the development of a highly efficient and cost-effective photochemical treatment system for the destruction of PFAS in drinking water resources. Using a novel tunable deep ultraviolet light (a.k.a. vacuum ultraviolet or VUV), the technology aims to achieve nearly complete destruction of PFAS without generating secondary waste streams or toxic byproducts in drinking water. VUV light is one of the most accessible and efficient water ionization photon sources because it takes advantage of abundant water molecules as photon sensitizers, can be readily generated from common UV lamps, and is easy to control and operate. Tuning this light source in conjunction with other benign chemicals creates a highly reactive environment for efficient destruction of PFAS, converting waterborne PFAS into non-toxic fluoride. The effort will involve combination of chemical kinetics investigation, advanced chemical analysis, and technology scale-up in collaboration with potential customers.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.