A chemical-free UV light-driven PFAS destruction technology to treat nontraditional water resources for agricultural irrigation

USDA SBIR Phase I Topic 8.4 PROJECT SUMMARY Title of Project: A chemical-free UV light-driven PFAS destruction technology to treat nontraditional water resources for agricultural irrigation PD Yu Xuejun Company: Water Illumination Inc. This project aims to demonstrate the technical feasibility towards commercializing an innovative photochemical technology to destruct PFAS from recycled wastewater effluent for agricultural irrigation. The project addresses pressing global contamination risks of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - also known as "forever chemicals" - in nontraditional irrigation water resources e.g. municipal wastewater effluent in water reuse scenarios through a novel destruction technology. The ability to completely destroy PFAS in ambient environment using chemical-free UV light without generating secondary waste or toxic byproducts will facilitate new and commercially viable technologies to mitigate PFAS and enable cost-effective nontraditional water reuse for crop production. The fundamental scientific basis was discovered by the project academic partner at UC Riverside and has led to a pending worldwide patent. The overarching goal is to demonstrate the technical feasibility as a basis for an effective scalable PFAS destruction solution for agricultural irrigation water treatment supported by two major tasks: (1) Optimize UV intensity and tuning gas bubbles of the technology to maximize PFAS destruction kinetics in nontraditional irrigation water; and (2) Evaluate PFAS degradation kinetics in a small-scale flow-through reactor and design a full- scale decentralized system for field applications in agricultural sector. The project team will establish a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with USDA Salinity Laboratory in Riverside Calif. The project directly addresses the Program Area Priorities on water quantity and quality and conservation of natural resources. It will improve agriculture sustainability and health by developing an innovative PFAS treatment for non-traditional water irrigation and water reuse. Water Illumination Inc. 1 USDA SBIR Phase I