Pavankumar Challa Sasi

Pavankumar Challa Sasi is a Research Fellow in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of North Dakota, affiliated with the College of Engineering. His work focuses on innovative water treatment technologies for removing poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from landfill leachate and groundwater.

• Education: B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering from Anna University (India) and the University of North Dakota, respectively.

Research interests center on PFAS removal via adsorption using granular activated carbon (GAC) and thermal decomposition. Studies reveal that PFAS degradation efficiency increases with temperature and is influenced by carbon chain length and functional groups. Thermal treatment at ≥300°C achieves >99% PFAS removal, with implications for water purification and public health.

Key publications address PFAS stability, GAC mechanisms, and thermal degradation pathways in landfill leachate. His work has been presented at the American Chemical Society, Society of Environmental Toxicology, and regional environmental conferences.

• Scientific Awards:
  • 2nd Prize at the 2021 3MT Competition (University of North Dakota) for research on PFAS destruction.