(UB)
Research, Innovation and Economic Development
University at Buffalo (UB)
Research, Innovation and Economic Development
Research and Education in Energy,
Environment and Water
The RENEW Institute - A Multidisciplinary Initiative

ERASE-PFAS: Remediation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Wastewater using Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors

Funding Agency: National Science Foundation, CBET

Collaborators: Diana Aga (PI, University at Buffalo); G. Ekin Atilla-Gokcumen (University at Buffalo); Adam Smith (University of Southern California)

Project Description: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly persistent pollutants increasingly detected in wastewater, surface water, and drinking water sources. As many communities adopt water reuse and water resource reclamation facilities (WRRFs) become more widespread, understanding PFAS behavior in these systems is essential. This project explores the potential for PFAS biodegradation and transformation during anaerobic wastewater treatment using anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs), an emerging energy-efficient technology for water reuse. The research will identify conditions and microbial populations capable of PFAS reductive defluorination under environmentally relevant conditions and analyze the resulting transformation products. Additionally, bioactivity assays integrating metabolomics and transcriptomics will be used to evaluate the toxicological effects of PFAS mixtures and their degradation byproducts. By linking treatment performance, microbial processes, and bioactivity outcomes, this study aims to promote sustainable water reuse while reducing the risks associated with PFAS contamination.

This project aims to develop tools for biodegrading PFAS, characterizing their transformation products, and assessing the biological activity of PFAS mixtures in WRRF effluent. Understanding whether transformations such as converting long-chain PFAS to shorter chains are beneficial or harmful under specific conditions is crucial for minimizing contamination and ecological impact. The bioactivity and toxicity of PFAS and their transformation products following AnMBR treatment will be systematically evaluated. An integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics approach will identify cellular pathways affected by PFAS and their transformation products in AnMBRs.

The objectives of the study are to: (1) demonstrate reductive defluorination of PFAS in AnMBRs and identify likely defluorinating microbial populations; (2) characterize biotransformation products and assess the “removal” efficiencies at various AnMBR conditions; and (3) evaluate biological activity of PFAS mixtures using metabolomics and transcriptomics in mammalian cells.

Recent Related Publications:

  1. Costa, B.; Sawaya, C.; Van Buren, J.; *Smith, A. Investigating anaerobic digestion microbiome resilience to high PFOA and PFOS mixtures during cometabolism. Bioresource Technology. 2025. 435:132877.
  2. Balasuriya, D.; Queral-Beltran, A.; Vick, T.; Simpson, S.; Aga, D.S.; *Hoepker, A. Experimental Determination of pKa for 10 PFAS, Mono-, Di-, and Trifluoroacetic Acid by 19F-NMR. Environmental Science and Technology Letters. 2025. 12:1238-1246.
  3. Paddayuman, J.; Wijayahena, M.; Aguilar, J.M.N.; Gernold, Z.; Wallace, J.S.; *Aga, D.S. Isomer-Specific Analysis of PFOS in Wastewater and Avian Eggs Enabled by Cyclic Ion Mobility Spectrometry. Journal of American Society for Mass Spectrometry. 2025. 36(11): 2470-2479.
  4. Camdzic, M.; Aga, D.S.; *Atilla-Gokcumen, G.E. Cellular Lipidome Changes during Retinoic Acid (RA)-Induced Differentiation in SH-SY5Y Cells: A Comprehensive In Vitro Model for Assessing Neurotoxicity of Contaminants. ACS Environment & Health. 2023. 1:110-120.
  5. Vilas-Boas, C.; Running, L.; Pereira, D.; Cidade, H.; Correia-da-Silva, M.; *Atilla-Gokcumen, G.E.; *Aga, D.S. Impact of Tralopyril and Triazolyl Glycosylated Chalcone in Human Retinal Cells’ Lipidome. Molecules. 2022. 27(16): 5247.
  6. Camdzic, M.; Aga, D.S.; *Atilla-Gokcumen, G.E. Cellular Interactions and Fatty Acid Transporter CD36-Mediated Uptake of Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS). ACS Chemical Research in Toxicology. 2022. 35:694-702.
  7. Running, L.; Atilla-Gokcumen, G.E.; *Aga, D.S. Development of a Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry-Based In Vitro Assay to Assess Changes in Steroid Hormones Due to Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. ACS Chemical Research in Toxicology. 2022. 35:1277-1288.