PAULINA ALULEMA-PULLUPAXI 

Pennsylvania State University, PhD in Environmental Engineering 

Detachable Container Association Scholar 2026 

Project Title 

End-of-Life Behavior of Short-Chain PFAS Treated by Granular Activated Carbon in Solid Waste Management Facilities 

Project Description 

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) or also know as “Forever chemicals” are contaminating drinking water supplies across the United States and worldwide. To remove them, water treatment facilities use a filtering material like granular activated carbon, which traps PFAS before they reach our taps. But once this material is saturated, it ends up in landfills, and previous research showed that the smallest PFAS compounds, known as short-chain PFAS, escape back into the environment most easily under landfill conditions, threatening groundwater and nearby communities. This project tests a chemical strategy called hydrophobic ion pairing (HIP), which modifies PFAS chemistry to capture short-chain PFAS more securely. My research evaluates how stable (HIP) is over time and across different materials (carbon porous materials used as sorbents), and assesses its environmental implications through life-cycle analysis; giving utilities, regulators, and waste managers the science they need to make safer, long-term disposal decisions. 

Biography 

Paulina Alulema-Pullupaxi earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Escuela Politécnica Nacional in Quito, Ecuador, before obtaining her Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Maine. She is pursuing a PhD in Environmental Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University, starting in 2025. Her research focuses on the fate and transport of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in environmental systems, advanced treatment technologies, and the end-of-life behavior of PFAS-laden materials. In addition to her academic accomplishments, Paulina is actively involved in community service and volunteer work. She is the co-founder of Ayriwa, a community-based initiative in Ecuador that focuses on environmental education, waste management, and community gardens. She currently serves as Vice President of the Ecuadorian Students Association and volunteers as a mentor with Graduate Women in Engineering at Penn State. Paulina is committed to advancing environmental sustainability and inspiring the next generation of women scientists.