Evaluation and optimization of an innovative electrochemical technology for degradation of emergent contaminants from municipal wastewater

该研究项目是水技术中心（Cteau）和BioLargo Water Inc.之间的大学-行业合作。该项目将解决BioLargo Water在开发和优化其用于去除全氟和多氟烷基物质（PFAS）的创新电化学技术方面的具体技术需求。水溶液静电浓缩器（AEC）是一种新型的、突破性的技术，它结合了电化学和膜技术，可有效去除水中的PFAS。迄今为止，原子能委员会仅在地下水样品中检测了PFAS的去除情况。拟议工作的重点是扩大可以成功地用AEC处理的水源，包括MWW，从而为专注于最大限度地减少未来PFASs排放到环境中的行业提供新的解决方案。需要开展额外的研究活动，以更深入地了解受PFAS污染的MWW的反应堆性能、寿命和AEC的能源要求。为了回答这些问题，拟议的项目有三项活动。第一项活动旨在确定和评估Vaudreuil MWW处理厂入口和出口处的4种全氟辛烷磺酸化合物（全氟辛酸、全氟辛烷磺酸、全氟苯磺酸和全氟丁酸）的残留浓度。第二项活动将评估和优化使用AEC反应器从MWW中去除这四种PFAS化合物的效率。将确定最佳操作条件（电压、流速和通过次数）。在这项活动中，还将记录和研究经处理的废水与未经处理的废水的毒性。第三项活动将比较传统工艺（如GAC）和AEC，以确定处理强负载PFAS的MWW的最有效工艺，包括性能和成本。该项目将受益于电化学技术和紧急污染物分析相结合的独特专业知识，以及已经运作的研发基础设施，这是实现该项目目标的关键因素。

This research project is a college-industry collaboration between the Center of Water Technology (Cteau) and BioLargo Water Inc. The project will address specific technical needs of BioLargo Water related to the development and optimization of their innovative electrochemical technology for removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) . The Aqueous Electrostatic Concentrator (AEC) is a novel, disruptive technology combining electrochemistry and membrane technologies for efficient removal of PFAS from water. To date, PFAS removal by the AEC has only been examined in ground water samples. The focus of the proposed work is to expand the sources of water that can be successfully treated with the AEC to include MWW thereby providing a new solution to industries focused on minimizing future discharges of PFASs into the environment. Additional research activities are needed to provide a deeper understanding of reactor performance, lifetime and energy requirements of the AEC for PFAS contaminated MWW. To answer these questions, the proposed project has three activities. The first activity aims to determine and evaluate the residual concentration of 4 PFAS compounds, PFOA, PFOS, PFBS, and PFBA, at the inlet and outlet of the Vaudreuil MWW treatment plant. The second activity will evaluate and optimize the removal efficiency of these four PFAS compounds from MWW using the AEC reactor. Optimal operational conditions (voltage, flow rate, and number of passes) will be identified. The toxicity of treated versus untreated effluents will also be documented and studied in this activity. The third activity will compare conventional processes (such as GAC) to the AEC to determine the most effective process, in terms of both performance and cost, for treating MWW strongly loaded with PFAS. This project will benefit from a unique expertise combining electrochemical techniques and analysis of emergent contaminants, together with an already operational R&D infrastructure, an ingredient essential to the achievement of the objectives of this project.