Advancing Sustainable Nanotechnology Solutions for PFAS Separation and Destruction
A Warren Distinguished Lecture with
Nirupam Aich
Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
ABSTRACT
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is an expansive class of over 15,000 compounds that have become a global health concern. The strong C-F bond in some of these compounds and presence of both hydrophobic carbon chain and hydrophilic terminal functional group cause PFAS to be persistent and bio-accumulative, earning the name, ‘Forever Chemicals.’ Unfortunately, major PFAS treatment and destruction using the conventional water and wastewater treatment processes has not been highly effective and requires novel treatment technologies. Aich's research group focuses on the sustainable design, scalable synthesis, and innovative application of novel and multifunctional nanomaterials and nano-systems for water quality engineering while keeping their potential public health impacts to a minimum. Aich presents his group’s research efforts on the PFAS treatment through the rational and safer design of novel carbon-metallic nanohybrids (single nano-entities which are a combination of at least two different nanomaterials), while determining how and to what extent the hybridization of nanomaterials alters their potential environmental and human health risk. Understanding the risk-benefit relationship will allow us to design safer multifunctional nanohybrids for water and PFAS treatment. Aich also discusses how we can leverage advanced manufacturing and membrane processes to design sustainable and scalable technologies for PFAS treatment.
SPEAKER
Nirupam Aich is currently the Richard L. McNeel Associate Professor of Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. His research group, Aich Laboratory for Environmental Nanotechnology and Sustainability (#AichLENS), is developing safer-by-design advanced materials and processes for water treatment and reuse as well as remediation of emerging contaminants including PFAS. Aich obtained his PhD in Environmental Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin (2015), his MS in Environmental Engineering from the University of South Carolina (2012), and his BSc in Chemical Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (2009). His past and present research work has resulted in 86 publications, including 71 peer-reviewed articles in highly reputed journals with more than 2800 citations and an h-index of 31. He has 7 book chapters, 6 peer-reviewed conference papers, and 2 patents. His research has been funded and supported by the Federal Agencies including the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Superfund Research program (NIEHS SRP), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Department of Defense – Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (DOD/SERDP), and US Geological Survey (USGS). As recognition of his accomplishments, Aich received the National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award in 2022, UNL College of Engineering Faculty Distinguished Research Award in 2026, American Academy of Environmental Engineers & Scientists (AAEES) 40 under 40 Recognition in 2023, and Emerging Investigator Awards from the Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization (SNO) in 2019 and Environmental Science: Nano in 2021. He is currently a fellow of UNL Research Leaders Program, National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI), and Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI). He also serves as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Hazardous Materials Organics and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Environmental Engineering & Science Professors (AEESP).
