The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on August 27 it is providing nearly $1.5 million in research funding to Clarkson University to develop and demonstrate nanosensor technology to detect, monitor, and degrade PFAS in groundwater and surface water that may be used as drinking water sources.
“Advances in nanosensor technology can lead to innovative approaches and critical solutions for PFAS removal,” said Chris Frey, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “This research grant will improve our ability to find and address PFAS, which will in turn better protect communities and the environment from PFAS exposures.”
PFAS are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s because of their useful properties. There are thousands of different PFAS, some of which have been more widely used and studied than others. One common characteristic of concern of PFAS is that many break down very slowly and can build up in people, animals, and the environment over time.
Clarkson University is in Potsdam, New York, and the research funding totals $1,499,979. With it, the team at Clarkson will develop a new portable nanosensing technology, developed as a stand-alone unit with interchangeable sensing and degradation units, to rapidly estimate the level of PFAS exposure, degrade the PFAS and measure the effectiveness of remediation efforts.
The project team will create, validate and put into practice this integrated nanosensor technology for measuring and destroying PFAS in wastewater and groundwater.
Click here to learn more about the project.
Click here to learn more about EPA research grants.
NGWA has long been an industry leader in providing PFAS research, education, and resources to the public and scientific communities. Click here to visit the resource center, which features updated top-10 facts sheet, a position paper, and more.