WASHINGTON – Today, August 27, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing $1,499,979 in research funding to Clarkson University to develop and demonstrate nanosensor technology to detect, monitor and degrade PFAS in groundwater and surface water that may be used as drinking water sources.

“Advances in nanosensor technology can lead to innovative approaches and critical solutions for PFAS removal,” said Chris Frey, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “This research grant will improve our ability to find and address PFAS, which will in turn better protect communities and the environment from PFAS exposures.”

PFAS are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s because of their useful properties. There are thousands of different PFAS, some of which have been more widely used and studied than others. Perfluorooctanoic Acid and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate, for example, are two of the most widely used and studied chemicals in the PFAS group. PFOA and PFOS have been replaced in the United States with other PFAS in recent years. One common characteristic of concern of PFAS is that many break down very slowly and can build up in people, animals and the environment over time.

With this research funding, the team at Clarkson University will develop a new portable nanosensing technology, developed as a stand-alone unit with interchangeable sensing and degradation units, to rapidly estimate the level of PFAS exposure, degrade the PFAS and measure the effectiveness of remediation efforts. The project team will create, validate and put into practice this integrated nanosensor technology for measuring and destroying PFAS in wastewater and groundwater.

Learn more about the project.

Learn more about EPA research grants.