CEE Seminar: Fire-fighting Polyfluorinated Compounds and Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons and Chlorinated Solvents

Abstract: Polyfluorinated alkyl substances are found in aqueous film forming foams (AFFFs) that are applied to extinguish Class B flammable liquid and gas fires. After application of these foams, these polyfluorinated compounds remain, along with co-contaminants commonly found in airports and military bases, such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes (BTEX compounds) and trichloroethylene (TCE). BTEX and TCE can be microbially bioremediated, but the PFAS present at the site might have either stimulating or inhibitory impacts to bioremediation of these co-contaminants. Conversely, bioremediation of these co-contaminants might impact biotransformation of polyfluorinated compounds. This talk will focus on our ongoing work involving biotransformation and inhibition tests with two classes of polyfluorinated compounds, fluorotelomer and electrochemical fluorination-derived substances in aerobic BTEX cometabolism and anaerobic TCE dehalogenation.

Bio: Chris Olivares is joining UCI's Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering as assistant professor in April 2021. Currently, as a postdoctoral fellow in UC Berkeley's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, he studies in‐situ chemical remediation of per‐ and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, as well as the impact of these substances to microbial bioremediation on co-contaminants. He obtained his doctorate in environmental engineering and master's degree in French at the University of Arizona.