Location: Water Management and Conservation Research
Project Number: 2020-13660-009-019-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jun 19, 2025
End Date: Sep 30, 2026
Objective:
The overarching goal is to characterize biosolids as both a potential nutrient source and a pollutant carrier in agriculture. The study will focus on:
1. Characterizing PFAS and antimicrobial concentrations in biosolids from multiple treatment facilities.
2. Evaluating the fate and transport of these contaminants in soils amended with biosolids.
3. Assessing plant uptake and accumulation of contaminants in food crops (lettuce and radish).
4. Optimizing analytical methods for co-detection of PFAS and antimicrobials in solid, aqueous, and plant matrices.
Approach:
The study will follow a multi-phase experimental design:
• Phase 1: Sampling & Initial Characterization
Collect biosolids from diverse wastewater treatment facilities across the region. Analyze physical and chemical properties relevant to contaminant mobility and mineral nutrition and plant availability.
• Phase 2: Controlled Growth Chamber Studies
Grow lettuce and radish in multiple soil types amended with biosolids at varying rates.
Monitor plant growth, contaminant uptake, and soil/soil solution chemistry.
• Phase 3: Analytical Method Development and Validation
Use high-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) to analyze PFAS and antimicrobial compounds.
Validate methods for different matrices: biosolids, soil, water, and plant tissue.
Compare manual vs. automated extraction workflows for analytical efficiency and reproducibility.
• Phase 4: Data Integration and Risk Insight
Quantify transfer rates and identify critical control points for contaminant mobility.
Use results to inform best management practices and regulatory frameworks.