A new research project led by Carollo Engineers will investigate whether powdered activated carbon (PAC) could provide water resource recovery facilities with a practical and cost-effective option for removing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from treated wastewater effluent.
Funded through The Water Research Foundation (WRF), Project 5388, Efficacy for PAC for PFAS Removal in Wastewater Effluent, aims to generate wastewater-specific performance data and decision-support tools to help utilities assess PAC as a near-term treatment option as PFAS regulations continue to evolve.
Unlike many previous PFAS treatment studies focused on drinking water, the 16-month project will evaluate PAC performance under the more complex conditions found in wastewater effluent, where organic matter, suspended solids and competing compounds can reduce adsorption efficiency.
Supporting wastewater utilities facing evolving PFAS regulations
PFAS, often referred to as “forever chemicals”, have become an increasing focus for regulators because of their persistence in the environment and the challenges associated with their removal.
Water resource recovery facilities are passive receivers of PFAS, with the chemicals entering wastewater networks through residential, commercial and industrial discharges. As regulatory requirements continue to tighten, utilities are seeking practical treatment solutions that can be implemented without significant infrastructure changes.
The WRF project will evaluate multiple powdered activated carbon products using wastewater samples collected from participating utilities across the United States and Canada.
Researchers will conduct bench-scale jar testing before and after secondary and tertiary treatment to determine how different PAC products perform under varying wastewater conditions.
Research to provide practical implementation guidance
The project extends beyond laboratory testing by examining the operational and economic considerations associated with introducing PAC into existing treatment processes.
Researchers aim to produce wastewater-specific feasibility data, infrastructure guidance for PAC dosing, cost estimates and recommendations for future pilot-scale and full-scale implementation.
Testing will be carried out through a combination of utility laboratories and Carollo’s Water Applied Research Center (Water ARC®).
“Utilities need defensible, wastewater-specific information to evaluate near-term PFAS treatment options,” said Dr Michelle Young, Senior Wastewater Technologist at Carollo Engineers and principal investigator for the project.
“This project will help WRRFs identify optimal PAC application points and clarify the remaining implementation questions around dosing, timing and cost that need answers before moving to pilot or full-scale.”
Decision-support tools planned for utilities
Upon completion, the research team will publish a final guidance report, fact sheet and cost and performance estimating tool designed to help utilities evaluate PAC treatment across a range of facility sizes and operating conditions.
The findings will also be shared through a Water Research Foundation webcast and presentations at industry conferences.
Learn more about The Water Research Foundation and Carollo Engineers.
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