Grant: CCI Applied Research and Development Grants
Cégep de Saint-Laurent
$40,000.00
Evaluation and optimization of an innovative electrochemical technology for degradation of emergent contaminants from municipal wastewater
FY 2022-23
Summary
This research project is a college-industry collaboration between the Center of Water Technology (Cteau) and BioLargo Water Inc. The project will address specific technical needs of BioLargo Water related to the development and optimization of their innovative electrochemical technology for removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) . The Aqueous Electrostatic Concentrator (AEC) is a novel, disruptive technology combining electrochemistry and membrane technologies for efficient removal of PFAS from water. To date, PFAS removal by the AEC has only been examined in ground water samples. The focus of the proposed work is to expand the sources of water that can be successfully treated with the AEC to include MWW thereby providing a new solution to industries focused on minimizing future discharges of PFASs into the environment. Additional research activities are needed to provide a deeper understanding of reactor performance, lifetime and energy requirements of the AEC for PFAS contaminated MWW. To answer these questions, the proposed project has three activities. The first activity aims to determine and evaluate the residual concentration of 4 PFAS compounds, PFOA, PFOS, PFBS, and PFBA, at the inlet and outlet of the Vaudreuil MWW treatment plant. The second activity will evaluate and optimize the removal efficiency of these four PFAS compounds from MWW using the AEC reactor. Optimal operational conditions (voltage, flow rate, and number of passes) will be identified. The toxicity of treated versus untreated effluents will also be documented and studied in this activity. The third activity will compare conventional processes (such as GAC) to the AEC to determine the most effective process, in terms of both performance and cost, for treating MWW strongly loaded with PFAS. This project will benefit from a unique expertise combining electrochemical techniques and analysis of emergent contaminants, together with an already operational R&D infrastructure, an ingredient essential to the achievement of the objectives of this project.
Program
CCI Applied Research and Development Grants
Recipient
Location
Quebec, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
CCARD-2022-00396
Name nom
Dufour, Isabelle
Department département
Head Office/Siège social
Organization id
36597
Institution établissement
Cégep de Saint-Laurent
Province en
Québec
Province fr
Québec
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2022
Competition year année de concours
2022
Award amount
40000
Program id
CCARD
Program name en
CCI Applied Research and Development Grants
Program name fr
ICC Subventions de recherche et développement appliquée
Group en
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
Group fr
PARTENARIATS DE RECHERCHE
Committee code
97
Committee name en
Scholarships and Fellowships Internal Decision Committee
Committee name fr
Comité de décision interne - Bourses
Area of application code
9999
Area of application group en
Not available
Area of application group fr
Non disponible
Area of application en
Not available
Area of application fr
Non disponible
Research subject code
9999
Research subject group en
Not available
Research subject group fr
Non disponible
Research subject en
Not available
Research subject fr
Non disponible
Installment
inst:1
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Evaluation and optimization of an innovative electrochemical technology for degradation of emergent contaminants from municipal wastewater
Application summary
This research project is a college-industry collaboration between the Center of Water Technology (Cteau) and BioLargo Water Inc. The project will address specific technical needs of BioLargo Water related to the development and optimization of their innovative electrochemical technology for removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) . The Aqueous Electrostatic Concentrator (AEC) is a novel, disruptive technology combining electrochemistry and membrane technologies for efficient removal of PFAS from water. To date, PFAS removal by the AEC has only been examined in ground water samples. The focus of the proposed work is to expand the sources of water that can be successfully treated with the AEC to include MWW thereby providing a new solution to industries focused on minimizing future discharges of PFASs into the environment. Additional research activities are needed to provide a deeper understanding of reactor performance, lifetime and energy requirements of the AEC for PFAS contaminated MWW. To answer these questions, the proposed project has three activities. The first activity aims to determine and evaluate the residual concentration of 4 PFAS compounds, PFOA, PFOS, PFBS, and PFBA, at the inlet and outlet of the Vaudreuil MWW treatment plant. The second activity will evaluate and optimize the removal efficiency of these four PFAS compounds from MWW using the AEC reactor. Optimal operational conditions (voltage, flow rate, and number of passes) will be identified. The toxicity of treated versus untreated effluents will also be documented and studied in this activity. The third activity will compare conventional processes (such as GAC) to the AEC to determine the most effective process, in terms of both performance and cost, for treating MWW strongly loaded with PFAS. This project will benefit from a unique expertise combining electrochemical techniques and analysis of emergent contaminants, together with an already operational R&D infrastructure, an ingredient essential to the achievement of the objectives of this project.
