{"id":48761,"date":"2024-02-27T13:33:57","date_gmt":"2024-02-27T18:33:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/?p=48761"},"modified":"2024-02-29T13:26:45","modified_gmt":"2024-02-29T18:26:45","slug":"achieving-breakthroughs-in-predicting-pfas-absorption-in-microplastics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/2024\/02\/27\/achieving-breakthroughs-in-predicting-pfas-absorption-in-microplastics\/","title":{"rendered":"Achieving breakthroughs in predicting PFAS absorption in microplastics"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-_c090cd-68 .kt-block-spacer{height:60px;}.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-_c090cd-68 .kt-divider{border-top-width:1px;height:1px;border-top-color:#eee;width:80%;border-top-style:solid;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-spacer aligncenter kt-block-spacer-_c090cd-68\"><div class=\"kt-block-spacer kt-block-spacer-halign-center\"><hr class=\"kt-divider\" \/><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-subtitle stk-block-subtitle stk-block stk-e67f051\" data-block-id=\"e67f051\"><p class=\"stk-block-subtitle__text stk-subtitle\"><em>UMaine\u2019s PFAS+ Initiative unveils a model for predicting the contaminant\u2019s absorption in microplastics, leading to innovative solutions for water pollution.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">The University of Maine\u2019s PFAS+ Initiative developed a novel model for predicting the absorption of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by microplastics in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>PFAS are human-made chemicals linked to a growing list of medical concerns and can bioaccumulate in plants, animals and people. They have been used widely in industrial and consumer products since the 1940s for their resistance to grease, oil, water and heat, characteristics that also make them persistent pollutants.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The model developed at UMaine marks a significant breakthrough for efforts that aim to address this challenge, as microplastics in rivers, lakes, and oceans can absorb toxic substances, including PFAS, posing risks to ecosystems and human health.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kt-blocks-testimonials-wrap_3816b7-f3 .kt-svg-testimonial-global-icon{color:#003263;font-size:35px;}.kt-blocks-testimonials-wrap_3816b7-f3 .kt-testimonial-item-0 .kt-svg-testimonial-icon{color:#555555;font-size:50px;}.kt-blocks-testimonials-wrap_3816b7-f3 .kt-testimonial-rating-wrap{margin-top:10px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}.kt-blocks-testimonials-wrap_3816b7-f3 .kt-testimonial-rating-wrap .kb-svg-icon-wrap{color:#ffd700;font-size:16px;}.kt-blocks-testimonials-wrap_3816b7-f3 .kt-testimonial-grid-wrap{gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);}.kt-blocks-testimonials-wrap_3816b7-f3 .kt-testimonial-item-wrap{padding-top:20px;padding-right:20px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:20px;}.kt-blocks-testimonials-wrap_3816b7-f3 .kt-testimonial-item-wrap .kt-testimonial-title{margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:15px;margin-left:0px;}.kt-blocks-testimonials-wrap_3816b7-f3 .kt-testimonial-content{color:#003263;}.kt-blocks-testimonials-wrap_3816b7-f3 .kt-testimonial-name{color:#003263;}.kt-blocks-testimonials-wrap_3816b7-f3 .kt-testimonial-occupation{font-size:15px;}.kt-blocks-testimonials-wrap_3816b7-f3 .kt-testimonial-item-wrap{max-width:500px;}.kt-blocks-testimonials-wrap_3816b7-f3 .kt-svg-testimonial-global-icon svg{display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kt-blocks-testimonials-wrap_3816b7-f3{padding-top:px;padding-bottom:px;margin-top:px;margin-bottom:px;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-testimonials kt-testimonial-halign-left kt-testimonial-style-basic kt-testimonials-media-off kt-testimonials-icon-on kt-testimonial-columns-1 kt-t-xxl-col-1 kt-t-xl-col-1 kt-t-lg-col-1 kt-t-md-col-1 kt-t-sm-col-1 kt-t-xs-col-1 kt-blocks-testimonials-wrap_3816b7-f3 um-UMBlueQuote\"><div class=\"kt-testimonial-grid-wrap\" style=\"grid-row-gap:30px;grid-column-gap:30px\"><div class=\"kt-testimonial-item-wrap kt-testimonial-item-0\" style=\"border-color:#eeeeee;padding-top:20px;padding-right:20px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:20px;max-width:500px\"><div class=\"kt-testimonial-text-wrap\"><div class=\"kt-svg-testimonial-global-icon-wrap\" style=\"margin:px px px px\"><div style=\"display:inline-flex;justify-content:center;align-items:center;color:#003263;border-radius:px;border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding:px px px px\" class=\"kt-svg-testimonial-global-icon kt-svg-testimonial-global-icon-ic_quoteSerifRight\"><svg style=\"display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle\" viewbox=\"0 0 8 8\" height=\"35\" width=\"35\" fill=\"currentColor\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M0 0v3h2c0 1.11-.89 2-2 2v1c1.65 0 3-1.35 3-3v-3h-3zm5 0v3h2c0 1.11-.89 2-2 2v1c1.65 0 3-1.35 3-3v-3h-3z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><\/div><div class=\"kt-testimonial-content-wrap\"><div class=\"kt-testimonial-content\">We are pioneering academic knowledge and trying to lead the world by setting up an example while aligning our efforts to meet the needs of the state. We are training our researchers as they are making cutting-edge discoveries. Our mission happens to be at the forefront of national needs.<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"kt-testimonial-meta-wrap\"><div class=\"kt-testimonial-meta-name-wrap\"><div class=\"kt-testimonial-name-wrap\"><div class=\"kt-testimonial-name\"><em><strong>Onur Apul, <\/strong>Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering<\/em><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>A team of researchers, led by UMaine, designed a model that predicts the interaction between various types of microplastics and PFAS in freshwater and saltwater environments. This model reveals how different factors, such as the characteristics of microplastics and the water\u2019s chemical composition, influence the absorption process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dilara Hatinoglu, a Ph.D. student in civil and environmental engineering at UMaine, played a pivotal role in this work. Her research was guided by her adviser, Onur Apul, assistant professor of environmental engineering at UMaine, and Fran\u00e7ois Perreault, associate professor at the Arizona State University School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The team\u2019s findings streamlined the process of assessing PFAS absorption by microplastics and opened avenues for developing more effective water treatment solutions. Their research revealed several crucial insights, such as the absorption rates of long-chain PFAS by&nbsp; polystyrene microplastics and the various absorption mechanisms in different water types.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The success of this project showcases the collaborative efforts undertaken by the UMaine PFAS+ Initiative. The initiative, steered by a multidisciplinary team of experts, aims to address the growing PFAS pollution crisis through innovative research and solutions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>UMaine\u2019s PFAS+ Initiative unveils a model for predicting the contaminant\u2019s absorption in microplastics, leading to innovative solutions for water pollution. The University of Maine\u2019s PFAS+ Initiative developed a novel model for predicting the absorption of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by microplastics in 2023. PFAS are human-made chemicals linked to a growing list of medical [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":445,"featured_media":48764,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","spc_primary_category":747},"categories":[747],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48761","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research-report"],"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal.jpg",1250,703,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-300x169.jpg",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-768x432.jpg",768,432,true],"large":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-1024x576.jpg",1024,576,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal.jpg",1250,703,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal.jpg",1250,703,false],"archive_9_5":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-360x200.jpg",360,200,true],"portrait_3x4":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-105x59.jpg",105,59,true],"image_16_9":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-600x338.jpg",600,338,true],"image_15_7":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-600x280.jpg",600,280,true],"image_25_7":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-600x168.jpg",600,168,true],"3col-image_16_9":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-317x178.jpg",317,178,true],"3col-image_15_7":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-317x148.jpg",317,148,true],"3col-image_full":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-317x178.jpg",317,178,true],"4col-image_16_9":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-423x238.jpg",423,238,true],"4col-image_15_7":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-423x197.jpg",423,197,true],"4col-image_full":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-423x238.jpg",423,238,true],"6col-image_16_9":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-634x356.jpg",634,356,true],"6col-image_15_7":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-634x296.jpg",634,296,true],"6col-image_full":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-634x357.jpg",634,357,true],"8col-image_16_9":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-846x476.jpg",846,476,true],"8col-image_15_7":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-846x395.jpg",846,395,true],"8col-image_full":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-846x476.jpg",846,476,true],"9col-image_16_9":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-951x535.jpg",951,535,true],"9col-image_15_7":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-951x444.jpg",951,444,true],"9col-image_full":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-951x535.jpg",951,535,true],"12col-image_16_9":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal.jpg",1250,703,false],"12col-image_15_7":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-1250x592.jpg",1250,592,true],"12col-image_full":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal.jpg",1250,703,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-320x180.jpg",320,180,true],"gform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PFAS+ Initiative unveils a model for predicting the contaminant\u2019s absorption in microplastics, leading to innovative solutions for water pollution. The University of Maine\u2019s PFAS+ Initiative developed a novel model for predicting the absorption of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by microplastics in 2023. PFAS are human-made chemicals linked to a growing list of medical concerns and can bioaccumulate in plants, animals and people. They have been used widely in industrial and consumer products since the 1940s for their resistance to grease, oil, water and heat, characteristics that also make them persistent pollutants.&nbsp; The model developed at UMaine marks a&hellip;<\/p>\n","category_list_v2":"<a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/category\/research-report\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Annual Research Report<\/a>","author_info_v2":{"name":"emiller","url":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/author\/emiller\/"},"comments_num_v2":"0 comments","taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":747,"label":"Annual Research Report"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2024\/02\/pfas-horizontal-1024x576.jpg",1024,576,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"emiller","author_link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/author\/emiller\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":747,"name":"Annual Research Report","slug":"research-report","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":747,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":14,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":747,"category_count":14,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Annual Research Report","category_nicename":"research-report","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48761","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/445"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48761"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48761\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49025,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48761\/revisions\/49025"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48764"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48761"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48761"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48761"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}