Characterization of Per- and Polyflouroalkyl Substances in Aqueous Filmforming Foam Wash Waters

Author

John M. Diskin

Date of Award

3-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Engineering Management

Department

Department of Systems Engineering and Management

First Advisor

Willie F. Harper, Jr., PhD

Abstract

The fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act mandated the publication of a military specification for a fluorine-free firefighting foam available for use no later than October 1, 2023. Replacing AFFF with a fluorine-free alternative creates the issue of decontaminating current firefighting infrastructure of residual PFAS without replacing these systems. To eliminate outstanding PFAS, the proposed solution is to drain the AFFF from current fire suppression systems and flush the plumbing three times with uncontaminated water. This study tested the efficacy of the triple rinse method by conducting scaled down experiments on a variety of plumbing components from a retired aircraft hangar fire suppression system. The components tested included straight pipe sections, elbows, and proportioners. Pre- and post-rinse samples were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive xray spectroscopy (EDS) and a model was created to analyze thermodynamic favorability among PFAS and metal oxides. Results indicate that the triple rinse method is capable of partially removing certain PFAS and that metal oxides may contribute to desorption kinetics. To this author’s awareness, this is the first research to study PFAS interactions with plumbing surfaces through the combination of experimental observations and density functional theory. The sum of these results is expected to inform decontamination protocols for firefighting infrastructure containing AFFF.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-ENV-MS-24-M-116

Comments

A 12-month embargo was observed for posting this work on AFIT Scholar.

Distribution Statement A, Approved for Public Release. PA case number on file.

Recommended Citation

Diskin, John M., "Characterization of Per- and Polyflouroalkyl Substances in Aqueous Filmforming Foam Wash Waters" (2024). Theses and Dissertations. 7744.
https://scholar.afit.edu/etd/7744