Recipient Organization
WATER ILLUMINATION INC
240 DESERT BLOOM
IRVINE,CA 92618
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
This Phase I SBIR project aims to demonstrate the technical feasibility towards commercializing an innovative photochemical water treatment technology to destruct PFAS from groundwater and recycled wastewater for water reuse in agricultural irrigation. It is estimated that water reuse in agriculture will increase multifold the next decade. The project addresses pressing global contamination risks of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food chain - also known as "forever chemicals" - in irrigation water resources through a novel tunable UV based PFAS destruction technology. The ability to completely destroy PFAS using UV light without generating secondary waste streams or toxic byproducts for agricultural irrigation water treatment will facilitate new, commercially viable ways to mitigate PFAS and enable cost-effective water reuse of nontraditional water resources for crop production. New technology commercialization integrating these novel concepts will establish feasibility and inform future irrigation water treatment. Current and emerging PFAS removal technologies from water have significant drawbacks in byproduct generation and require harsh operating conditions. This new technology is advantageous to existing ones for agricultural irrigation water applications. The project directly addresses the USDA SBIR Program Area Priorities relating to water quantity and quality, and conservation of natural resources. It will improve agriculture sustainability and agro-urban ecosystem health by developing an innovative PFAS and trace organics treatment for non-traditional water irrigation.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
50%
Developmental
50%
Goals / Objectives
The overarching goal of this project is to demonstrate the technical feasibility for an effective, innovative and scalable Poly- and Per-fluorinated Substances (PFAS) destruction technology for agricultural irrigation water treatment. Such technology development will promote and optimize sustainable water reuse in agricultural settings. The project team aim to completely destroy PFAS from irrigation water at ambient environmental conditions using chemical-free UV light without generating secondary waste or toxic byproducts will facilitate new and commercially viable technologies to mitigate PFAS and enable cost-effective nontraditional water reuse for crop production. This project is aligned with the USDA SBIR topic area of Conservation of Natural Resources in that it aims to commercialize innovative water treatment technologies, improve and protect the quality and quantity of critical water resources for agricultural irrigation and reduce potential waste streams while sustaining climate-smart food productivity and profitability.
Project Methods
The project will demonstrate the proof-of-concept PFAS destruction via a lab-scale photochemical reactor and real/synthetic wastewater effluent intended for agricultural irrigation.