SERDP FY 2026 New Start Projects
Environmental Restoration (ER) Program Area
The objective of this Statement of Need (SON) was to seek an improved understanding of transformation processes and rates for polyfluoroalkyl substances (aka “precursors”) in the subsurface at sites impacted by aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), specifically to support quantitative assessments of perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) mass flux both in the unsaturated and saturated zones. Specifically, the goal was to address the following research needs:
- Identify microbiological and/or abiotic processes and pathways capable of either transforming or degrading AFFF-relevant precursors.
- Evaluate relevant environmental factors that affect transformation rates such as subsurface geochemistry, soil chemical/physical properties, or nutrient availability.
- Develop methodologies and/or molecular biological tools (MBTs) to assess or predict the extent and rate of in situ transformation under ambient field conditions.
The selection of projects that will be funded to address this SON will be complete in Fall 2025.
Research quantify the extent and rate that in situ precursor transformation will directly improve site conceptual models and ultimately management and treatment design at AFFF-impacted sites. Likewise, knowledge of the ubiquity with which transformation processes occur, rates of transformation, how those rates potentially change over time, and the relevant terminal will also lead to more accurate site conceptual models and the specific information needed for modeling and design tools.
