CAREER: Kinetics and Mechanisms of Disinfection Byproduct Formation in Fuel-contaminated Waters

This award supports Professor Marron and her group at the University of Hawaii to investigate the formation of harmful disinfection byproducts from the reactions between fuel and chlorine in contaminated drinking water systems. The chemistry of the complex mixtures during disinfection of oil spill is not well understood. Professor Marron and her students will combine laboratory experiments and advanced analytical techniques to identify both key compounds in fuels and their transformation products after chlorination. Kinetics and reaction pathways will be characterized, alongside the effects of fuel changes over time, to understand chlorine-driven transformation under real-world conditions. This work will improve understanding of water treatment in contaminated systems and help to inform exposure assessments and response strategies after pollution events. Education and outreach activities include the development of an undergraduate teaching module in collaboration with local water professionals as well as a community-centered lab that will expand access to low-cost drinking water testing and improve public understanding of chemistry and water treatment. The main objective of this work is to develop a molecular-level understanding of chlorine reactivity with complex mixtures of chemical compounds, addressing a critical gap in chemistry and drinking water research. The research framework will first apply targeted and non-targeted mass spectrometry to identify fuel-derived precursors and both regulated and emerging disinfection byproducts (DBPs) formed in complex aqueous systems. The previously overlooked effects of fuel aging on DBP formation potential will be investigated by simulating weathering processes that alter precursor composition over time. Finally, model precursor classes, including alkylated aromatics, will be linked to intermediates and halogenated products, quantifying kinetics with chlorinating and brominating agents while elucidating reaction pathways. Improved mechanistic understanding of chlorine chemistry and compound transformation offers transferable insights into other emerging contaminant issues. Education and outreach objectives complement research aims by building connections to the community, and by engaging students, water professionals, and the public through a deeper understanding of the science behind public water systems. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. NSF Award ID: 2542537 | Program: 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT | Principal Investigator: Emily Marron | Institution: University of Hawaii, HONOLULU, HI | Award Amount: $660,000 View on NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2542537 View on Research.gov: https://www.research.gov/awardapi-service/v1/awards/2542537.html