Dr Nathan Weber at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

January marked the start of a new chapter for me as I moved to the Raleigh/Durham area in North Carolina to work as an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) fellow at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As the first foreign national guest to work at the EPA in over 5 years, it was an opportunity that I was very excited for.

As an ORISE fellow at the EPA with my mentor, Dr. Bill Linak, I’ve been fortunate to become involved in several research projects, most of which focus on the thermal treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). EPA’s RTP laboratories include many laboratory- and pilot-scale combustion systems of different designs that are used to develop measurement methods, characterise emissions, and develop control technologies. These include facilities like the pilot-scale ‘Rainbow furnace’ and a pilot-scale ‘Rotary Kiln Incinerator Simulator’ that are currently being used for PFAS thermal destruction research. This site is a hub for some of the leading research on PFAS, which is an even more pressing issue in the U.S. than back home in Australia due to the higher production rates and environmental concentrations here. The EPA’s research includes the development of new and improved measurement methods, field measurements at industrial sites, and inhouse combustion research.

My decision to move to the U.S. was largely influenced by the opportunity to apply my expertise in a context where it could make a significant impact on understanding and mitigating PFAS contamination. My PhD at the University of Newcastle focused on lab-scale research, and now my research will expand to pilot- and full-scale studies at the EPA.

My goal at the EPA is to collaborate with top research scientists and engineers to enhance our understanding of PFAS thermal destruction. We aim to ensure that PFAS containing wastes including legacy PFAS (e.g. PFOA and PFOS), which are present in older aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) and many consumer products, can be thermally mineralised without producing fluorocarbon byproducts, known as products of incomplete combustion, which are a major concern across all PFAS treatment technologies. I will be involved in research involving analytical method development, kinetics studies with North Carolina State University (NCSU), and most importantly determining what incineration parameters can be used to safely destroy PFAS.

We are preparing for a new series of combustion experiments soon, focusing on a lesser-known PFAS compound, HFPO-DA (also known as GenX). Later this year, we plan to transition experiments to the rotary kiln to mimic full-scale thermal treatment processes more closely. It has been great to experience how research is conducted at the EPA and have access to some incredible research tools!

Adjusting to life in the U.S. has been a whirlwind – from learning to drive on the other side of the road to remembering to write the date differently! But I’m settling in and am eager to contribute more to our understanding of safe PFAS treatment.

Looking forward, I am excited about the potential of our upcoming research and the impact it could have. It is a privilege to work alongside some of the brightest minds in the field to tackle one of the most challenging environmental issues of our time.

Dr Nathan Weber is an ORISE postdoctoral researcher at the US EPA, focusing on advancing thermal treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Having recently earned his PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Newcastle, Australia, Nathan combines innovative research and technical expertise to develop solutions for treating these persistent environmental pollutants. His work contributes significantly to the field of environmental remediation.

Article Published on 31/05/2024

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