CEEES - A Flux Capacitor for plasma remediation of contaminated water

Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are an emerging man-made forever chemical found in water systems. These PFAS are a known carcinogen and can disrupt the endocrine, immune, and reproductive systems after repeated consumption. The strong Carbon-Fluorine bonds present in these PFAS make these substances hard to break down and extremely resistant to environmental degradation. Due to the recency of this issue, there is currently no widespread or accepted water treatment for PFAS, and PFAS concentration levels in the environment continue to rise. However, plasma treatment may offer a solution to this new forever chemical. Plasma is a highly energized gas state with fast moving ions and electrons. The energetic electrons can break apart bonds and destabilize molecules, including the Carbon-Fluorine bonds of PFAS. To see the effectiveness and feasibility of plasma treatment, we have worked with a new UV-plasma sterilization technology, nicknamed the Flux Capacitor. This technology pumps water through a tube and into the system, where it is then exposed to plasma. The PFAS molecules are then broken into smaller, less harmful compounds. Plasma exposure has also been seen to treat pathogens, various bacterium, phosphate and other water contaminants. A plasma treatment process could act as a replacement for quaternary treatment without the addition of chemical disinfects. This method would also allow for more rapid, inexpensive and effective treatment. In this project, data collected using the flux capacitor to test the technologies effectiveness towards treating PFAS from spiked purified water samples as well as its ability to treat local water for bacteria and nutrients will be performed. If results show consistent contaminate removal this technology would be a breakthrough in PFAS removal as well as a viable, cost-effective, new water treatment method.