Unveiling the Mysteries: PFAS Chemistry & Transformation

Unveiling the Mysteries: PFAS Chemistry & Transformation
Thursday, April 17, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm ET

This webinar will provide an introduction to general PFAS chemistry topics, including the different PFAS acronyms, differences between perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and long-chain and short-chain PFAS, a discussion on what precursors are, and how we might measure precursors in the laboratory. A deep dive into the different environmental transformation pathways of PFAS will be presented.
     $99 A&WMA Member; $149 Nonmember
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Presenters: 

Elizabeth Denly, Vice President, PFAS Initiative Leader & Chemistry Director, TRC
Ms. Denly serves as TRC’s PFAS Initiative Leader & Chemistry Director. Ms. Denly is currently serving on the Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC) PFAS team, is a co-leader on the PFAS History & Use Naming Conventions sub-team, serves as a trainer for this team, and won the 2017 and 2022 ITRC Industry Affiliates Award for her contributions to this team. She works on many different types of PFAS investigations with a specific focus on risk liability assessment/management plans, chemistry, sampling procedures, data interpretation, forensics, QA/QC, and analytical methodologies.  
 
Christopher Olivares, Assistant Professor, University of California-Irvine, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Associate Director of UCI's Water-Energy Nexus Center
Chris Olivares (he/él) is an Assistant Professor at the University of California-Irvine in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Associate Director of UCI's Water-Energy Nexus Center. His research laboratory studies the interactions between PFAS and other emerging organic contaminants with microbial processes in the natural and built environment. Chris obtained his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering and M.A. in French at the University of Arizona.

Moderator: Michele E. Karnes, Principal, Coterie Environmental LLC
Ms. Karnes has spent her entire career in the waste combustion industry working on a variety of thermal treatment technologies and specializing in those treating energetic and explosive wastes. Michele started Coterie Environmental in 2008 after working for 10 years in the industry for two other firms. In her technical role, Michele performs engineering studies, assists with system troubleshooting and prove-out, and develops environmental documents such a permit applications and operating and training documentation. She served on the A&WMA Board of Directors from 2015-2020 and was President of the Association in 2019. She currently serves as Association Treasurer. Karnes also chairs A&WMA’s Science of PFAS conference and Waste Information Exchange. Michele has a B.S. in Engineering from the University of Maryland, and is a registered professional engineer in Pennsylvania and Missouri.