Infrared sensor for screening of emerging contaminants in water

Project Summary/Abstract The goal of this project is to develop a sensor for monitoring of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water to help achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. PFAS have received particular attention in the past decade due to their persistent and bio-accumulative nature and high toxicity. The proposed sensor is based on infrared (IR) spectroscopy that incorporates advanced nano-scale adsorbent materials for pre-concentration of contaminants to achieve high selectivity and sensitivity. The proposed technology can be adapted for portable, automatable, and cost-effective screening of water in field conditions and for in-line water quality monitoring at public surface or ground water treatment plants. The Project Narrative Achieving universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all require the development of efficient tools for monitoring contaminants in water. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are contaminants of emerging concern due to their persistent and bio-accumulative nature and high toxicity to human health and the ecosystem. The public health relevance of the proposed technology is its potential for real-time water quality monitoring in order to limit human exposure and environmental contamination.