Summary

The research team is developing a sensor for monitoring of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water to help achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. PFAS have received particular attention in the past decade due to their persistent and bio-accumulative nature and high toxicity. The proposed sensor is based on infrared (IR) spectroscopy that incorporates advanced nano-scale adsorbent materials for pre-concentration of contaminants to achieve high selectivity and sensitivity. The proposed technology can be adapted for portable, automatable, and cost-effective screening of water in field conditions and for in-line water quality monitoring at public surface or ground water treatment plants.