Green Remediation Sponge for Poly- and Perfluorinated Alkyl Substances

Project SummaryPerand polyfluoroalkyl substancesPFASlike perfluorooctane acidPFOAand sulfonatePFOSare increasingly being recognized as US and global environmental concernsTheir best known uses include providing fabrics with stainand water resistance and nonstick properties to cookwarein firefighting foamsand the manufacture of electronic productsQualities such as durability that have made PFAS a desirable chemical also contribute to its persistence in the environment and in the human body where they can cause reproductive and developmentalliverkidneyimmunological effectscancerand thyroid hormone disruptionIt has now been shown that PFAS contamination of drinking water and groundwater pose a significant and immediate health hazard that demands response and at one contaminated site has triggered an EPA Superfund designationUnfortunatelythere are no effective remediation methods for PFAS and any attempt at widespread treatment plans would be prohibitively expensiveThe proposed PhaseSBIR effort will validate a solution to this problem by designingsynthesizingand demonstrating novel custom designed adsorbents that can be used as passive and easily regenerated PFAS sponges Narrative PFAS contamination of soil and drinking water presents a clear and immediate health hazard to people and the environmentWe have no cost effective remediation solution to this widespread environmental disasterWithout a new innovation such as those presented in this SBIR proposaleliminating the risk of exposure to these toxins cannot be achieved