Date Approved
6-30-2025
Embargo Period
6-30-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S. Civil Engineering
Department
Civil engineering
College
Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering
Advisor
Zhiming Zhang, Ph.D.
Committee Member 1
Jagadish Torlapati, Ph.D.
Committee Member 2
Giacomo de Falco, Ph.D.
Keywords
Absorption;Desorption;LC-MS/MS;Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances;Urban Stormwater Runoff;Water Treatment Residuals
Disciplines
Civil and Environmental Engineering | Civil Engineering | Engineering
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are emerging contaminants known for their persistence with widespread environmental and health concerns. Urban stormwater runoff could be a non-point pollution source that transports PFAS to receiving water bodies. This study analyzed types and concentrations of PFAS in stormwater runoff from Trenton and Glassboro, New Jersey, with samples collected from high- and low-traffic areas during precipitation events in February, June, July, and August 2024. Significantly higher concentrations of PFAS were identified in high-traffic areas than low-traffic areas (p< 0.05) in both cities for most sampling events, confirming the role of traffic in PFAS dispersal. To address PFAS contamination in stormwater runoff, this study evaluated the removal of six U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)-regulated PFAS compounds from synthetic stormwater runoff using aluminum-based water treatment residuals (Al-WTRs, by-products of the drinking water treatment process). The findings demonstrated that Al-WTRs exhibited high sorption capacities and low desorption rates for PFAS, particularly for long-chain PFAS compounds such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), supporting their potential as an economical and effective sorbent for stormwater PFAS management. Furthermore, the durability and sustained performance of Al-WTRs indicated their feasibility for future field-scale applications.
Recommended Citation
RAHAMAN, MUSTAFIZUR, "MONITORING AND MITIGATION OF PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS) IN URBAN STORMWATER RUNOFF" (2025). Theses and Dissertations. 3413.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/3413
