PFAS compounds are an emerging contaminant related to many consumer products. They
are now being understood to accumulate in the environment and within biological
systems, leading to significant health concerns in humans. You are working for a
company to help design a treatment system for PFAS compounds in drinking water.
a. You have received lab data related to kinetic analysis of PFAs compounds. Based
off of the concentration data below determine the reaction rate order and reaction
rate constant of PFAs degradation via advanced oxidation.
Time (minutes)
0
Concentration (uM)
10
5
9.3
10
8.5
15
7.9
30
6.9
60
5
120
2
240
0.8
480
0.09
1440
0.0012
b. PFAs are found at a concentration of 5.5μM in a drinking water source, whereas it
is being proposed that they must be at a concentration of <0.1μM in order to be
safe for human health. In order to achieve this determine the detention time of a
CSTR to treat this for the water treatment system.
c. Repeat part b but for a PFR instead. Compare the two, which would you choose to
use?