Zero Waste of PFAS Destruction in Landfill Leachate by Foam Fractionation Concentrtaion, Selective Biochar Adsorption and Hydrothermal Treatment

Funded by Hinkley Center for Solid and Hazardous Waste Manament

Project Duration: September, 2024 to August, 2025

Project Narrative:

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the landfill leachate are presently of great health concern. Because of the effectiveness and easy operation, adsorption is the most commonly used method in removing these contaminants from the landfill leachate. However, the complexity of water matrices in landfill leachate deteriorates the adsorption efficiency significantly. In this proposed research, we design a treatment flow to concentrate and remove PFASs through enhanced foam fractionation and a PFAS-tailored biochar barrier. Once the biochar barrier is exhausted by PFASs, PFAS-saturated biochar will be subject to hydrothermal treatment to achieve zero-waste PFAS destruction. This stepwise investigation will introduce a feasible and on-site PFAS destruction process for complicated water matrices with minimal environmental impacts.

Research Questions:

How to adsorb large quantity of PFAS?
How to effectively adsorb different types of PFAS (i.e., different carbon-fluorine chain lengths) and PFAS precursors in a complicated water matrix (i.e., effect of organic matters and salinity)?
How to manage exhausted adsorbent?
Is it possible to reuse adsorbent?

Task Summary:

Task 1: Investigate PFAS concentration from landfill leachate using foam fractionation and co-surfactant introduction

Task 2: Produce biosolid biochar and modification of its surface characteristics

Task 3: Estimate and compare PFAS adsorption on selected adsorbents

Task 4: Develop continuous operation modes of PFAS removal by foam fractionation and biochar barrier

Task 5: Thermal treatment of PFAS-saturated biochar

Report

First Quaterly Report

Second Quaterly Report

Third Quaterly Report

Team Members

PI: Dr. Yudi Wu (Florida Poly)

Co-PI: Dr. Gang Chen (Florida State)

Students:

Lin Qi (Ph.D. Candidate, Florida State)
Alise Darsch (Senior Undergraudate, Florida Poly)
Sidney McConnell (Junior Undergraudate, Florida Poly)
Liana Nazario (Sophomore Undergraudate, Florida Poly)

TAG (Technical Awareness Group) memebers:

Dr. Natalia Soares Quinete, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Florida International University
Dr.Yelena Katsenovich, Sr. Research Scientist, Applied Research Center, Florida International University
Dr. Hari Parthasarathy, Ph.D., P.E. (SC), Principal Engineer, Geosyntec consultants
Mr. Joe Dertien, P.E., Division of Waste Management, Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Mr. Danny M. Gallagher, E.I., Project Manager of Sustainability & Disposal Operations, Solid Waste Management Department, Hillsborough County
Ms. Shanin T. Speas-Frost, P.E., MBA, Professional Engineer III, Oil & Gas Program, Division of Water Resource Management, Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Dr. Luke A. Mulford, Ph.D., P.E., Senior Professional Engineer, Water Resources Department, Hillsborough County

TAG Meeting

First TAG Meeting: December 16, 2024; Recorded meeting; Meeting minutes.

Second TAG Meeting: June 2, 2025; Recorded meeting; Meeting minutes.