Dr. Katrina Wruck will present a high-level, digestible literature review on the latest advancements in PFAS removal and destruction from water and biosolids.
Katrina’s presentation will cover current adsorption and destruction technologies, including electro-oxidation, advanced oxidation processes (including photo-catalysis and electro-Fenton), pyrolysis, plasma, sonolysis, and biodegradation. Her presentation will explore these methods, comparing the current state to future advancements, and provide government and industry professionals with insights on enhancing environmental stewardship and sustainability in the Victorian water sector.
Dr Katrina Wruck is an early career Research Fellow in the School of Chemistry and Physics at Queensland University of Technology and a proud Mabuigilaig/Goemulgal (Torres Strait Islander) woman.
Katrina is dedicated to finding innovative, green solutions for industrial and environmental challenges, focusing on emerging contaminants of concern in the environment.
Her current research is centered on the destruction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) using a bench-top, low energy, and low-cost electro-Fenton system designed for deployment in remote locations. This research began during her former appointment as a Research Fellow in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Melbourne. Dr Wruck’s previous work includes the conversion of mining and energy by-products into builders used in detergent formulations, employing a multidisciplinary approach that integrates materials science, process engineering, and chemistry. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Chemistry), a Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Chemistry), and a Doctor of Philosophy. Dr Wruck’s excellence in research has been recognized with the SAGE Publication Prize in 2022, the QLD Women in STEM award for 2022, and the Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award in 2023.
Beyond her research, Dr Wruck actively contributes to several committees, such as the Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group at Science and Technology Australia, the Equity and Diversity Committee at Science and Technology Australia, the Faculty of Engineering and IT Indigenous Advisory Council at the University of Melbourne, and the Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group at the Australian Academy of Science. She is also a passionate advocate for STEM outreach, impacting thousands of students through various programs, workshops, speaking engagements, and community involvement.
Dr Katrina Wruck
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