Adsorption and Catalytic Degradation of PFAS for Clean Water Solutions
John Buckley
Advisors: Dr. Christopher Lew (SJSU)
Adsorption and Catalytic Degradation of PFAS for Clean Water Solutions
John Buckley
Advisors: Dr. Christopher Lew (SJSU)
Zeolites are promising adsorbents capable of removing chemical pollutants from environmental systems. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have garnered significant concern due to their negative impacts on human health and persistence in water sources on a global scale. The presence of these contaminants - commonly originating from the production of dyes and nonstick coatings - in drinking water remains a pressing issue, highlighting the urgent need for their removal and conversion into less harmful substances. This study aims to design experiments to evaluate the efficiency of iron zeolites for the removal and catalytic degradation of PFAS “forever chemicals” from water. Specifically, we will investigate the effects of zeolite pore diameters and dimensionalities. The materials will be characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) will be used to study solutions before and after PFAS adsorption and degradation.