CAREER: Transformation potential of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water distribution systems

职业：全氟烷基物质和多氟烷基物质 (PFAS) 在饮用水分配系统中的转化潜力

• 批准号: 2338480
• 负责人: Kirin Furst
• 金额: $ 55万
• 依托单位: George Mason University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2024-03-01 至 2029-02-28
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2338480&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Transformation; potential; per; polyfluoroalkyl

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are fluorinated organic chemical contaminants that are commonly referred to as forever chemicals due to their persistence, stability, and resistance to natural environmental degradation processes. During the last two decades, PFAS have been increasingly detected in surface water systems (lakes and rivers) and groundwater aquifers which serve as sources of drinking water for many communities throughout the United States. In addition, many PFAS can be transformed through abiotic and biotic pathways in natural and engineered water systems to produce toxic perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). There is a critical need for new data and knowledge to advance the fundamental understanding of the fate, transport, and reactivity of PFAS in drinking water systems. The overarching goal of this CAREER project is to investigate and evaluate the abiotic and biotic transformations of PFAS in drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) as the treated water transits through the distribution systems to customers’ taps. To advance this goal, the Principal Investigator proposes to integrate field studies of PFAS transformations in selected DWDS with controlled laboratory and pilot scale experiments. The successful completion of this project will benefit society through the generation of new data and fundamental knowledge to advance the design of engineering solutions and policy recommendations to address and mitigate PFAS drinking water contamination. Additional benefits to society will be achieved through student education and training including the mentoring of two graduate students at George Mason University. Many drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) exhibit environmental conditions comparable to those of natural aquatic systems in which the transformations of PFAS compounds and precursors to toxic perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), have been observed. In addition, the components of DWDS (e.g., pipes, tanks, and water towers) can serve as substrates for the accumulation of scales/sediments and the formation of biofilms that cause/catalyze the abiotic/biotic transformations of dissolved contaminants in these systems. This CAREER project will test the hypothesis that PFAS transformations in DWDS are primarily mediated by the biotic transformations of PFAS compounds and precursors that accumulate in their scales and sediment biofilms. To test this hypothesis, the Principal Investigator (PI) proposes to evaluate and characterize the chemical and microbial processes controlling PFAS transformations in DWDS with a focus on storage facilities in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The specific objectives of the research are to 1) investigate PFAS partitioning and transformations in drinking water storage facilities and develop methods and infrastructure for the design of controlled experiments to generate fundamental insights; 2) evaluate the effects of storage tank/sediment materials and environmental parameters on PFAS partitioning and transformations in drinking water storage facilities; and 3) evaluate the effect of treatment residuals on PFAS transformations in the biofilms of drinking water storage facilities. The successful completion of this project has the potential for transformative impact through the generation of new fundamental knowledge to advance the design and implementation of engineering solutions to minimize and mitigate PFAS contamination in drinking water storage facilities and distribution systems. To implement the educational and outreach activities of this CAREER project, the PI proposes to leverage existing programs and resources at George Mason University (GMU) to carry out curricular research on chemistry education to support learning and success for community college transfer, non-traditional and traditional students in environmental engineering (EE). More specifically, the PI proposes to 1) investigate the impact of student chemistry preparation, attitudes, and demographics on performance and interest in EE); 2) evaluate correlations between student performance in chemistry and mastery of concepts in introductory EE courses; and 3) use the knowledge gained from this research to design lessons to remediate student chemistry preparation gaps and prepare students for the successful completion of EE undergraduate education at GMU.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

氟烷基物质（PFA）是氟化有机化学污染物，由于其持久性，稳定性和对自然环境降解过程的耐药性，通常被称为永远的化学物质。在过去的二十年中，在地表水系统（湖泊和河流）和地下水含水层中越来越多地发现了PFA，这些含水层是美国许多社区的饮用水来源。此外，许多PFA可以通过天然和工程水系统中的非生物和生物途径转化，以产生有毒的全氟烷基酸（PFAA），包括全氟辛酸（PFOA）。迫切需要新的数据和知识来促进对饮用水系统中PFA的命运，运输和反应性的基本理解。该职业项目的总体目标是调查和评估饮用水分配系统（DWD）中PFA的非生物和生物转化，因为经过分配系统的处理水经过分配系统到客户的水龙头。为了促进这一目标，主要研究者的建议将选定DWD中PFAS转化的现场研究与受控实验室和试验量表实验相结合。该项目的成功完成将通过生成新数据和基本知识来使社会受益，以推动工程解决方案和政策建议的设计，以解决和缓解PFAS饮用水污染。将通过学生的教育和培训来实现社会的其他好处，包括乔治·梅森大学的两名研究生的心理。许多饮用水分配系统（DWDS）暴露的环境条件与天然水生系统相当，其中PFAS化合物和前体转化为有毒的全氟烷基酸（PFAA），包括全氟辛酸（PFOA）（PFOA）。此外，DWD（例如，管道，储罐和水塔）的组件可以用作鳞片/沉积物积累的基板，以及在这些系统中溶解污染物的非生物/生物污染物的非生物/生物转化的生物膜的形成。该职业项目将检验以下假设：DWD中的PFAS转化是由PFAS化合物和前体的生物转化介导的，这些变化是在其尺度和沉积物生物膜中积累的。为了检验这一假设，主要研究者（PI）提案评估和表征控制DWD中PFAS转化的化学和微生物过程，重点是美国中大西洋地区的存储设施。该研究的具体目标是1）研究饮用水设施的PFA分区和转换，开发方法和基础设施，以设计受控实验，以产生基本的见解； 2）评估储罐/沉积物材料和环境参数对饮用水存储设施中PFA的分配和转换的影响； 3）评估治疗残差对饮用水存储设施生物膜中PFAS转化的影响。该项目的成功完成通过产生新的基本知识来推动工程解决方案的设计和实施，从而最大程度地减少和减轻饮用水存储设施和配电系统中的PFA污染，从而有可能产生变革性的影响。为了实施该职业项目的教育和外展活动，PI提案旨在利用乔治·梅森大学（GMU）现有计划和资源的建议，以进行化学教育课程研究，以支持社区大学转移，非传统和传统学生在环境工程（EE）方面的学习和成功。更具体地说，PI提出的提案1）研究学生化学准备，参加和人口统计学对EE的绩效和兴趣的影响； 2）评估学生在化学方面的绩效与掌握概念的相关性在引言课程中； 3）利用从这项研究获得的知识来设计课程来补救学生化学准备差距，并为学生在GMU成功完成EE本科教育做好准备。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并被认为是通过基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛影响的审查标准来通过评估来通过评估来支持的。