Project Info
Innovative technologies for remediation of fluorochemical groundwater contaminants
Timothy Strathmann | strthmnn@mines.edu
The student selected for this project will join a team of students working to develop innovative technologies to treat toxic fluorochemical groundwater contaminants whose occurrence has been emerging across the nation in recent years. Fluorochemicals like PFOS and PFOA are used in many products that can contaminate groundwater, including fire fighting foams used to rapidly suppress fuel fires (e.g., for plane crashes). Our team is currently pioneering multiple technologies to both remove and destroy fluorochemicals, including hydrothermal processing, ion exchange, and photochemical destruction. Student may also participate in an ongoing field demonstration project of one technology underway at an Air Force Base near Colorado Springs.
More Information
http://www.minesnewsroom.com/news/mines-tackles-treating-pfc-contaminated-water/
https://www.serdp-estcp.org/Program-Areas/Environmental-Restoration/ER18-1501
Grand Engineering Challenge: Provide access to clean water
Student Preparation
Qualifications
Interest in applying chemistry and chemical principals to create solutions to real-world environmental problems.
Time Commitment
20 hours/month
Skills/Techniques Gained
Student will gain experience in the design, execution, and presentation of laboratory experiments focusing on treatment and destruction of trace chemicals in groundwater. Student will work with graduate student mentor to plan and complete experiments. Student will also gain experience of analytical measurement of chemicals via liquid and gas chromatography, ion selective electrode measurements, and other instrumentation.
Mentoring Plan
Individual faculty/mentee meetings approximately biweekly, and day-to-day supervision and mentoring from a PhD student in the research group. If the student’s schedule permits, they will also attend the biweekly research group meeting.