Title: PFAS Transformation and Immobilization – Tools for PFAS Site Management

My research seeks to provide site managers with practical tools and data to make informed decisions about PFAS risk, focusing on technologies that control the spread of these contaminants and prioritize remediation strategies. This presentation will give an overview of the performance of the use of colloidal activated carbon (CAC) at contaminated sites containing both PFAS and trichloroethene (TCE), where activated carbon might facilitate TCE transformation. I will also discuss the use of passive samplers to monitor these dilute sites and the use of quick, shake-batch studies to estimate field-leaching rates to determine the time for complete removal of these contaminates from a site. Specific focus is placed on activated carbon, as emerging research suggests that complete degradation of PFAS in-situ is likely not a viable treatment approach but could be used to facilitate transformation of co-contaminants such as TCE.

Name: Alexander Arthur Haluska

Dr. Alexander Haluska is a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Tübingen, Germany. His research focuses on innovative solutions for PFAS contamination, including optimizing activated carbon for PFAS removal, designing passive samplers for surface water monitoring, and investigating pollutant transformations in groundwater. In Fall 2024, he will join Geosyntec as an Environmental Remediation Scientist, leveraging his research expertise to translate laboratory advancements into effective field-scale solutions for PFAS remediation.

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