04/12/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/11/2024 22:13
"Forever chemicals"-a group of chemicals known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-have dominated news headlines because they do not break down in the body or the environment. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, PFAS are associated with certain adverse health effects, including kidney and testicular cancer. PFAS have been detected in local lakes and rivers, including the Delaware River, as well as in drinking water and freshwater fish across the country.
With support from New Jersey Health Foundation(NJHF), Zhiming Zhang, Ph.D., is studying the efficacy of a process for removing PFAS from stormwater runoff.
The study is one of 19 new, Rowan-led projects funded by NJHF in 2024-the largest number of awards given in a single year from the foundation to Rowan University. In total, Rowan received more than $800,000 in new awards from NJHF, which supports research, community health and social service programs at New Jersey institutions each year.
There are multiple ways PFAS can get into water systems, including discharge from industrial facilities, usage of firefighting foams to put out fires, and stormwater runoff generated from rain and snowmelt, noted Zhang, an assistant professor of environmental engineering in the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering.
To remove them, Zhang and his team will first analyze stormwater samples to understand the baseline amount of PFAS in stormwater runoff. Then, they will test the process for removing PFAS from stormwater runoff using adsorption materials that can bond with PFAS, thus removing the forever chemicals from stormwater.
"We will repurpose an industrial solid waste-drinking water treatment residuals that are generated during conventional drinking water treatment processes-to remove the PFAS compounds from stormwater through adsorption processes," Zhang said. "Instead of being landfilled, the proposed treatment process gives drinking water treatment residuals a second life, a great practice towards sustainability."
The technology proposed by Zhang can be used in field applications, such as storm-drain catch basins. Much like a filter, a bag containing the repurposed drinking water treatment residuals can be put into catch basins. When stormwater runoff flows into the catch basins, contaminants like PFAS compounds can be adsorbed and removed from the stormwater discharge, reducing the amount of PFAS in surface water systems.
Other NJHF grants awarded to Rowan include: