Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are stable, man-made compounds that persist in the environment. We investigated perfluorooctanoic acid’s impact on bacterial respiration in activated sludge and potential co-toxicity with zinc and hexavalent chromium. During experimentation, the concentrations of heavy metals were varied on a gradient with a fixed concentration of PFOA to analyze patterns of growth or inhibition. We analyzed the mass of oxygen consumed over time to draw conclusions about the effects of PFOA, co-toxicity, and age of activated sludge. Our data generally supported the hypothesis of a negative correlation between pollutant levels and bacterial consumption of oxygen.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Madamba, Olivia C.
• Condon, Jennifer S.
• Kay, Deanna M.
• Swett, Shelvey S.

Subject

• Water
• Inclusion
• Sustainability
• Health
• Project-Based Learning
• Environment
• Well-Being
• Innovation

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 20876
• E-project-043021-113617

Keyword

• PFAS
• Respirometry
• Sludge
• Toxicity
• PFOA
• Bacterial Respiration

Advisor

• Kmiotek, Stephen J.
• Bergendahl, John Andrew

Year

• 2021

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation

Date created

• 2021-04-30

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2022-05-16