AMIT HASAN ANIK
North Dakota State University, PhD in Civil Engineering
EREF Scholar 2026
Project Title
Leachate Recirculation to Reduce PFAS Discharge from Landfills
Project Description
Anik’s research focuses on reducing the release of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often called “forever chemicals”, from landfills. PFAS-containing products and materials are discarded in landfills, where PFAS can leach out of the waste and dissolve into landfill leachate. This contaminated leachate may then be sent to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), where PFAS are not completely removed and can eventually be discharged into rivers, surface water, and groundwater. The broad objective of this research is to investigate whether landfills themselves can be used more effectively to retain PFAS through leachate recirculation. During this process, collected leachate is returned to the landfill and allowed to pass repeatedly through waste materials. Plastics and organic matter in landfills can adsorb and retain PFAS. This study will examine how PFAS interact with these materials and how factors such as leachate chemistry, PFAS characteristics, waste properties, and recirculation conditions influence their retention or release. To evaluate this process, landfill-derived organic materials, plastics, and leachate will be used in laboratory-scale experiments that simulate conditions within actual landfills. These experiments will help determine how effectively different waste materials can capture PFAS and how repeated leachate recirculation affects their movement over time. This research is important because many existing PFAS treatment technologies are effective but can be costly, technically complex, and difficult to implement directly at landfill sites. A better understanding of PFAS behavior during leachate recirculation could support the development of a more practical, cost-effective management strategy. Ultimately, this work may help the solid waste industry reduce PFAS discharge from landfills, improve leachate management practices, and limit the release of persistent contaminants into surrounding water resources.
Biography
Amit Hasan Anik is a PhD student in the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering at North Dakota State University (NDSU), where he conducts research under the supervision of Dr. Syeed Md Iskander, a 2016 EREF scholar. Amit began his academic journey at Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), where he earned his BSc in Environmental Science in 2020 and MSc in Environmental Science in 2022. Before joining NDSU, he served as a Lecturer in the Department of Environmental Science at BUP. His research interests encompass solid waste management, waste-to-energy conversion, and the fate, transport, and environmental behavior of toxic and emerging contaminants. His doctoral research at NDSU focuses on investigating the fate and transport of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in compost, with an emphasis on understanding contaminant dynamics and their implications for sustainable waste management and environmental protection. Through his academic, teaching, and research experiences, Amit aims to contribute to innovative and sustainable solutions in advanced solid waste management and pursue a career in research and academia.
