On this week’s The Sci-Files, your hosts Chelsie and Danny interview Vanessa, Mary, Greg, and Emma.

Together this team of students conducts research on Per-and Poly-fluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) at the Center of Diamond and Coating Technologies-Fraunhofer USA. These students are Vanessa Maldonado (2nd year Ph.D. Student in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science), Mary Ensch (3^rd year Ph.D. student in Chemical Engineering), Greg Landis (undergraduate student in Chemical Engineering) and Emma Davis (undergraduate student in Environmental Engineering).

PFASs are a group of synthetic chemicals used in a wide variety of products including firefighting foams, non-stick cookware, and water-proof clothing. However, due to their high chemical and thermal stability attributed to the carbon-fluorine bond, PFASs are extremely difficult to degrade and persist in nature. The state of Michigan has identified multiple sources of surface water and groundwater polluted with these compounds.

The aim of the research is to develop electrochemical treatment technologies for different wastewaters containing PFASs, including landfill leachates and wastewater streams from industries using PFASs.

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