Human Practices
Human Practices Integrated Into Our Design With Input from Stakeholders: PFAS Scientists, Remediation Industry, Water Treatment Facilities, and Community
Human Practices Integrated Into Our Design With Input from Stakeholders: PFAS Scientists, Remediation Industry, Water Treatment Facilities, and Community
We identified types of stakeholders: PFAS Scientific Experts, Participants in the PFAS Remediation Industry and Regulators, Water Treatment Facilities, and Community Stakeholders. We reached out to experts in all four categories. Each meeting impacted our project and led to a pivot, an enhancement, or validation of our project.
Our project was designed to provide a sustainable, energy efficient method for destroying PFAS in water, which we believe is responsible and will be good for the world because it will address goals 3, 6, 14 of the Sustainable Development Goals
We actively looked for a cross-over of the listed categories within potential candidates to reflect the PFAS Community accurately. From here we began our hunt for informants, aiming for an even distribution across all 4 categories. In the early stages, the informant identification process relied on our mentors' pre-established connections, which supplied most of our PFAS Scientific Experts. Frequently, interviewed informants referred us to their colleges. As the project progressed, our team grew confident in reaching out to new experts and forming recurring connections.
Once a source was identified, our Human Practices team compiles a Background Document. This document contains educational and professional backgrounds and any recorded involvement with PFAS. We review talks, research papers, and activism, amongst other things. Compiling the Background Document allows a sense of familiarity with the subject’s work and inspires the question-writing process. As we review, we ask ourselves “What perspectives are they offering? What part of the team would benefit most from speaking to this person? How does their history contribute to any biases?”
When the document is completed, Human Practices presents the information to the rest of the team along with a recommendation. The recommendation is given to the specified division when we believe the source will be valuable for them. For example, a source with a background in computational chemistry will be recommended to our Computational team. If the division agrees with the recommendation, they will be asked to draft questions and topics they wish to discuss with the source.
The Human Practices team assists in the writing questions and digests the drafted questions/topics. From there, we expand and finalize the questions, creating a Question Guide for the day of the discussion.
The Question Guide contains “Must Ask” questions identified as necessary information. However, the Question Guide does not dictate the conversation; it only facilitates it. Our questions serve as bouncing off points to inspire discussion with the informant. Most of our meeting is filled with follow-up questions to the pre-planned questions. When a topic is exhausted, the team utilizes the Question Guide to inspire a new one.
The goal of the meeting is not to obtain statements that confirm our biases. We aim to gather new information we would have never considered, so a vital part of our process is coming up with questions on the spot. It should also be noted that the Human Practices division only facilitates the discussions. In all meetings, the entire team is present, and members of other teams are encouraged to ask questions as new topics emerge. These meetings are recorded with the consent of the interviewer and a Human Practices member takes notes during the discussion.
After the meeting is over, Human Practices facilitates a meeting debrief. During the debrief, all members are encouraged to discuss their thoughts after the meeting. A Human Practices team member takes notes throughout the discussion.
Human Practices team digests the newly gathered information over several days. We frequently return to our recordings and notes to ensure every bit of information is squeezed out! Soon after, we begin to suggest improvements to the project and ways to integrate it. This could range from edits to a presentation to even entire project pivots! We raise our concerns and ideas to the rest of the team, ensuring all perspectives are included in the brainstorming process.
After a few weeks, we revisit the recordings and notes of our source with fresh eyes. We hold ourselves accountable and ensure we learned everything we could from the interviewee. This revisitation step has been vital for our team acting as a second integration step. Reviewing the footage inspires us to create new methods of integration and reminds us of concepts we may have missed.
This process is also nonlinear as we often have second and third meetings with the source. This process is also subject to change as we continue to improve with each meeting!
We started out researching ways to remove pollutants and minerals out of water and considered “mining” lithium and gold (as an environmentally sustainable means of mining important metals. We calculated that the yield from such an enzyme capture would be relatively small, so we pivoted to filtering out microplastics from water to address endocrine-disrupting pollutants. Then, a former member of our lab, Vikki tribal (who is a freshman at John Hopkins), made a presentation about PFAS and talked about it as a health equity issue. This inspired us to pivot from microplastics to PFAS filtration.
After speaking to multiple experts within the scientific and industry sectors, our team decided to make a major project pivot from a filtration to a degradation method. In doing so, our team knowingly assumed a harder but necessary project for the sake of improving our drinking waters for all. We’ve identified 3 major events/speakers that we integrated into our decision to pivot to degradation: Prof. Ariel Furst, Dr. Diallo, and “The Next Big Investment” panel at ACE 2024.
Director, Government Affairs, Los Angeles World Airports
At LAX airport, TRS Group and Ocean Blue are working on cleaning 14 fire rigs and one fixed tank using TRS' PerfluorAd product, a solution designed for PFAS remediation. The cleaning process involves draining and repeatedly rinsing the tanks. The rinse water is filtered to capture residual foam concentrate, and is reused several times, which minimizes the volume of rinsate that needs disposal. The filtered rinsate is disposed of through a discharge permit to the sanitary sewer system.
The new fluorine-free firefighting foam being used is SOLBERG from Perimeter Solutions. Other Department of Defense (DOD)-approved alternatives, like ECOPOL and AvioF3, were also considered, but SOLBERG was selected early in the procurement process. Ocean Blue is responsible for handling the disposal of AFFF concentrate and contaminated filter media, which are transported to a hazardous waste disposal facility. The final handling of the AFFF concentrate and filter media used for PFAS removal is still being tracked for more details.
Impact:
HP: PFAS effects on airports, PFAS cleanup, replacement for PFAS for fire-fighting
Reserve Firefighter, Human Factors Consultant
Georgina has served as a reserve firefighter in Orange County from 2015-2021
Impact: We were surprised that Georgina had never been warned about the presence and dangers of exposure to the PFAS in fire-fighting foam!
In 2020, the Tribal PFAS Working Group was formed to help address and reduce PFAS in Indian Country.
PFAS pose a risk to tribal lifeways, resources, and traditional foods. The Tribal PFAS Working Group is composed of members of the National Tribal Water Council, Tribal Science Council, National Tribal Toxics Council, Tribal Waste and Response Steering Committee, Tribal Pesticide Program Council, and National Tribal Air Association.
Impact: Native Americans are disproportionately affected by all environmental pollutants, including PFAS.
Professor of Medicine
Vice Chair of Translational Research
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine
Co-Director of Research, EDS Clinic
Mayo Clinic
We learned that diseases like myocarditis, cancer, and autoimmune disorders are heavily influenced by sex hormones, causing them to manifest differently in males and females. PFAS and other endocrine disruptors amplify these differences, affecting inflammation and immune responses in the body. We were surprised to learn how pervasive chemical exposures, including through everyday items like plastic and tea bags, can have long-term effects on health, even across generations. Dr. Fairweather emphasized the need to reduce chemical exposures to improve public health. She also highlighted the importance of personalized medicine and AI in targeting treatment based on individual susceptibility. This conversation will help us better explain the significant health impacts of PFAS in our project and presentations. We also see the value in linking our enzyme design to potential real-world health benefits, specifically in reducing toxic exposures.
Impact: Dr. Fairweather offered us a perspective both as a medical expert and as an immunocompromised individual, combining her knowledge into a heartfelt conversation about the targeted impact rampant chemical exposures like PFAS have on the immunocompromised community. Speaking with Dr. Fairweather gave our team confidence in our tasks as science communicators and educators on the dangers of PFAS while also reinvigorating our mission to make drinking water safe for all.
Dept. of Chemistry, MIT
Research - Environmental Remediation: Biomaterials for environmental remediation
We first talked to Prof. Furst when she visited Caltech to give a presentation about her lab’s many projects, including their work with developing PFAS remediation methods. We were excited to speak with others in the PFAS removal space, so we promptly arranged a meeting with her.
In our first meeting with Ariel Furst, we learned about two of her lab’s projects focused on PFAS degradation. The first project uses enzymatic biomaterials, employing enzymes like horseradish peroxidase and glucose oxidase to generate reactive oxygen species that can degrade PFAS. Ariel’s team has been optimizing protein expression in E. coli and focusing on assay development to ensure both safety and efficacy. The second project involves nanoscale materials, specifically 3D-printed carbon structures, which are oxidized to increase PFAS binding. These structures aim to pre-concentrate PFAS and degrade them using electrochemically generated radicals, making them a promising solution for large-scale applications like water treatment plants.
Ariel highlighted the importance of prioritizing degradation over simple binding for a permanent solution to PFAS contamination. She also emphasized the need for flexibility, regulatory awareness, and scalability. Detection methods like LCMS are being used, with plans to develop more practical long-term monitoring techniques. Collaboration and resource-sharing were essential takeaways from this meeting.
Impact: Prof. Ariel Furst made valuable points towards the development of a degradation method by presenting the conundrum all PFAS filtration methods face in the end: disposal. Currently, landfill dumping and incineration are the main forms of disposal for filtered-out PFAS. Both methods are not only unsustainable and environmentally damaging, but they also enable PFAS to reenter the water supply, perpetuating an endless cycle of contamination. Degradation, on the other hand, would completely stop the cycle altogether. The main issue holding the PFAS degradation industry back was uncertainty about success and profit. Prof. Ariel Furst’s sound logic and assessment of the PFAS industry made our team realize our unique situation. Unlike a corporation, our team did not have to prioritize profitability over scientific progress. Above all else, our team strived to create a needed PFAS remediation method to remove the contaminant from the drinking water supply. Hearing the range of impact Prof. Ariel Furst was able to have a degradation method that made our team begin to consider a major project pivot.
She summed it up perfectly when she said, “If you have all these materials that you're binding PFAS to, pretty much the only way to get rid of them is incineration. So you're just making more contaminants in the air. People basically just bury them back into landfills. So you're not actually removing the PFAS. You're just moving it around. And we're back at the beginning” - Prof Ariel Furst on “Why Degradation, not Filtration”
Speaking with Prof Ariel Furst made our team realize that it is better for the environment to focus on degradation rather than filtration.
Associate Professor and Director of the Laboratory of Advanced Materials and Systems for Water Sustainability of the KAIST Graduate School of Energy, Environment, Water and Sustainability (EEWS).
At Caltech, Prof. Diallo is a Visiting Faculty in the Environmental Science and Engineering Option of the Division of Engineering and Applied Science. In 2011, Prof. Diallo was appointed as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the journal Environmental Science and Technology
During our three July meetings with Dr. Diallo, an expert on PFAS, we were advised to prioritize computational design and validation of PFAS-degrading enzymes due to our tight timeline before the October deadline, with experimental testing as a stretch goal. We should divide tasks across computational work, experimental efforts, human practices, and the wiki. Focus should remain on computational methods, exploring both reductive and oxidative approaches with model substrates like trifluoroacetic acid.
For fundraising, we were encouraged to seek support from Caltech, NSF grants, and smaller donations. Dr. Diallo recommended restructuring our presentation with an elevator pitch, simplifying technical slides, and emphasizing our AI-driven enzyme design. He advised focusing on strengths, condensing background information, and thinking about practical implementation. Practicing delivery was also emphasized to improve audience engagement. Overall, we were encouraged to streamline our presentation and highlight our unique contributions more effectively.
Impact: Dr. Diallo’s perspective as a veteran in the PFAS remediation space proved invaluable in shaping our project. Dr. Diallo believed that inorganic filtration methods would soon advance far enough to meet the regulation; the real gap in the industry was a sustainable degradation method, which our enzymatic approach would be great for. Our entire team compared his advice with that of previous experts and our insights from the ACE 24 Water conference, ultimately concluding that the PFAS remediation industry urgently requires an effective degradation method.
Our team explored oxidative dehalogenases and fluoroacetate dehalogenases through a literature review for training data on PFAS-degrading enzymes. When we met with Dr. Diallo, we had begun considering radical-producing enzymes. We presented our theories to Dr. Diallo, who offered game-changing advice. Dr. Diallo argued in favor of reductive and oxidative dehalogenases and directed us to 3 papers for us to explore. Our team began to consider reductive dehalogenases and compared their benefits to our previously identified enzyme families. Furthermore, Dr. Diallo referred us to Dr. Jaffé’s paper, introducing us to our most promising enzyme candidate: A6rdhA.
Focus on reductive methods, paper on reductive dehalogenases A6RdhA, which we used to design the chimera, science communication, and presentation skills
Met at ACE24
Water Treatment Specialist
Summary of Interaction:
Dr. Hedges discussed the use of bench-scale tests to evaluate the efficiency of PFAS removal technologies. His insights focused on how utilities can optimize material choices and design effective systems for large-scale applications, ensuring cost-effective and reliable treatment.
Met at ACE24
Water Treatment Specialist
Summary of Interaction:
Dr. Shaw shared the findings from his research on media size and depth in PFAS removal, revealing that smaller media sizes can still provide effective treatment. He emphasized the importance of bench tests for assessing PFAS removal efficiency before full-scale application, helping utilities make more informed decisions.
Met at ACE24
Water Treatment Specialist
Summary of Interaction:
Dr. Amy Matthews highlighted the potential of AOP technologies for breaking down PFAS in water treatment systems. She emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to further advance the science behind PFAS degradation, ensuring practical, long-term solutions.
Met at ACE24
Machine Learning Expert
Summary of Interaction:
Dr. Bennett explained the application of machine learning in PFAS detection and data analysis. She discussed how unsupervised learning algorithms can help utilities predict contamination patterns, leading to better resource allocation and improved treatment outcomes for PFAS contamination.
Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, Ocean Monitoring and Research, Faculty Member
We first met with Shelley Walther when our project was focused on micro- and nano-plastics. In our discussion with Shelly, she shared her impressive background in marine ecology and her work at the sanitation districts, focusing on microplastics, ocean acidification, and marine biology. Shelly explained the complexities of studying microplastics, from their varied sources to the challenges in measuring and understanding their impact on human health and the environment. She emphasized the need for improved scientific methods and standardized procedures to get more accurate data.
Shelly highlighted that wastewater treatment captures most microplastics early in the process, diverting them to landfills, but tracking those that escape into the environment remains difficult. We also discussed the potential health impacts, though there is still uncertainty within the scientific community about the full extent of their harm.
The conversation touched on broader issues like ocean acidification, sustainable energy practices, and reducing plastic usage. Shelly also encouraged us to follow our scientific passions, emphasizing the value of mentorship and advocating for paid internships to ensure equitable access to research opportunities.
Impact: Shelly was a valuable foundational expert. Initially, Shelly introduced the team to the current struggles water treatment facilities face in managing microplastics and other micropollutants, furthering our team’s conviction in creating a better PFAS filtration method. Her emphasis on the environmental impacts of bioaccumulation and risks of unchecked micropollutants alerted our team to the necessity of a good micropollutant remediation method. She also made us aware of the emerging state of micropollutant medical impact research which encouraged us to perform intensive literature reviews.
Shelly provided essential expertise on the challenges water treatment facilities face with micropollutants, reinforcing our commitment to developing better PFAS filtration methods. Her emphasis on the environmental and health risks of micropollutants encouraged our team to conduct thorough literature reviews.
Asst Program Manager @ DC Water | Water Distribution (Formally at Xylem)
Flora Klise emphasized the need to address the impact of PFAS on marginalized communities while communicating its dangers in a way that does not instill fear. She highlighted the importance of targeting major PFAS producers, particularly within specific industries, to create meaningful change. Klise discussed the challenges of scaling filtration solutions and urged the team to focus on a "beachhead market" to gather actionable data. Additionally, she addressed the regulatory and financial constraints faced by the water industry, encouraging our team to consider the scalability of our filtration method and conduct thorough economic analyses for feasibility. To further support our efforts, Flora offered to connect our team with experts and mentors who can provide valuable insights on technical, regulatory, and scaling aspects of their project.
Imact: Flora Klise's history of activism and water industry knowledge shown through as she emphasized how water resources impact all of us. She advocated for marginalized communities, citing how lower income communities of color oftentimes take the brunt of environmental ruin. Speaking with Klise inspired our team to look more into how PFAS contamination could be contributing to environmental racism through a literature review.
Flora Klise's advice on science communication proved invaluable in our conversations with the general public. Klise accurately predicted the fear many uninformed civilians felt when they learned about the medical impacts of PFAS and provided advice on how to help them. Klise recommended we craft a structured narrative about the dangers of PFAS which ended with our proposed solution. This format would become standard in conversations with the public and be integrated into our presentation format.
Flora Klise also put us in contact with Patrick Dube who encouraged us to attend the ACE 2024 Water Conference.
Flora Klise's activism and expertise in the water industry highlighted the impact of water resources on marginalized communities, inspiring our team to investigate how PFAS contamination contributes to environmental racism through a literature review. Her insights on science communication were invaluable, as she advised us to create a structured narrative about the dangers of PFAS that concludes with our proposed solution, a format we integrated into our public presentations.
Met at ACE24
Orange County Water District (OCWD)
Summary of Interaction:
Dr. Susan Clark highlighted OCWD’s efforts in PFAS removal using GAC, particularly focusing on sustainability and collaboration. OCWD operates over 100 wells and provides design and funding assistance to ensure effective and economical solutions for PFAS treatment.
Met at ACE24
Louisville Water District (LWD)
Summary of Interaction:
Dr. Michael Lee emphasized the challenges faced by LWD, particularly in addressing seasonal variations in PFAS contamination. PAC has proven effective for long-chain PFAS but requires higher doses for specific types, making adaptable treatment a priority.
Met at ACE24
Entity: City of Thornton
Summary of Interaction:
Gina Stevens explained that the City of Thornton has chosen GAC as the preferred method for PFAS treatment due to its cost-effectiveness. The city is in the design phase of implementing this solution and is committed to maintaining public safety and regulatory compliance.
President of FREDsense (former iGEMer!)
FREDsense is a Calgary, Canada based biotechnology startup focused on the measurement of water quality. Developing portable water quality testing solutions for detecting contaminants like PFAS.
FredSense, co-founded by Emily Hicks, focuses on rapid PFAS detection. The company offers flexibility with both lab-based and field-based systems, streamlining the testing process for different customer needs, including utilities and environmental consultants.
During our zoom interview with Emily Hicks, co-founder of FredSense, we discussed key aspects of PFAS detection and the company’s technology. After introducing ourselves and sharing our interests in microbiology, synthetic biology, and coding, Emily explained how FredSense detects PFAS through both lab services and a field kit. The lab uses LC-MS/MS for precise measurements, while the field kit uses a fluorescence-based system to detect total PFAS. She emphasized the challenge of meeting regulatory requirements, which demand detection at parts-per-trillion levels.
Emily shared the company’s struggles with contamination and the high costs of using third-party labs, which led them to invest in their own LC-MS/MS equipment.
She also discussed FredSense’s evolution from an iGEM project focused on oil sands to its current focus on PFAS detection, driven by market demand.
We wrapped up by discussing their customer base and the regulatory challenges of working with genetically modified organisms, gaining valuable insights into environmental sensing.
Impact: Hicks provided initial insight into the close tie between the PFAS industry and EPA regulations. In hearing about water treatment facilities' struggles with current filtration technologies in meeting the 4 parts per trillion baseline, our team decided to target our product toward these stakeholders. Emily Hicks provided a breakdown of the PFAS industry into 3 parts: detection, filtration, and destruction. She described all three as newly emerging due to the EPA regulations, however noted the lack of progress within the degradation space. After seeing the amazing strides FREDsense had made in the detection technology space, combined with extensive literature reviews on current filtration methods, some members of the team began to consider developing a degradation method.
For Clock: Hicks highlighted the connection between the PFAS industry and EPA regulations, prompting our team to focus on water treatment facilities struggling to meet the 4 parts per trillion standard. She outlined the PFAS industry’s three emerging areas—detection, filtration, and destruction—leading some team members to consider developing a degradation method after observing FREDsense’s advancements in detection technology.
Water Testing Entrepreneur
Talked to us about agricultural water contamination and the importance of testing and remediation of agricultural water supplies, and toxins in food, also the importance of applying for government grants for a start-up business, EPA regulations, and entrepreneurship
Impact: Highlighted the needs of farmers and the need for PFAS remediation for agriculture.
Senior TAG Manager, Isle Utilities
Patrick has over eight years experience in resource recovery, innovation, and research in the wastewater sector. His expertise spans a range of topics including biosolids, nutrients, digestion, PFAS, and other wastewater-focused topics.
During our interview with Patrick Dube, a technology consultant specializing in water and wastewater treatment, we discussed his experience working in the PFAS space over the past five to six years. His role focuses on identifying and connecting new technologies to water utilities, rather than conducting bench-scale testing. Patrick highlighted that utilities are generally risk-averse, relying on proven methods like granular activated carbon (GAC) and ion exchange for PFAS removal. There is growing interest in destruction technologies, but they are still experimental.
Patrick noted that utilities often send samples to labs like Eurofins for PFAS detection due to the high cost of in-house testing. He emphasized challenges like water composition variability and the proper disposal of spent materials like GAC. Regulatory pressure, especially in states like California, is driving PFAS treatment, but fragmented regulations across North America create additional hurdles. While progress is being made, Patrick stressed that addressing PFAS is critical for public health. Recommended that we attend ACE24, which we did.
Impact: Importance of Scalability and Affordability to Water Treatment Facilities, Implementation, ACE 2024
Research Scientist I
Pasadena ECL
Department of Toxic Substances Control
California Environmental Protection Agency
Ori has expertise in PFAS, including PFAS in single use masks
Ori provided valuable insights into assessing PFAS contamination and minimizing PFAS exposure, recommending water filters, reducing dust, and avoiding products like non-stick cookware.
Ori also highlighted the importance of grassroots organizing in pushing for stricter PFAS regulations and shared key historical lawsuits that helped increase public awareness and research funding. Ori introduced the "Toxic Crusaders" program, a STEM outreach initiative offering hands-on lab experience, and invited us to get involved.
We appreciated Ori’s perspective on balancing the benefits and risks of chemicals like flame retardants, as well as the ethical implications. The session wrapped up with Ori offering additional resources and expressing interest in our research progress.
Impact: Ori Roe’s extensive tour of the Department of Toxic Substances’s lab helped our team understand how restricted regulations are by current technology. We began to understand how PFAS-related technology dictated the possible regulations government bodies could enforce and thereby influence the PFAS industry. By speaking with Roe, our team realized the ripple effect our product could have on the regulation and industry if proved effective. We felt motivated moving forward in contributing our step in the right direction.
Ori Roe’s presentation on the extent of PFAS contamination added to the information we could share with the public. Roe’s passion for keeping track of the dangerous chemical showed through as she provided multiple resources on shocking products containing PFAS such as carpets and medical equipment. Speaking with Roe reminded our team there was always more to learn about this class of pervasive chemicals.
Met at ACE24
Ovivo Water
John Davis discussed Ovivo’s advanced PFAS treatment system that uses bubbles to concentrate PFAS into foam, followed by destruction using electromagnets. This technology is suited for small-volume, high-concentration applications, offering a sustainable solution for PFAS removal and destruction.
Met at ACE24
Echo River Capital
Peter Yalles highlighted Echo River Capital’s investment focus on startups that are developing PFAS treatment technologies. His discussion centered on the need for validated solutions that can address water contamination while also contributing to climate change mitigation efforts.
Met at ACE24
Mazeme Ventures
Anders Halsbeny discussed the lack of investment and entrepreneurship in the water sector, specifically related to PFAS. Mazeme Ventures aims to foster innovation in water technology, with a focus on integrating machine learning and biotechnology for better PFAS detection and remediation.
Met at ACE24
WaterWorks
Lon Johnson discussed WaterWorks' role in providing financial support for PFAS-related water technologies. The group aims to bridge the gap between innovative ideas and the necessary investment to bring them to market, supporting both regulatory compliance and sustainability goals.
Met at ACE24
Water-Specialized Venture Fund
Christine Boil described her venture fund’s investment strategy, focusing on startups that offer scalable, effective solutions to water contamination issues like PFAS. With public awareness of PFAS rising, the fund prioritizes companies that can clearly define the problems they address and offer practical, large-scale solutions.
Met at ACE24
NSF International (National Sanitation Foundation)
Kathryn Foster outlined NSF's role in setting public health standards for PFAS in drinking water. She highlighted ongoing efforts to expand regulations, ensuring that more PFAS compounds are included in the certification process, pushing for safer and more effective filtration technologies.
The American Water Works Association is an international, nonprofit, scientific, and educational association dedicated to a better world through better water. In June 2024, a national convention was held in Anaheim, CA, bringing together a wide range of water and PFAS experts.
Impact: ACE24 served as a snapshot of the current PFAS remediation industry. It became clear a bioremediation filtration method was severely lacking. Mechanical methods filled the filtration industry. Even more so, a degradation method of any kind was completely absent. Christine Boil, Lon Johnson, Anders Halsbeny, and Peter Yalles contributed to the pivot in our project through their panel “The Next Big Investment,” where they shared their opinions on the future of the PFAS industry as investors. These investors split the PFAS Industry into two parts, detection and destruction, notably leaving out filtration as an option altogether. Investors voiced a need for more destruction options besides incineration due to its unsustainability and environmental harm. Our team took this breakdown of the industry seriously and began to consider whether our project would meaningfully contribute to it. We began to consider creating our degradation method to allow the industry and investors to have another option than incineration.
We decided to pivot from filtration to degradation of PFAS based on the discussions with water treatment facilities, scientists, industry, and regulatory representatives, who all said that degradation technology is most needed.
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PFAS are used in electronic products to improve their performance.•Quantity of e-waste is increasing globally.•PFAS exposure during e-waste handling can result in health effects. (2022, May 15). Journal of Environmental Management. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301479722008647
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