Removal of Endocrine Disruptor Bisphenol A from Water

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a compound used primarily in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. The
compound has been confirmed as an endocrine disruptor chemical & is an environmental pollutant; ubiquitous
across aquatic environments.
Whilst many health risks from acute or chronic exposure remain unknown, BPA has been shown to cause hormone
imbalances and reduce or prevent fertility in humans & several aquatic species. Recently, an EU ban on BPA
based thermal paper (used for printed cashiers' receipts) was announced and will be enforced from 2020. As BPA is
on the candidate list for 'substances of very high concern', it is expected that further legislation limiting its use will be
introduced in the near future.
Development of sustainable methods to control BPA concentrations, across aquatic environments, is important to
maintain the sustainability of eco-systems, and for control of water quality. This will continue to be important for the
foreseeable future as BPA leeches out of waste in landfill (where ground water management is not tightly controlled)
and from plastic pollution in oceans and freshwater.
Current BPA removal processes are predominantly based on freshwater treatment and are very energy intensive,
cost intensive, and/or demonstrate low removal efficiencies.
This project aims to create a floating device which can remove BPA from water, at low energy cost, and without the
need for disruption to existing water processing infrastructure. Based on previous results, we believe it is possible to
develop, test, and optimise a sustainable BPA removal device within the scope of a PhD project. Within this project,
there is also the possibility to adjust the process to remove toxic analogues of BPA - which are often used as
replacements in 'BPA free' plastics.
Potential applications for this device include treatment of sea water in areas of concentrated plastic waste (such as
ocean gyres), at coastal waste water discharge points, and...