Removal of Perfluorooctanoic Acid from Water Using Primitive, Conventional and Novel Carbonaceous Sorbent Materials
Abstract
Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), like perfluorooctanoic acid, have been used for the last 50 years in a wide variety of industrial processes and consumer-based products, including polymer additives, lubricants, fire retardants and suppressants, pesticides, and surfactants (Buck et al. 2015). The Department of Defense (DoD) has used PFAS-based Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) at fire training facilities and aircraft hangars. These AFFFs have contaminated approximately 600 sites classified as fire training facilities with PFAS (Huang, 2013). This study focused on testing the most likely adsorbent compounds that would be selected to remediate contaminated sites on Air Force installations. Batch tests were performed to determine the adsorptive characteristics, both in capacity and rate, of conventional granular activated carbon GAC, primitive carbon materials, and advanced carbon materials for PFOA. Analysis of the data collected lead to an investigation of sample prep techniques and found that low sample volumes and large dilutions ratios contribute to variability. When preparing large quantities of samples the manual method can present a challenge for the technician. Automated devices that can repeatedly mix and dilutes samples prior to analysis should be considered to reduce variability.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 24, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1054024
Entities
People
- Christopher K. Brown
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology