Synthesis and testing of organically modified clay materials for the removal of perfluoroalkyl acids from contaminated water

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are found in many products used on a daily basis because they have both water and oil repelling properties. They have strong carbon-fluorine bonds that do not readily break down in the environment, making them highly persistent in the environment. These chemicals are also bioaccumulative and toxic. Though they have been used in manufacturing since the 1940s, they have only been recognized and studied in the environment for the past few decades, classifying them as contaminants of emerging concern. The ground water in Hoosick Falls, New York, and Bennington, Vermont, has been contaminated with PFAAs, so there is a need for remediation. This project focuses on modifying clay materials, such as montmorillonite, with organic surfactants for their use in removing PFAAs from water. Using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), we have preliminary data on the removal efficiency of these organically modified clay materials. In future work, we plan to continue to assess the PFAA removal efficiencies of clay materials with varying surfactant loading capacities.