Description
Per- and polyfluoroalkyal substances (PFAS) are a class of emerging pollutants that are widely found in surface water, groundwater, and wastewater throughout the world. PFAS are very persistent in the natural environment due to their unique chemical/physical properties such as high water solubility and the strong stability of C-F bond. The goal of this project is to investigate the fate and transport behavior of PFAS in soil and subsurface environment, a process that serves as a critical connection between PFAS source and drinking water. Results will provide insights into PFAS management and remediation activities.
Tasks and Responsibilities
The student will design and primarily conduct experiments to determine adsorptive removal of PFAS in the lab. The student will obtain skills for routine water quality analysis, such as pH measurement and quantification of common water constituents. The student will also be familiar with advanced analytical techniques that include high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. This task will help the student develop abilities to identify, formulate and solve real-world problems. After generating a large set of data, the student will be responsible to analyze the data using multiple engineering software. Experimental results will be presented by the student in research group meetings, annual symposium, and local conferences to improve oral communication skills. The student will also write progress reports on a monthly basis to improve scientific writing skills.