Project Description: The backbone of the Karanikola Optimized Research for Environmental Sustainability (KORES) lab is research projects that are derived by real community-based questions and are closing the research-to-application gap that ultimately addresses the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals for equitable clean water access. Our work focuses on materials and processes to treat and reuse water and wastewater at the water-energy interface with strong focus on using fundamentals to answer real water application challenges. More specifically this project focuses on sustainable methods to remove poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) molecules from water. PFAS, are listed as an emerging contaminant by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) since 2014, accumulate in soil, surface water, and groundwater. Due to their persistent and bio-accumulative nature, PFAS are a widespread public health concern and considered “forever” contaminants. We use novel approaches to treat PFAS sustainably.
NASA Relevance: Clean water access is essential for space exploration. Space stations and any vessel in orbit requires water treatment if humans will be present. Organics such as PFAS are found everywhere including in space stations. Sustainable treatment is more critical than ever.
Work Description: Interns will learn to operate a bench and small-scale adsorption column system and test different water qualities (synthetic and real waters) that have PFAS. Students will become familiar with using equipment such as conductivity, and pH meters and learn to operate analytical chemistry equipment such as a liquid chromatography (LC-MS) and characterize the novel materials we synthesize with characterization techniques we have in the laboratory such as goniometer and streaming zeta potential.
Open or Reserved Project: 1 reserved position, 2 positions total