UROP Project

PFAS Contamination and Transport

Environment, Experiment, PFAS, Measurement, Pollution

Research Mentor: Dr. Youneng Tang, He/him
Department, College, Affiliation: Civil and Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: ytang@eng.famu.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Dennis Ssekimpi He/him
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: ds21k@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:

Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Environmental Engineering; Civil Engineering; Chemical Engineering
Project Location: FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Yes
Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 7, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable

Project Description

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic chemicals that have attracted significant public attention due to their toxicity, widespread use in commercial and consumer products, and recalcitrance to degradation in the environment. PFAS is ubiquitous in solid waste. To prevent solid waste in landfills contaminating groundwater and air, landfills are usually contained by bottom liners and covers. The objective of this project is to determine the PFAS transport characteristics through the bottom liners and covers such as the breakthrough time. We welcome one or two UROP scholar to participate in this research project. Professor Tang and his graduate student will supervise the UROP scholar. The graduate student will provide most of the direct supervision.

Research Tasks: The UROP scholar is expected to:
1) Complete a few lab safety training sessions.
2) Shadow the graduate student.
3) Review the literature to understand PFAS and their contamination.
4) Learn the method based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for measuring one type of PFAS.
5) Use the measurement method to determine the PFAS transport characteristics in diffusion cells.
6) Summarize and discuss the research results in a poster and a white paper.

After the UROP project is completed, there may be an opportunity for the UROP scholar to further study PFAS through undergraduate or graduate research assistantship.


Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: Lab safety training
Recommended: Strong interest in experiments