Hypothesis: Can innovative composite Materials by Design result in reliable capture and adsorption of Cd, Mn, and As from soil and buildings?

Aim I: Multiscale tailored fiber mats for adsorption/removal/capture of Cd, Mn and As enabled from carbon fiber derived precursors

Textile grade carbon fiber precursors

Recycled carbon fiber

Natural fiber materials (e.g. sisal, flax, bamboo)

Aim II: Surface analyses such as porosity,surface area, pore width, micro-pore volume and pore size distribution

Aim III: Scalable materials with: (a) adsorption and filtration of PMs; (c) filtration and capture of PAHs, and (b) chemical adsorption and removal of Cd, Mnand As from air, soil and water.

The mats will be packaged into prototype for field evaluation-(a) cover test mounds of soil containing Cd, Mnand As; (b) packing as filters for interior spaces such as commercial buildings and homes; and (c) packaging into nets that can be placed at bottom of lakes/water bodies.