Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of compounds with some or all of the hydrogens in their carbon chain substituted with fluorine. Traditional technologies for treating leachate, including aeration and sedimentation, are insufficient to remove PFAS. Thus, there is a need for pre-treatment alternatives to remove PFAS from landfill leachate and enable landfill operators to continue to sustainably manage landfill leachate via current disposal methods. The team seeks to adapt the technology of applying cationic polymer coagulants currently used in wastewater and drinking water treatment to sequester PFAS for integration with common landfill leachate pre-treatment practices to remove PFAS from leachate.

The specific objectives of the proposed work are:

1. To demonstrate the removal of PFAS from landfill leachate through the application of select cationic polymers.
2. To demonstrate the stability of sequestered PFAS.
3. To develop a process design and economic feasibility analysis for the integration of this technology into a typical leachate pre-treatment process (e.g., sedimentation ponds).