# Responsive Membranes and Advanced Materials for Sensing and Remediation of Halo-organics

> **NIH NIH P42** · UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY · 2024 · $208,614

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Chlorinated organic compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and trichloroethylene (TCE, PCE),
and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) continue to pose both remediation challenges and human health risks.
Despite decades of remediation effort, chloro- and perfluoro-organic compounds remain Superfund pollutants
of national health concern due to their high toxicity, persistence and varied sources of distribution in the
environment. Many current treatments (microbial transformation, carbon adsorption, etc.) for the reclamation of
contaminated water sources are chemical-intensive, energy-intensive, and/or require post-treatment due to
unwanted by-product formation. Project 3 proposes trans-disciplinary integration of the materials surface
science and engineering concepts including responsive polymer and reduced graphene oxide 2D membrane
science, nanostructured metals, and nutrition and food science using approaches common in the biomedical
research field to develop more efficient methods of organic detoxification. The development of nanosized iron-
based materials has brought important and promising techniques into the field of environmental remediation. In
recent years, zero-valent nanoscale metal (especially bimetallic) particles have attracted growing attention in
groundwater remediation of chlorinated solvents. Our overarching goals are to create catalytic domains in
robust polymer hollow fibers and in 2D graphene-based membranes for both reductive and oxidative
degradation and temperature-responsive polymers for PFAS and PCB sorption/ desorption. Two specific aims
are to: 1) to create robust polymeric/gel and 2-D material-based (reduced graphene oxide and composites)
metal catalyzed functionalized membranes and materials to enhance TCE, PCE, PCB degradation efficiency
and reduce material usage, and demonstration of the use of catalytic membrane filters for two site-based
applications, (2) to concentrate and regenerate PFAS and PCB individual compounds using ultra high sorption
capacity temperature responsive hydrogel/membranes or localized heating through AMF (alternating magnetic
field) using magnetite nanoparticles, and to create functionalized smart adsorptive filters and sensors for PFAS
detoxification applications with real-world water samples. Each of these objectives represent highly significant
material science advancement in terms of confined reactive nanosized metals in robust membrane domain,
and novel temperature swing adsorption/desorption through creation of responsive materials. The applications
of our technologies will include collaborations with Rockwell International Site in Russellville, Kentucky for
PCBs and the ATKEMIX TEN Site in Louisville, Kentucky for TCE, PCE, chloroform, and carbon tetrachloride
mixture, identified water utilities in Eastern Kentucky for PFAS sorption application, and Arcadis Corporation
involved with remediation activities.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10767345
- **Project number:** 5P42ES007380-26
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
- **Principal Investigator:** Dibakar Bhattacharyya
- **Activity code:** P42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $208,614
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1997-04-07 → 2027-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10767345

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10767345, Responsive Membranes and Advanced Materials for Sensing and Remediation of Halo-organics (5P42ES007380-26). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10767345. Licensed CC0.

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