EES Seminar: Sustainable Nanotechnology Solutions for Emerging Water Pollution from PFAS, N. Aich, U. Nebraska

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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are an expansive class of over 15000 compounds that have become 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 require novel treatment technologies. My 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. I will present my group’s research efforts on the PFAS treatment through the rational and safer-design of novel carbon-metallic nanohybrids (i.e., single nano-entity which is 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. I will also discuss how we can leverage advanced manufacturing and membrane processes to design sustainable and scalable technologies for PFAS treatment.

Dr. Aich obtained his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 2015, M.S. in Environmental Engineering from the University of South Carolina in 2012, and B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology in 2009. His research resulted in >60 journal articles, 7 book chapters, 6 conference papers, and 2 patents. His research has been supported by NSF, NIH/NIEHS, USDA, USEPA, DOD/SERDP, and USGS. Dr. Aich has received the National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award in 2022, 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 is also serving as an early career advisory board member in the editorial board of the Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters.