AWWA Water Science Author Spotlight

Abstract

Having recently published an article in AWWA Water Science, Levi Haupert answered questions from the publication's editor-in-chief, Kenneth L. Mercer, about the research. Avoiding Pitfalls When Modeling Removal of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances by Anion Exchange Levi M. Haupert, Jonathan G. Pressman, Thomas F. Speth, and David G. Wahman Levi Haupert and his younger son prepare to go climbing at the Cincinnati Zoo. Levi and his wife attend a friend's wedding in New Orleans. The traits I value most in myself as a researcher are my imagination and my resilience. Imagination is important because it allows researchers to construct and compare alternative theories and explanations for available data and experimental results. Without this trait, it is easy to miss important new information or get hung up on dead-end ideas. Resilience is also an essential trait because scientific research is an exploration of the unknown, and it is important for researchers to be able to respond gracefully to unexpected outcomes, whether they are setbacks or opportunities. On vacation in Florida, Levi and his family swam with a dolphin that used to be a movie star. The state of the science for understanding adsorption of PFAS on ion exchange resins is less developed overall than for adsorption of PFAS by granular activated carbon. Accordingly, most of the literature at the time we wrote the article discussed the performance of ion exchange resins in terms of generic adsorption concepts or using theory developed for activated carbon. Our goal was to assemble a collection of existing ion exchange theory and use it to lay the groundwork for building more detailed and specific models of PFAS treatment by ion exchange. Our hope is that the development of these models will allow more useful data to be extracted from laboratory and field experiments, both of which are very costly. I conduct my work in the service of EPA's mission to protect human health and the environment, a cause I am personally invested in. Specifically, several of my close friends and family members live in areas where PFAS contamination of drinking water is a serious concern. This personal connection is an important driving force behind my research. One shadow looming on the horizon is the need to effectively manage large waste streams from treatment of PFAS in drinking water. These waste streams include spent activated carbon, exhausted ion exchange resins, and reject water from membrane systems. Effective methods for storing or destroying these wastes are few, and the increased waste volume in the coming years will almost certainly strain existing capabilities. If the suggestions for modeling and research methodology made in the featured article are widely adopted, I believe that it will be possible to develop a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underpinning the adsorption of PFAS onto ion exchange resins. This improved understanding will in turn lead to more effective and efficient methods for removing PFAS from drinking water, which will have important public health benefits. Levi goes fishing with his older son. I prefer quiet, peaceful activities when I need to recharge from a stressful day. I enjoy hiking, fossil hunting, and bird watching. If the weather is unfavorable, I like to spend time painting with watercolors and practicing broad-pen calligraphy. I also enjoy playing cards and board games with my family. To learn more about Levi's research, visit the article, available online at https://doi.org/10.1002/aws2.1222.