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Sharifan H, Bagheri M, Wang D, Burken JG, Higgins CP, Liang Y, Liu J, Schaefer CE, Blotevogel J. Fate and transport of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the vadose zone. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 771:145427. [PMID: 33736164 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a heterogeneous group of persistent organic pollutants that have been detected in various environmental compartments around the globe. Emerging research has revealed the preferential accumulation of PFASs in shallow soil horizons, particularly at sites impacted by firefighting activities, agricultural applications, and atmospheric deposition. Once in the vadose zone, PFASs can sorb to soil, accumulate at interfaces, become volatilized, be taken up in biota, or leach to the underlying aquifer. At the same time, polyfluorinated precursor species may transform into highly recalcitrant perfluoroalkyl acids, changing their chemical identity and thus transport behavior along the way. In this review, we critically discuss the current state of the knowledge and aim to interconnect the complex processes that control the fate and transport of PFASs in the vadose zone. Furthermore, we identify key challenges and future research needs. Consequently, this review may serve as an interdisciplinary guide for the risk assessment and management of PFAS-contaminated sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamidreza Sharifan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Majid Bagheri
- Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Department, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, USA
| | - Dan Wang
- Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0C3, Canada
| | - Joel G Burken
- Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Department, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, USA
| | - Christopher P Higgins
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, USA
| | - Yanna Liang
- Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, University at Albany, SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Jinxia Liu
- Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0C3, Canada
| | | | - Jens Blotevogel
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
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52
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Liu M, Munoz G, Vo Duy S, Sauvé S, Liu J. Stability of Nitrogen-Containing Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Aerobic Soils. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:4698-4708. [PMID: 33739092 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c05811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Zwitterionic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) used in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) could face diverse environmental fates once released at military bases, airports, fire-training areas, and accidental release sites. Here, we studied for the first time the transformation potential of four electrochemical fluorination (ECF)-based PFAS zwitterions (two carboxyl betaines and two tertiary amines) in aerobic soils. The two perfluoroalkyl sulfonamide derivatives were precursors to perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), while the amide derivatives were precursors to perfluorooctane carboxylate (PFOA). These zwitterions and four other previously reported zwitterions or cations were compared for their transformation pathways and kinetics. Structural differences, especially the nitrogen head groups, largely influenced the persistence of these compounds in aerobic soils. The perfluoroalkyl sulfonamide-based compounds showed higher microbial stability than the corresponding perfluoroalkyl amide-based ones. Their stability in aerobic soils is ranked based on the magnitude of DT50 (time for 50% of substance to disappear): quaternary ammonium ≈ carboxyl betaine ≫ tertiary amine > amine oxide. The PFASs containing quaternary ammonium or betaine groups showed high stability in soils, with the longest DT50 likely to be years or decades, while those with tertiary amine or amine oxide groups showed DT50 of weeks or months. These eight ECF-based precursors provide insights into the degradation pathways and persistence in surface soils of other perfluoroalkyl cations and zwitterions present in AFFFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Liu
- Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C3, Canada
| | - Gabriel Munoz
- Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C3, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Sung Vo Duy
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Sébastien Sauvé
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Jinxia Liu
- Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C3, Canada
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53
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Sima MW, Jaffé PR. A critical review of modeling Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the soil-water environment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 757:143793. [PMID: 33303199 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Due to their health effects and the recalcitrant nature of their CF bonds, Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are widely investigated for their distribution, remediation, and toxicology in ecosystems. However, very few studies have focused on modeling PFAS in the soil-water environment. In this review, we summarized the recent development in PFAS modeling for various chemical, physical, and biological processes, including sorption, volatilization, degradation, bioaccumulation, and transport. PFAS sorption is kinetic in nature with sorption equilibrium commonly quantified by either a linear, the Freundlich, or the Langmuir isotherms. Volatilization of PFAS depends on carbon chain length and ionization status and has been simulated by a two-layer diffusion process across the air water interface. First-order kinetics is commonly used for physical, chemical, and biological degradation processes. Uptake by plants and other biota can be passive and/or active. As surfactants, PFAS have a tendency to be sorbed or concentrated on air-water or non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL)-water interfaces, where the same three isotherms for soil sorption are adopted. PFAS transport in the soil-water environment is simulated by solving the convection-dispersion equation (CDE) that is coupled to PFAS sorption, phase transfer, as well as physical, chemical, and biological transformations. As the physicochemical properties and concentration vary greatly among the potentially thousands of PFAS species in the environment, systematic efforts are needed to identify models and model parameters to simulate their fate, transport, and response to remediation techniques. Since many process formulations are empirical in nature, mechanistic approaches are needed to further the understanding of PFAS-soil-water-plant interactions so that the model parameters are less site dependent and more predictive in simulating PFAS remediation efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew W Sima
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Peter R Jaffé
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
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54
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Umeh AC, Naidu R, Shilpi S, Boateng EB, Rahman A, Cousins IT, Chadalavada S, Lamb D, Bowman M. Sorption of PFOS in 114 Well-Characterized Tropical and Temperate Soils: Application of Multivariate and Artificial Neural Network Analyses. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:1779-1789. [PMID: 33449633 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c07202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The influence of soil properties on PFOS sorption are not fully understood, particularly for variable charge soils. PFOS batch sorption isotherms were conducted for 114 temperate and tropical soils from Australia and Fiji, that were well-characterized for their soil properties, including total organic carbon (TOC), anion exchange capacity, and surface charge. In most soils, PFOS sorption isotherms were nonlinear. PFOS sorption distribution coefficients (Kd) ranged from 5 to 229 mL/g (median: 28 mL/g), with 63% of the Fijian soils and 35% of the Australian soils showing Kd values that exceeded the observed median Kd. Multiple linear regression showed that TOC, amorphous aluminum and iron oxides contents, anion exchange capacity, pH, and silt content, jointly explained about 53% of the variance in PFOS Kd in soils. Variable charge soils with net positive surface charges, and moderate to elevated TOC content, generally displayed enhanced PFOS sorption than in temperate or tropical soils with TOC as the only sorbent phase, especially at acidic pH ranges. For the first time, two artificial neural networks were developed to predict the measured PFOS Kd (R2 = 0.80) in the soils. Overall, both TOC and surface charge characteristics of soils are important for describing PFOS sorption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony C Umeh
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia
- Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia
| | - Ravi Naidu
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia
- Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia
| | - Sonia Shilpi
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia
| | - Emmanuel B Boateng
- School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia
- Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology, Victoria 3122, Australia
| | - Aminur Rahman
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia
| | - Ian T Cousins
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, SE-10691, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sreenivasulu Chadalavada
- Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia
| | - Dane Lamb
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia
| | - Mark Bowman
- Australian Department of Defence, BP26-2-B009, Brindabella Business Park, Canberra Airport, Deakin ACT 2600, Australia
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Van Glubt S, Brusseau ML, Yan N, Huang D, Khan N, Carroll KC. Column versus batch methods for measuring PFOS and PFOA sorption to geomedia. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 268:115917. [PMID: 33143983 PMCID: PMC7746577 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study is to compare the consistency between column and batch experiment methods for measuring solid-phase sorption coefficients and isotherms for per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are used as representative PFAS, and experiments are conducted with three natural porous media with differing geochemical properties. Column-derived sorption isotherms are generated by conducting multiple experiments with different input concentrations (multi-C0 method) or employing elution-front integration wherein the entire isotherm is determined from a single breakthrough curve (BTC) elution front. The isotherms generated with the multi-C0 column method compared remarkably well to the batch isotherms over an aqueous concentration range of 3-4 orders of magnitude. Specifically, the 95% confidence intervals for the individual isotherm variables overlapped, producing statistically identical regressions. The elution-front integration isotherms generally agreed with the batch isotherms, but exhibited noise and systematic deviation at lower concentrations in some cases. All data sets were well described by the Freundlich isotherm model. Freundlich N values ranged from 0.75 to 0.81 for PFOS and was 0.87 for PFOA and are consistent with values reported in the literature for different geomedia. The results of this study indicate that column and batch experiments can measure consistent sorption isotherms and sorption coefficients for PFOS and PFOA when robust experimental setup and data analysis are implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Van Glubt
- Environmental Science Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
| | - Mark L Brusseau
- Environmental Science Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States.
| | - Ni Yan
- Environmental Science Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States; Key Lab of Marine Environmental Science and Ecology, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Dandan Huang
- Environmental Science Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States; School of Water Resources & Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, PR China
| | - Naima Khan
- Department of Plant & Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, United States
| | - Kenneth C Carroll
- Department of Plant & Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, United States
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56
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Adamson DT, Nickerson A, Kulkarni PR, Higgins CP, Popovic J, Field J, Rodowa A, Newell C, DeBlanc P, Kornuc JJ. Mass-Based, Field-Scale Demonstration of PFAS Retention within AFFF-Associated Source Areas. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:15768-15777. [PMID: 33270425 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c04472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Transport of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF)-impacted sites is limited by various processes that can retain PFAS mass within the source area. This study used concentration data obtained via a high-resolution sampling and analytical protocol to estimate the PFAS mass distribution in source and downgradient areas of a former firefighter training area. The total PFAS mass present at the site was approximately 222 kg, with 106 kg as perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and 116 kg as polyfluorinated precursors. Zwitterionic and cationic PFAS represented 83% of the total precursor mass and were found primarily in the source and up/side-gradient areas (75%), likely due to preferential hydrophobic partitioning, electrostatic interactions, and diffusion into lower-permeability soils. Based on the release history and the high percentage of total PFAS mass represented by precursors (primarily electrochemical fluorination-derived compounds), the estimated conversion rate of precursors to PFAAs was less than 2% annually. Eighty-two percent of the total PFAS mass was encountered in lower-permeability soils, which limited the potential for advection and transformation. This contributed to a 99% decrease in the mass discharge rate at the far-downgradient plume (0.048 kg/yr compared to the near-source area (3.6 kg/yr)). The results provide field-scale evidence of the importance of these PFAS retention processes at sites where AFFF has been released.
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Affiliation(s)
- David T Adamson
- GSI Environmental Inc., 2211 Norfolk Suite 1000, Houston, Texas 77098, United States
| | - Anastasia Nickerson
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1500 Illinois Street, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Poonam R Kulkarni
- GSI Environmental Inc., 2211 Norfolk Suite 1000, Houston, Texas 77098, United States
| | - Christopher P Higgins
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1500 Illinois Street, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Jovan Popovic
- Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, 1100 23rd Avenue, Port Hueneme, California 93041, United States
| | - Jennifer Field
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Alix Rodowa
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Charles Newell
- GSI Environmental Inc., 2211 Norfolk Suite 1000, Houston, Texas 77098, United States
| | - Phil DeBlanc
- GSI Environmental Inc., 2211 Norfolk Suite 1000, Houston, Texas 77098, United States
| | - John J Kornuc
- Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, 1100 23rd Avenue, Port Hueneme, California 93041, United States
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Nguyen TMH, Bräunig J, Thompson K, Thompson J, Kabiri S, Navarro DA, Kookana RS, Grimison C, Barnes CM, Higgins CP, McLaughlin MJ, Mueller JF. Influences of Chemical Properties, Soil Properties, and Solution pH on Soil-Water Partitioning Coefficients of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:15883-15892. [PMID: 33249833 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c05705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the soil-water partitioning behavior of a wider range of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) onto soils covering diverse soil properties. The PFASs studied include perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs), perfluoroalkane sulfonates (PFSAs), fluorotelomer sulfonates (FTSs), nonionic perfluoroalkane sulfonamides (FASAs), cyclic PFAS (PFEtCHxS), per- and polyfluoroalkyl ether acids (GenX, ADONA, 9Cl-PF3ONS), and three aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF)-related zwitterionic PFASs (AmPr-FHxSA, TAmPr-FHxSA, 6:2 FTSA-PrB). Soil-water partitioning coefficients (log Kd values) of the PFASs ranged from less than zero to approximately three, were chain-length-dependent, and were significantly linearly related to molecular weight (MW) for PFASs with MW > 350 g/mol (R2 = 0.94, p < 0.0001). Across all soils, the Kd values of all short-chain PFASs (≤5 -CF2- moieties) were similar and varied less (<0.5 log units) compared to long-chain PFASs (>0.5 to 1.5 log units) and zwitterions AmPr- and TAmPr-FHxSA (∼1.5 to 2 log units). Multiple soil properties described sorption of PFASs better than any single property. The effects of soil properties on sorption were different for anionic, nonionic, and zwitterionic PFASs. Solution pH could change both PFAS speciation and soil chemistry affecting surface complexation and electrostatic processes. The Kd values of all PFASs increased when solution pH decreased from approximately eight to three. Short-chain PFASs were less sensitive to solution pH than long-chain PFASs. The results indicate the complex interactions of PFASs with soil surfaces and the need to consider both PFAS type and soil properties to describe mobility in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thi Minh Hong Nguyen
- QAEHS, Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Jennifer Bräunig
- QAEHS, Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Kristie Thompson
- QAEHS, Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Jack Thompson
- QAEHS, Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Shervin Kabiri
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, PMB1, Glen Osmond, South Australia 5064, Australia
| | - Divina A Navarro
- CSIRO, The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Land and Water, PMB 2, Glen Osmond, South Australia 5064, Australia
| | - Rai S Kookana
- CSIRO, The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Land and Water, PMB 2, Glen Osmond, South Australia 5064, Australia
| | | | - Craig M Barnes
- Airservices Australia, 25 Constitution Avenue, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Christopher P Higgins
- QAEHS, Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Michael J McLaughlin
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, PMB1, Glen Osmond, South Australia 5064, Australia
| | - Jochen F Mueller
- QAEHS, Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia
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Chen H, Munoz G, Duy SV, Zhang L, Yao Y, Zhao Z, Yi L, Liu M, Sun H, Liu J, Sauvé S. Occurrence and Distribution of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Tianjin, China: The Contribution of Emerging and Unknown Analogues. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:14254-14264. [PMID: 33155469 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c00934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Tianjin, located in Bohai Bay, China, constitutes a relevant study area to investigate emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) due to its high population density, clustering of chemical and aircraft industries, as well as international airports, harbors, and oil rigs. In this study, 53 anionic, zwitterionic, and cationic PFASs were monitored in river surface water, groundwater, seawater, and sediments in this area (overall n = 226). 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonic acid (Cl-PFESA), perfluorooctanoic acid, and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid were generally the predominant PFASs. 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamidoalkyl betaine (6:2 FTAB) was also widespread (occurrence >86%), with the highest concentration (1300 ng/L) detected at contamination hot spots impacted by wastewater effluents. The aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF)-related PFASs with sulfonamide betaine, amine oxide, amine, or quaternary ammonium moieties are also reported for the first time in river water and seawater samples. Fifteen classes of infrequently reported PFASs, including n:2 FTABs and n:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide amines, hydrogen-substituted PFESA homologues, and p-perfluorous nonenoxybenzenesulfonate (OBS), were also identified in the water and sediment samples using suspect screening. Field-derived sediment-water distribution coefficients (Kd) of these emerging PFASs are provided for the first time, confirming that cationic and zwitterionic PFASs tend to be strongly associated with sediments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0C3, Canada
| | - Gabriel Munoz
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Sung Vo Duy
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Lu Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Yiming Yao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Zhen Zhao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Lixin Yi
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Min Liu
- Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0C3, Canada
| | - Hongwen Sun
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Jinxia Liu
- Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0C3, Canada
| | - Sébastien Sauvé
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada
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59
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Fluorinated Surfactant Adsorption on Mineral Surfaces: Implications for PFAS Fate and Transport in the Environment. SURFACES 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/surfaces3040037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Fluorinated surfactants, which fall under the class of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are amphiphilic molecules that comprise hydrophobic fluorocarbon chains and hydrophilic head-groups. Fluorinated surfactants have been utilized in many applications, e.g., fire-fighting foams, paints, household/kitchenware items, product packaging, and fabrics. These compounds then made their way into the environment, and have been detected in soil, fresh water, and seawater. From there, they can enter human bodies. Fluorinated surfactants are persistent in water and soil environments, and their adsorption onto mineral surfaces contributes to this persistence. This review examines how fluorinated surfactants adsorb onto mineral surfaces, by analyzing the thermodynamics and kinetics of adsorption, and the underlying mechanisms. Adsorption of fluorinated surfactants onto mineral surfaces can be explained by electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and ligand and ion exchange. The aqueous pH, varying salt or humic acid concentrations, and the surfactant chemistry can influence the adsorption of fluorinated surfactants onto mineral surfaces. Further research is needed on fluorinated surfactant adsorbent materials to treat drinking water, and on strategies that can modulate the fate of these compounds in specific environmental locations.
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60
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Nickerson A, Maizel AC, Kulkarni PR, Adamson DT, Kornuc JJ, Higgins CP. Enhanced Extraction of AFFF-Associated PFASs from Source Zone Soils. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:4952-4962. [PMID: 32200626 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c00792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) derived from aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) are increasingly recognized as groundwater contaminants, though the composition and distribution of AFFF-derived PFASs associated with soils and subsurface sediments remain largely unknown. This is particularly true for zwitterionic and cationic PFASs, which may be incompletely extracted from subsurface solids by analytical methods developed for anionic PFASs. Therefore, a method involving sequential basic and acidic methanol extractions was developed and evaluated for recovery of anionic, cationic, and zwitterionic PFASs from field-collected, AFFF-impacted soils. The method was validated by spike-recovery experiments with equilibrated soil-water-AFFF and analytical standards. To determine the relative importance of PFASs lacking commercially available analytical standards, their concentrations were estimated by a novel semiquantitation approach. Total PFAS concentrations determined by semiquantitation were compared with concentrations determined by the total oxidizable precursor assay. Finally, the described method was applied to two soil cores from former fire-training areas in which cations and zwitterions were found to contribute up to 97% of the total PFAS mass. This result demonstrates the need for extraction and analysis methods, such as the ones presented here, that are capable of quantifying cationic and zwitterionic PFASs in AFFF-impacted source zone soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Nickerson
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1500 Illinois Street, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Andrew C Maizel
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1500 Illinois Street, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Poonam R Kulkarni
- GSI Environmental Inc., 2211 Norfolk Suite 1000, Houston, Texas 77098, United States
| | - David T Adamson
- GSI Environmental Inc., 2211 Norfolk Suite 1000, Houston, Texas 77098, United States
| | - John J Kornuc
- NAVFAC EXWC, 1100 23rd Avenue, Port Hueneme, California 93041, United States
| | - Christopher P Higgins
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1500 Illinois Street, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
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