On September 18, 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded Purdue University a $899,976 grant to develop methods to decrease per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) concentrations in both municipal wastewater treatment plant effluent and sludge. The university’s study will determine the technical and economic feasibility of using a specific two-treatment approach consisting of nanofiltration followed by electrochemical oxidation. Read more about the grant at the EPA’s website.
What are PFAS?
PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals that have been in use since the 1940s. PFAS are found in a wide array of consumer and industrial products, from non-stick and water repellent coatings to firefighting foams. Due to their widespread use and persistence in the environment, most people in the United States have been exposed to PFAS in some form. The EPA is still evaluating the potential risk of these compounds, but there is evidence that long-term exposure to certain PFAS may lead to adverse health effects. Visit the EPA’s Basic Information on PFAS page for more info.