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Dhulia A, Abou-Khalil C, Kewalramani J, Sarkar D, Boufadel MC. Mobilization of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soils with different organic matter contents. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 361:142503. [PMID: 38825242 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
There is considerable interest in addressing soils contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) because of the PFAS in the environment and associated health risks. The neutralization of PFAS in situ is challenging. Consequently, mobilizing the PFAS from the contaminated soils into an aqueous solution for subsequent handling has been pursued. Nonetheless, the efficiency of mobilization methods for removing PFAS can vary depending on site-specific factors, including the types and concentrations of PFAS compounds, soil characteristics. In the present study, the removal of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) from artificially contaminated soils was investigated in a 2D laboratory setup using electrokinetic (EK) remediation and hydraulic flushing by applying a hydraulic gradient (HG) for a duration of 15 days. The percent removal of PFOA by EK was consistent (∼80%) after a 15-day treatment for all soils. The removal efficiency of PFOS by EK significantly varied with the OM content, where the PFOS removal increased from 14% at 5% OM to 60% at 50% OM. With HG, the percent removal increased for both PFOA and PFOS from about 20% at 5% OM up to 80% at 75% OM. Based on the results, the mobilization of PFAS from organic soil would be appropriate using both hydraulic flushing and EK considering their applicability and advantages over each other for site-specific factors and requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anirban Dhulia
- Center for Natural Resources, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, 07102, USA
| | - Charbel Abou-Khalil
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN, 46556, USA
| | | | - Dibyendu Sarkar
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ, 07030, USA
| | - Michel C Boufadel
- Center for Natural Resources, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, 07102, USA.
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2
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Shahrokhi R, Rahman A, Hubbe MA, Park J. Aminated clay-polymer composite as soil amendment for stabilizing the short- and long-chain per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances in contaminated soil. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 472:134470. [PMID: 38714051 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
Soils contaminated with per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) require immediate remediation to protect the surrounding environment and human health. A novel animated clay-polymer composite was developed by applying polyethyleneimine (PEI) solution onto a montmorillonite clay-chitosan polymer composite. The resulting product, PEI-modified montmorillonite chitosan beads (MMTCBs) were characterized as an adsorptive soil amendment for immobilizing PFAS contaminants. The MMTCBs exhibited good efficiency to adsorb the PFAS, showing adsorption capacities of 12.2, 16.7, 18.5, and 20.8 mg g-1 for PFBA, PFBS, PFOA, and PFOS, respectively, which were higher than those obtained by granular activated carbon (GAC) (i.e., an adsorbent used as a reference). Column leaching tests demonstrated that amending soil with 10% MMTCBs resulted in a substantial decrease in the leaching of PFOA, PFOS, PFBA, and PFBS by 90%, 100%, 64%, and 68%, respectively. These reductions were comparable to the values obtained for GAC-modified soil, particularly for long-chain PFAS. Incorporating MMTCBs into the soil not only preserved the structural integrity of the soil matrix but also enhanced its shear strength (kPa). Conversely, adding GAC to the soil resulted in a reduction of the soil's mechanical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahim Shahrokhi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Aneesu Rahman
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Martin A Hubbe
- Department of Forest Biomaterials, North Carolina State University, NC, United States
| | - Junboum Park
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea; Institute of Construction and Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
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3
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Long M, Zheng CW, Roldan MA, Zhou C, Rittmann BE. Co-Removal of Perfluorooctanoic Acid and Nitrate from Water by Coupling Pd Catalysis with Enzymatic Biotransformation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:11514-11524. [PMID: 38757358 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c10377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
PFAS (poly- and per-fluorinated alkyl substances) represent a large family of recalcitrant organic compounds that are widely used and pose serious threats to human and ecosystem health. Here, palladium (Pd0)-catalyzed defluorination and microbiological mineralization were combined in a denitrifying H2-based membrane biofilm reactor to remove co-occurring perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and nitrate. The combined process, i.e., Pd-biofilm, enabled continuous removal of ∼4 mmol/L nitrate and ∼1 mg/L PFOA, with 81% defluorination of PFOA. Metagenome analysis identified bacteria likely responsible for biodegradation of partially defluorinated PFOA: Dechloromonas sp. CZR5, Kaistella koreensis, Ochrobacterum anthropic, and Azospira sp. I13. High-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and metagenome analyses revealed that the presence of nitrate promoted microbiological oxidation of partially defluorinated PFOA. Taken together, the results point to PFOA-oxidation pathways that began with PFOA adsorption to Pd0, which enabled catalytic generation of partially or fully defluorinated fatty acids and stepwise oxidation and defluorination by the bacteria. This study documents how combining catalysis and microbiological transformation enables the simultaneous removal of PFOA and nitrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Long
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
- Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Chen-Wei Zheng
- Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Manuel A Roldan
- Eyring Materials Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Chen Zhou
- Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Institute for the Environment and Health, Nanjing University, Suzhou Campus, Suzhou 215163, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Bruce E Rittmann
- Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
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4
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Hughey KD, Gallagher NB, Zhao Y, Thakur N, Bradley AM, Koster van Groos PG, Johnson TJ. PFAS remediation: Evaluating the infrared spectra of complex gaseous mixtures to determine the efficacy of thermal decomposition of PFAS. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 362:142631. [PMID: 38885768 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Due to their widespread production and known environmental contamination, the need for the detection and remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has grown quickly. While destructive thermal treatment of PFAS at low temperatures (e.g., 200-500 °C) is of interest due to lower energy and infrastructure requirements, the range of possible degradation products remains underexplored. To better understand the low temperature decomposition of PFAS species, we have coupled gas-phase infrared spectroscopy with a multivariate curve resolution (MCR) analysis and a database of high-resolution PFAS infrared reference spectra to characterize and quantify a complex mixture resulting from potassium perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS-K) decomposition. Beginning at 375 °C, nine prevalent decomposition products (namely smaller perfluorocarbon species) are identified and quantified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendall D Hughey
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA 99352, USA
| | - Neal B Gallagher
- Eigenvector Research, Inc., 196 Hyacinth Road, Manson, WA 98831, USA
| | - Yuwei Zhao
- APTIM, 17 Princess Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, USA
| | - Nikita Thakur
- APTIM, 17 Princess Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, USA
| | - Ashley M Bradley
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA 99352, USA
| | | | - Timothy J Johnson
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA 99352, USA.
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5
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Battye N, Patch D, Koch I, Monteith R, Roberts D, O'Connor N, Kueper B, Hulley M, Weber K. Mechanochemical degradation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in soil using an industrial-scale horizontal ball mill with comparisons of key operational metrics. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 928:172274. [PMID: 38604365 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Horizontal ball mills (HBMs) have been proven capable of remediating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soil. Industrial-sized HBMs, which could easily be transported to impacted locations for on-site, ex-situ remediation, are readily available. This study examined PFAS degradation using an industrial-scale, 267 L cylinder HBM. This is the typical scale used in the industry before field application. Near-complete destruction of 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS), as well as the non-target PFAS in a modern fluorotelomer-based aqueous film forming foam (AFFF), was achieved when spiked onto nepheline syenite sand (NSS) and using potassium hydroxide (KOH) as a co-milling reagent. Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) showed much better and more consistent results with scale-up regardless of KOH. Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) was examined for the first time using a HBM and behaved similarly to PFOS. Highly challenging field soils from a former firefighting training area (FFTA) were purposefully used to test the limits of the HBM. To quantify the effectiveness, free fluoride analysis was used; changes between unmilled and milled soil were measured up to 7.8 mg/kg, which is the equivalent of 12 mg/kg PFOS. Notably, this does not factor in insoluble fluoride complexes that may form in milled soils, so the actual amount of PFAS destroyed may be higher. Soil health, evaluated through the assessment of key microbial and associated plant health parameters, was not significantly affected as a result of milling, although it was characterized as poor to begin with. Leachability reached 100 % in milled soil with KOH, but already ranged from 81 to 96 % in unmilled soil. A limited assessment of the hazards associated with the inhalation of PFAS-impacted dust from ball-milling, as well as the cross-contamination potential to the environment, showed that the risk was low in both cases; however, precautions should always be taken.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Battye
- Environmental Sciences Group, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - David Patch
- Environmental Sciences Group, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Iris Koch
- Environmental Sciences Group, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | | | - Dylan Roberts
- Environmental Sciences Group, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Natalia O'Connor
- Environmental Sciences Group, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Bernard Kueper
- Department of Civil Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Michael Hulley
- Environmental Sciences Group, Department of Civil Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Kela Weber
- Environmental Sciences Group, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON, Canada.
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6
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Mohamed MS, Chaplin BP, Abokifa AA. Adsorption of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on Ni: A DFT investigation. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 357:141849. [PMID: 38599331 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Electrocatalytic destruction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is an emerging approach for treatment of PFAS-contaminated water. In this study, a systematic ab initio investigation of PFAS adsorption on Ni, a widely used electrocatalyst, was conducted by means of dispersion-corrected Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. The objective of this investigation was to elucidate the adsorption characteristics and charge transfer mechanisms of different PFAS molecules on Ni surfaces. PFAS adsorption on three of the most thermodynamically favorable Ni surface facets, namely (001), (110), and (111), was investigated. Additionally, the role of PFAS chain length and functional group was studied by comparing the adsorption characteristics of different PFAS compounds, namely perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), and perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA). For each PFAS molecule-Ni surface facet pair, different adsorption configurations were considered. Further calculations were carried out to reveal the effect of solvation, pre-adsorbed atomic hydrogen (H), and surface defects on the adsorption energy. Overall, the results revealed that the adsorption of PFAS on Ni surfaces is energetically favorable, and that the adsorption is primarily driven by the functional groups. The presence of preadsorbed H and the inclusion of solvation produced less exothermic adsorption energies, while surface vacancy defects showed mixed effects on PFAS adsorption. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that Ni is a promising electrocatalyst for PFAS adsorption and destruction, and that proper control for the exposed facets and surface defects could enhance the adsorption stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed S Mohamed
- Department of Civil, Materials, and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, USA
| | - Brian P Chaplin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, USA
| | - Ahmed A Abokifa
- Department of Civil, Materials, and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, USA.
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7
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Weed RA, Campbell G, Brown L, May K, Sargent D, Sutton E, Burdette K, Rider W, Baker ES, Enders JR. Non-Targeted PFAS Suspect Screening and Quantification of Drinking Water Samples Collected through Community Engaged Research in North Carolina's Cape Fear River Basin. TOXICS 2024; 12:403. [PMID: 38922083 PMCID: PMC11209479 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12060403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
A community engaged research (CER) approach was used to provide an exposure assessment of poly- and perfluorinated (PFAS) compounds in North Carolina residential drinking water. Working in concert with community partners, who acted as liaisons to local residents, samples were collected by North Carolina residents from three different locations along the Cape Fear River basin: upper, middle, and lower areas of the river. Residents collected either drinking water samples from their homes or recreational water samples from near their residence that were then submitted by the community partners for PFAS analysis. All samples were processed using weak anion exchange (WAX) solid phase extraction and analyzed using a non-targeted suspect screening approach as well as a quantitative approach that included a panel of 45 PFAS analytes, several of which are specific to chemical industries near the collection site locations. The non-targeted approach, which utilized a suspect screening list (obtained from EPA CompTox database) identified several PFAS compounds at a level two confidence rating (Schymanski scale); compounds identified included a fluorinated insecticide, a fluorinated herbicide, a PFAS used in polymer chemistry, and another that is used in battery production. Notably, at several locations, PFOA (39.8 ng/L) and PFOS (205.3 ng/L) were at levels that exceeded the mandatory EPA maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 4 ng/L. Additionally, several sites had detectable levels of PFAS that are unique to a local chemical manufacturer. These findings were communicated back to the community partners who then disseminated this information to the local residents to help empower and aid in making decisions for reducing their PFAS exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A. Weed
- Molecular Education, Technology and Research Innovation Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Grace Campbell
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA (L.B.)
| | - Lacey Brown
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA (L.B.)
| | - Katlyn May
- Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA (L.B.)
| | - Dana Sargent
- Cape Fear River Watch, Wilmington, NC 28401, USA; (D.S.); (K.B.)
| | | | - Kemp Burdette
- Cape Fear River Watch, Wilmington, NC 28401, USA; (D.S.); (K.B.)
| | - Wayne Rider
- Sustainable Sandhills, Fayetteville, NC 28303, USA;
| | - Erin S. Baker
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
| | - Jeffrey R. Enders
- Molecular Education, Technology and Research Innovation Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
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8
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Morales M, Arp HPH, Castro G, Asimakopoulos AG, Sørmo E, Peters G, Cherubini F. Eco-toxicological and climate change effects of sludge thermal treatments: Pathways towards zero pollution and negative emissions. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 470:134242. [PMID: 38626686 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
The high moisture content and the potential presence of hazardous organic compounds (HOCs) and metals (HMs) in sewage sludge (SS) pose technical and regulatory challenges for its circular economy valorisation. Thermal treatments are expected to reduce the volume of SS while producing energy and eliminating HOCs. In this study, we integrate quantitative analysis of SS concentration of 12 HMs and 61 HOCs, including organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) and per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), with life-cycle assessment to estimate removal efficiency of pollutants, climate change mitigation benefits and toxicological effects of existing and alternative SS treatments (involving pyrolysis, incineration, and/or anaerobic digestion). Conventional SS treatment leaves between 24 % and 40 % of OPFRs unabated, while almost no degradation occurs for PFAS. Thermal treatments can degrade more than 93% of target OPFRs and 95 % of target PFAS (with the rest released to effluents). The different treatments affect how HMs are emitted across environmental compartments. Conventional treatments also show higher climate change impacts than thermal treatments. Overall, thermal treatments can effectively reduce the HOCs emitted to the environment while delivering negative emissions (from about -56 to -111 kg CO2-eq per tonne of sludge, when pyrolysis is involved) and producing renewable energy from heat integration and valorization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjorie Morales
- Industrial Ecology Programme (IndEcol), Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7034 Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Hans Peter H Arp
- Department of Chemistry, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7491 Trondheim, Norway; Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), 0886 Oslo, Norway
| | - Gabriela Castro
- Department of Chemistry, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7491 Trondheim, Norway; Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Sciences, Institute for Research in Chemical and Biological Analysis (IAQBUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | | | - Erlend Sørmo
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), 0886 Oslo, Norway; Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), 1430 Ås, Norway
| | - Gregory Peters
- Division of Environmental Systems Analysis, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, SE 412 96, Sweden
| | - Francesco Cherubini
- Industrial Ecology Programme (IndEcol), Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7034 Trondheim, Norway
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9
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Kikanme KN, Dennis NM, Orikpete OF, Ewim DRE. PFAS in Nigeria: Identifying data gaps that hinder assessments of ecotoxicological and human health impacts. Heliyon 2024; 10:e29922. [PMID: 38694092 PMCID: PMC11061687 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
This review examines the extensive use and environmental consequences of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) on a global scale, specifically emphasizing their potential impact in Nigeria. Recognized for their resistance to water and oil, PFAS are under increased scrutiny for their persistent nature and possible ecotoxicological risks. Here, we consolidate existing knowledge on the ecological and human health effects of PFAS in Nigeria, focusing on their neurological effects and the risks they pose to immune system health. We seek to balance the advantages of PFAS with their potential ecological and health hazards, thereby enhancing understanding of PFAS management in Nigeria and advocating for more effective policy interventions and the creation of safer alternatives. The review concludes with several recommendations: strengthening regulatory frameworks, intensifying research into the ecological and health impacts of PFAS, developing new methodologies and longitudinal studies, fostering collaborative efforts for PFAS management, and promoting public awareness and education to support sustainable environmental practices and healthier communities in Nigeria.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicole M. Dennis
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, USA
| | - Ochuko Felix Orikpete
- Centre for Occupational Health, Safety and Environment (COHSE), University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria
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10
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Yadav A, Vuković L, Narayan M. An Atomic and Molecular Insight into How PFOA Reduces α-Helicity, Compromises Substrate Binding, and Creates Binding Pockets in a Model Globular Protein. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:12766-12777. [PMID: 38656109 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c02934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pose significant health risks due to their widespread presence in various environmental and biological matrices. However, the molecular-level mechanisms underlying the interactions between PFAS and biological constituents, including proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and DNA, remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate the interactions between a legacy PFAS, viz. perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and the milk protein β-lactoglobulin (BLG) obtained using a combination of experimental and computational techniques. Circular dichroism studies reveal that PFOA perturbs the secondary structure of BLG, by driving a dose-dependent loss of α-helicity and alterations in its β-sheet content. Furthermore, exposure of the protein to PFOA attenuates the on-rate constant for the binding of the hydrophobic probe 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonic acid (ANS), suggesting potential functional impairment of BLG by PFOA. Steered molecular dynamics and umbrella sampling calculations reveal that PFOA binding leads to the formation of an energetically favorable novel binding pocket within the protein, when residues 129-142 are steered to unfold from their initial α-helical structure, wherein a host of intermolecular interactions between PFOA and BLG's residues serve to insert the PFOA into the region between the unfolded helix and beta-sheets. Together, the data provide a novel understanding of the atomic and molecular mechanism(s) by which PFAS modulates structure and function in a globular protein, leading to a beginning of our understanding of altered biological outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anju Yadav
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Lela Vuković
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
- Computational Science Program, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
- Bioinformatics Program, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Mahesh Narayan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
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11
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Hamid H, Nicomel NR, Mohamed BA, Abida O, Li LY. Adsorption and leaching of fluorotelomer compounds and perfluoroalkyl acids in aqueous media by activated carbon prepared from municipal biosolids. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 358:120839. [PMID: 38599091 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are ubiquitous in nature and pose serious health risks to humans and animals. Limiting PFAA exposure requires novel technology for their effective removal from water. We investigated the efficacy of biosolid-based activated carbon (Bio-SBAC) in removing frequently detected PFAAs and their precursor fluorotelomer compounds at environmentally relevant concentrations (∼50 μg/L). Batch experiments were performed to investigate adsorption kinetics, isotherms, and leachability. Bio-SBAC achieved >95% removal of fluorotelomeric compounds, indicating that the need for PFAA removal from the environment could be minimised if the precursors were targeted. Kinetic data modelling suggested that chemisorption is the dominant PFAA adsorption mechanism. As evidenced by the isotherm modelling results, Freundlich adsorption intensity, n-1, values of <1 (0.707-0.938) indicate chemisorption. Bio-SBAC showed maximum capacities for the adsorption of perfluorooctanoic acid (1429 μg/g) and perfluorononanoic acid (1111 μg/g). Batch desorption tests with 100 mg/L humic acid and 10 g/L NaCl showed that Bio-SBAC effectively retained the adsorbed PFAA with little or no leaching, except perfluorobutanoic acid. Overall, this study revealed that Bio-SBAC is a value-added material with promising characteristics for PFAA adsorption and no leachability. Additionally, it can be incorporated into biofilters to remove PFAAs from stormwater, presenting a sustainable approach to minimise biosolid disposal and improve the quality of wastewater before discharge into receiving waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Hamid
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia, 6250 Applied Science Lane, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Nina Ricci Nicomel
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia, 6250 Applied Science Lane, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Badr A Mohamed
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia, 6250 Applied Science Lane, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Agricultural Engineering, Cairo University, El-Gamma Street, Giza, 12613, Egypt
| | - Otman Abida
- African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Laâyoune 70000, Morocco
| | - Loretta Y Li
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia, 6250 Applied Science Lane, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
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12
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Sørmo E, Lade CBM, Zhang J, Asimakopoulos AG, Åsli GW, Hubert M, Goranov AI, Arp HPH, Cornelissen G. Stabilization of PFAS-contaminated soil with sewage sludge- and wood-based biochar sorbents. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 922:170971. [PMID: 38408660 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Sustainable and effective remediation technologies for the treatment of soil contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are greatly needed. This study investigated the effects of waste-based biochars on the leaching of PFAS from a sandy soil with a low total organic carbon content (TOC) of 0.57 ± 0.04 % impacted by PFAS from aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) dispersed at a former fire-fighting facility. Six different biochars (pyrolyzed at 700-900 °C) were tested, made from clean wood chips (CWC), waste timber (WT), activated waste timber (aWT), two digested sewage sludges (DSS-1 and DSS-2) and de-watered raw sewage sludge (DWSS). Up-flow column percolation tests (15 days and 16 pore volume replacements) with 1 % biochar indicated that the dominant congener in the soil, perfluorooctane sulphonic acid (PFOS) was retained best by the aWT biochar with a 99.9 % reduction in the leachate concentration, followed by sludge-based DWSS (98.9 %) and DSS-2 and DSS-1 (97.8 % and 91.6 %, respectively). The non-activated wood-based biochars (CWC and WT) on the other hand, reduced leaching by <42.4 %. Extrapolating this to field conditions, 90 % leaching of PFOS would occur after 15 y for unamended soil, and after 1200 y and 12,000 y, respectively, for soil amended with 1 % DWSS-amended and aWT biochar. The high effectiveness of aWT and the three sludge-based biochars in reducing PFAS leaching from the soil was attributed largely to high porosity in a pore size range (>1.5 nm) that can accommodate the large PFAS molecules (>1.02-2.20 nm) combined with a high affinity to the biochar matrix. Other factors like anionic exchange capacity could play a contributing role. Sorbent effectiveness was better for long-chain than for short-chain PFAS, due to weaker, apolar interactions between the biochar and the latter's shorter hydrophobic CF2-tails. The findings were the first to demonstrate that locally sourced activated wood-waste biochars and non-activated sewage sludge biochars could be suitable sorbents for the ex situ stabilization and in situ remediation of PFAS-contaminated soil, bringing this technology one step closer to full-scale field testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erlend Sørmo
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), 0484 Oslo, Norway; Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), 1430 Ås, Norway
| | - Clara Benedikte Mader Lade
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), 0484 Oslo, Norway; Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), 1430 Ås, Norway
| | - Junjie Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7024 Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Geir Wold Åsli
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), 0484 Oslo, Norway
| | - Michel Hubert
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), 0484 Oslo, Norway
| | - Aleksandar I Goranov
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Hans Peter H Arp
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), 0484 Oslo, Norway; Department of Chemistry, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7024 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Gerard Cornelissen
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), 0484 Oslo, Norway; Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), 1430 Ås, Norway.
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13
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Ling AL. Estimated scale of costs to remove PFAS from the environment at current emission rates. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 918:170647. [PMID: 38325453 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
This discussion article builds upon existing data to ask whether environmental remediation and treatment is an economically viable solution to manage global environmental stocks of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) without extensive use restrictions. Their environmental persistence means that PFAS released into the environment will remain there until actively removed and destroyed. Thus, removing and destroying PFAS from the global environment at the same rate they are currently being added reflects a theoretical steady-state condition where global PFAS stocks remain constant. Current costs to remove perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), a subclass of PFAS, from the environment at the same rate they are being added were estimated here at 20 to 7000 trillion USD per year. If the ratio of total PFAS emissions to PFAAs emissions matches current production ratios, total PFAS release rates and associated treatment costs could be 10 to 10,000 higher than presented above for PFAAs only. Thus, current costs to remove and destroy the total PFAS mass released annually into the environment would likely exceed the global GDP of 106 trillion USD. While this level of treatment is not technically or economically achievable, it highlights the unaffordability of using environmental remediation alone to manage environmental PFAS stocks. Without significant reductions in production and emissions, the mass of PFAS present in the global environment will continue to rise. Treating targeted environmental media will be needed to manage human and environmental health impacts, but we are limited to the level of treatment that is practical and affordable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison L Ling
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of St. Thomas, 2115 Summit Ave, OSS 100, St. Paul, MN 55105, United States of America.
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14
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Zhou T, Li X, Liu H, Dong S, Zhang Z, Wang Z, Li J, Nghiem LD, Khan SJ, Wang Q. Occurrence, fate, and remediation for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in sewage sludge: A comprehensive review. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 466:133637. [PMID: 38306831 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Addressing per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination is an urgent environmental concern. While most research has focused on PFAS contamination in water matrices, comparatively little attention has been given to sludge, a significant by-product of wastewater treatment. This critical review presents the latest information on emission sources, global distribution, international regulations, analytical methods, and remediation technologies for PFAS in sludge and biosolids from wastewater treatment plants. PFAS concentrations in sludge matrices are typically in hundreds of ng/g dry weight (dw) in developed countries but are rarely reported in developing and least-developed countries due to the limited analytical capability. In comparison to water samples, efficient extraction and cleaning procedures are crucial for PFAS detection in sludge samples. While regulations on PFAS have mainly focused on soil due to biosolids reuse, only two countries have set limits on PFAS in sludge or biosolids with a maximum of 100 ng/g dw for major PFAS. Biological technologies using microbes and enzymes present in sludge are considered as having high potential for PFAS remediation, as they are eco-friendly, low-cost, and promising. By contrast, physical/chemical methods are either energy-intensive or linked to further challenges with PFAS contamination and disposal. The findings of this review deepen our comprehension of PFAS in sludge and have guided future research recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Zhou
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Xuan Li
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia.
| | - Huan Liu
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Shiman Dong
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, Turin 10123, Italy
| | - Zehao Zhang
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Zhenyao Wang
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Jibin Li
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Long D Nghiem
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Stuart J Khan
- School of Civil Engineering, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Qilin Wang
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia.
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15
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Bui TH, Zuverza-Mena N, Dimkpa CO, Nason SL, Thomas S, White JC. PFAS remediation in soil: An evaluation of carbon-based materials for contaminant sequestration. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 344:123335. [PMID: 38211874 PMCID: PMC10922530 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
The presence of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soils is a global concern as these emerging contaminants are highly resistant to degradation and cause adverse effects on human and environmental health at very low concentrations. Sequestering PFAS in soils using carbon-based materials is a low-cost and effective strategy to minimize pollutant bioavailability and exposure, and may offer potential long-term remediation of PFAS in the environment. This paper provides a comprehensive evaluation of current insights on sequestration of PFAS in soil using carbon-based sorbents. Hydrophobic effects originating from fluorinated carbon (C-F) backbone "tail" and electrostatic interactions deriving from functional groups on the molecules' "head" are the two driving forces governing PFAS sorption. Consequently, varying C-F chain lengths and polar functional groups significantly alter PFAS availability and leachability. Furthermore, matrix parameters such as soil organic matter, inorganic minerals, and pH significantly impact PFAS sequestration by sorbent amendments. Materials such as activated carbon, biochar, carbon nanotubes, and their composites are the primary C-based materials used for PFAS adsorption. Importantly, modifying the carbon structural and surface chemistry is essential for increasing the active sorption sites and for strengthening interactions with PFAS. This review evaluates current literature, identifies knowledge gaps in current remediation technologies and addresses future strategies on the sequestration of PFAS in contaminated soil using sustainable novel C-based sorbents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trung Huu Bui
- The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Nubia Zuverza-Mena
- The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Christian O Dimkpa
- The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Sara L Nason
- The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Sara Thomas
- The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Jason C White
- The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.
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16
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Khair Biek S, Khudur LS, Rigby L, Singh N, Askeland M, Ball AS. Assessing the impact of immobilisation on the bioavailability of PFAS to plants in contaminated Australian soils. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:20330-20342. [PMID: 38372916 PMCID: PMC10927784 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32496-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become a key concern to both environmental and human health due to their extreme persistence in the environment and their ability to bioaccumulate in plants, animals, and humans. In this mesocosm study, Australian PFAS-contaminated soil with a mean total concentration of 8.05 mg/kg and a mean combined PFHxS + PFOS concentration of 7.89 mg/kg was treated with an immobilisation sorbent (RemBind®) at different application rates (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, and 5% w/w). To assess the efficacy of this immobilisation treatment, PFAS leachability, PFAS plant uptake, and ecotoxicity tests were conducted. Leachability testing was performed according to the Australian Standard Leaching Procedure (ASLP) at pH 5 and 7. A grass species (Dactylis glomerata) was used to measure plant uptake of PFAS from untreated and treated contaminated soil. In addition, the Microtox test was used to assess the associated ecotoxicity. The immobilisation treatment resulted in a significant reduction of 88.5-99.8% in the total PFAS leachability and 88.7-99.8% in the combined PFOS and PFHxS leachability at pH 5. Similarly, significant reductions (5-12-fold) were observed in the plant uptake of total PFAS and combined PFOS and PFHxS in all treated soil samples. In addition, although the Microtox test showed relatively low ecotoxicity in all the experimental samples, including the untreated soil, a significant decrease in the ecotoxicity of treated soil samples was observed. The results from this study highlight that this treatment approach has the potential to reduce both PFAS leachability and plant bioavailability with a relatively low associated ecotoxicity. This is likely to reduce the risk of the transfer of PFAS into higher trophic levels. This immobilisation treatment may, therefore, reduce the risk associated with PFAS-contaminated soils and may be an important remediation tool for managing certain PFAS-contaminated soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sali Khair Biek
- ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
- School of Science, STEM Collage, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
| | - Leadin S Khudur
- ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia.
- School of Science, STEM Collage, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia.
| | - Laura Rigby
- School of Science, STEM Collage, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
| | - Navneet Singh
- ADE Consulting Group Pty Ltd, Williamstown North, VIC, 3016, Australia
| | - Matthew Askeland
- ADE Consulting Group Pty Ltd, Williamstown North, VIC, 3016, Australia
| | - Andrew S Ball
- ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
- School of Science, STEM Collage, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
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17
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Gao M, Shen H, Li Q, Gu X, Jia T, Wang Y. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) induces apoptosis and autophagy by inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in human granulosa cell line KGN. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 344:123333. [PMID: 38211877 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is recognized as an environmental endocrine disruptor with widespread use in industrial manufacturing and daily life, contributing to various public health concerns. However, the precise impacts of PFOS on the ovary and its regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to delineate the ovarian toxicity of PFOS and scrutinize its effects on apoptosis and autophagy through modulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in the human granulosa cell line (KGN). Cell viability, assessed via the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8), revealed a dose-dependent reduction in cell viability upon PFOS exposure. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated an elevated proportion of apoptotic cells following PFOS treatment. Western blot analyses unveiled increased expression of Bax, Cyt c, cleaved caspase-9, and LC3-II/I, coupled with decreased expression of Bcl-2 and p62. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations illustrated a heightened number of autophagosomes induced by PFOS. Molecular docking investigations, in conjunction with Western blot experiments, substantiated PFOS's significant inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. These findings collectively underscore that PFOS induces apoptosis and autophagy in KGN cells through modulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, providing experimental evidence for PFOS-induced ovarian toxicity and elucidating the underlying regulatory mechanisms in KGN cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Gao
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Haofei Shen
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Qiuyuan Li
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xuzhao Gu
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Tianyu Jia
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yiqing Wang
- The First School of Clinical Medicine & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China; Gansu International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Reproductive Medicine Transformation Application, Key Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine and Embryo of Gansu Province & Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China.
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18
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Shih CH, Kim J, Yang SH, Soker O, Strathmann TJ, Chu KH. Remediation of PFAS-impacted soils using magnetic activated carbon (MAC) and hydrothermal alkaline treatment (HALT). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:168931. [PMID: 38042197 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic pollutants that are bioaccumulative, toxic, and persistent. One long-term source for PFAS release is PFAS-contaminated soil. Addition of activated carbon (AC) to soil has shown the potential to immobilize PFAS and reduce PFAS bioavailability, but PFAS-loaded spent AC remaining in the treated soil could lead to remobilization. Here we report a novel approach to address this challenge. By applying magnetic activated carbon (MAC) to remediate PFAS-impacted soil, the PFAS-loaded MAC can be retrieved from the treated soil and sorbed PFAS in the spent MAC can be destroyed using hydrothermal alkaline treatment (HALT). Effective MAC recovery was observed when water/soil ratios (w/w) were either <0.07 or > 1. Soil organic content and pH affected PFAS adsorption by the MAC added to soil. After three months of incubation with MAC, high PFAS removals [PFOS (87.6 %), PFOA (83.8 %), and 6:2 FTSA (81.5 %)] were observed for acidic environmental sandy soils with low organic content. In contrast, PFAS removal by MAC was poor for garden soils with high organic matter content. MAC was also used to remediate aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF)-impacted and PFAS-contaminated aged soils with varying PFAS removal performance. HALT technology was able to destroy and defluorinate PFAS adsorbed to the spent MAC. Additionally, the HALT-treated MAC retained its magnetic properties and PFOS sorption capacity, suggesting the potential reusability of HALT-treated MAC. Considering the low energy footprint of HALT compared to conventional PFAS thermal destruction techniques, the combination of MAC and HALT could be a promising treatment train for PFAS-contaminated soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Hsuan Shih
- Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3136, USA
| | - Jinha Kim
- Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3136, USA
| | - Shih-Hung Yang
- Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3136, USA
| | - Ori Soker
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, USA
| | - Timothy J Strathmann
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, USA
| | - Kung-Hui Chu
- Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3136, USA.
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19
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Nason SL, Thomas S, Stanley C, Silliboy R, Blumenthal M, Zhang W, Liang Y, Jones JP, Zuverza-Mena N, White JC, Haynes CL, Vasiliou V, Timko MP, Berger BW. A comprehensive trial on PFAS remediation: hemp phytoextraction and PFAS degradation in harvested plants. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. ADVANCES 2024; 3:304-313. [PMID: 38322792 PMCID: PMC10841816 DOI: 10.1039/d3va00340j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of recalcitrant, highly toxic contaminants, with limited remediation options. Phytoremediation - removal of contaminants using plants - is an inexpensive, community-friendly strategy for reducing PFAS concentrations and exposures. This project is a collaboration between the Mi'kmaq Nation, Upland Grassroots, and researchers at several institutions who conducted phytoremediation field trials using hemp to remove PFAS from soil at the former Loring Air Force base, which has now been returned to the Mi'kmaq Nation. PFAS were analyzed in paired hemp and soil samples using targeted and non-targeted analytical approaches. Additionally, we used hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) to degrade PFAS in the harvested hemp tissue. We identified 28 PFAS in soil and found hemp uptake of 10 of these PFAS. Consistent with previous studies, hemp exhibited greater bioconcentration for carboxylic acids compared to sulfonic acids, and for shorter-chain compounds compared to longer-chain. In total, approximately 1.4 mg of PFAS was removed from the soil via uptake into hemp stems and leaves, with an approximate maximum of 2% PFAS removed from soil in the most successful area. Degradation of PFAS by HTL was nearly 100% for carboxylic acids, but a portion of sulfonic acids remained. HTL also decreased precursor PFAS and extractable organic fluorine. In conclusion, while hemp phytoremediation does not currently offer a comprehensive solution for PFAS-contaminated soil, this project has effectively reduced PFAS levels at the Loring site and underscores the importance of involving community members in research aimed at remediating their lands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara L Nason
- The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station New Haven CT 06511 USA
| | - Sara Thomas
- The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station New Haven CT 06511 USA
| | | | - Richard Silliboy
- Upland Grassroots Limestone ME 04750 USA
- Mi'kmaq Nation Presque Isle ME 04679 USA
| | | | - Weilan Zhang
- Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, University at Albany, State University of New York Albany NY 12222 USA
| | - Yanna Liang
- Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, University at Albany, State University of New York Albany NY 12222 USA
| | - Jasmine P Jones
- The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station New Haven CT 06511 USA
| | | | - Jason C White
- The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station New Haven CT 06511 USA
| | | | - Vasilis Vasiliou
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences New Haven CT 06510 USA
| | - Michael P Timko
- University of Virginia, Department of Biology Charlottesville VA 22903 USA
| | - Bryan W Berger
- University of Virginia, Department of Chemical Engineering Charlottesville VA 22903 USA
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20
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Xing W, Liang M, Gu W, Wang Z, Fan D, Zhang B, Sun S, Wang L, Shi L. Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Hyperlipidemia Among Adults: Data From NHANES 2017-2018. J Occup Environ Med 2024; 66:105-110. [PMID: 37853679 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000003000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The present study aims to explore the relationship between perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure and hyperlipidemia using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. METHODS A total of 1600 subjects were included in the analysis, and nine kinds of PFAS were measured. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the association between serum PFAS and hyperlipidemia. RESULTS Compared with the lowest quartile of perfluoromethylheptane sulfonic acid isomers (Sm-PFOS), the percentage change for hyperlipidemia was 57% and 41% in the third and highest quartile of PFOS. The positive association between Sm-PFOS and hyperlipidemia remained significant in population younger than 60 years, and the odds ratio for hyperlipidemia in fourth quartile of Sm-PFOS was 1.81. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicated that serum Sm-PFOS was independently associated with a higher risk for hyperlipidemia. The epidemiological study warrants further study to elucidate the causal relationship between them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weilong Xing
- From the Laboratory of Pesticide Environmental Assessment and Pollution Control, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), Nanjing, People's Republic of China
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21
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McTaggart M, Malardier-Jugroot C. The role of helicity in PFAS resistance to degradation: DFT simulation of electron capture and defluorination. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:4692-4701. [PMID: 38251935 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp04973f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Defluorination of perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) via the direct capture of excess electrons poses a promising path to environmental decontamination. Herein we show that quantum-chemical model optimization methods can be adapted to simulate the changes to molecular geometry that result from electron capture. These reaction pathways demonstrate that the introduction of an additional electron causes a loss of the helical arrangement along linear carbon tail chains. Regaining helicity is sufficiently favourable to enable fluoride release in C7-C10 PFAS chains; shorter chains are enthalpically hindered from degradation while the additional charge is stabilized on longer chains by the greater entropy their flexibility permits. These results suggest that reductive PFAS treatment processes could be made more effective under high pressure or confined conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt McTaggart
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Cécile Malardier-Jugroot
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
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22
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Bodus B, O'Malley K, Dieter G, Gunawardana C, McDonald W. Review of emerging contaminants in green stormwater infrastructure: Antibiotic resistance genes, microplastics, tire wear particles, PFAS, and temperature. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167195. [PMID: 37777137 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Green stormwater infrastructure is a growing management approach to capturing, infiltrating, and treating runoff at the source. However, there are several emerging contaminants for which green stormwater infrastructure has not been explicitly designed to mitigate and for which removal mechanisms are not yet well defined. This is an issue, as there is a growing understanding of the impact of emerging contaminants on human and environmental health. This paper presents a review of five emerging contaminants - antibiotic resistance genes, microplastics, tire wear particles, PFAS, and temperature - and seeks to improve our understanding of how green stormwater infrastructure is impacted by and can be designed to mitigate these emerging contaminants. To do so, we present a review of the source and transport of these contaminants to green stormwater infrastructure, specific treatment mechanisms within green infrastructure, and design considerations of green stormwater infrastructure that could lead to their removal. In addition, common removal mechanisms across these contaminants and limitations of green infrastructure for contaminant mitigation are discussed. Finally, we present future research directions that can help to advance the use of green infrastructure as a first line of defense for downstream water bodies against emerging contaminants of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Bodus
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Marquette University, 1637 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA.
| | - Kassidy O'Malley
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Marquette University, 1637 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA.
| | - Greg Dieter
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Marquette University, 1637 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA.
| | - Charitha Gunawardana
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Marquette University, 1637 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA.
| | - Walter McDonald
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Marquette University, 1637 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA.
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23
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Shahrokhi R, Park J. Enhanced removal of short- and long-chain per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances from aqueous phase using crushed grafted chitosan beads: Performance and mechanisms. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 340:122836. [PMID: 37925012 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
The widespread use of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), environmentally persistent halogenated hydrocarbons, in various industrial and commercial applications has caused significant concerns owing to their contamination of soil and groundwater. Chitosan is a biopolymer substance with abundant amine and hydroxyl functional groups, making it a good candidate for adsorption of PFASs. This study aimed to increase chitosan's adsorption capacity by grafting additional amine functional groups on its surface for the removal of long- and short-chain PFASs from an aqueous phase. Two types of chitosan-based sorbents were developed: crushed chitosan beads (CBs) and polyethyleneimine-grafted CBs (GCBs). Batch adsorption tests assessed the adsorption capacities of the sorbents in terms of the sorption kinetics, isotherms, selectivity, and reusability. Based on the results, the GCBs had significant potential for adsorbing PFASs. These capacities were significantly higher than those demonstrated by the CBs. The sorption kinetics data revealed that the GCBs had a fast sorption rate. Furthermore, the GCBs demonstrated a high adsorption affinity, with log Kd values ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 for PFASs at environmentally relevant concentrations (1000 ng L-1). They also demonstrated excellent selectivity sorption for these compounds, even in the presence of other organic and inorganic pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahim Shahrokhi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University, South Korea
| | - Junboum Park
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University, South Korea; Institute of Construction and Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University, South Korea.
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24
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Marciesky M, Aga DS, Bradley IM, Aich N, Ng C. Mechanisms and Opportunities for Rational In Silico Design of Enzymes to Degrade Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:7299-7319. [PMID: 37981739 PMCID: PMC10716909 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) present a unique challenge to remediation techniques because their strong carbon-fluorine bonds make them difficult to degrade. This review explores the use of in silico enzymatic design as a potential PFAS degradation technique. The scope of the enzymes included is based on currently known PFAS degradation techniques, including chemical redox systems that have been studied for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) defluorination, such as those that incorporate hydrated electrons, sulfate, peroxide, and metal catalysts. Bioremediation techniques are also discussed, namely the laccase and horseradish peroxidase systems. The redox potential of known reactants and enzymatic radicals/metal-complexes are then considered and compared to potential enzymes for degrading PFAS. The molecular structure and reaction cycle of prospective enzymes are explored. Current knowledge and techniques of enzyme design, particularly radical-generating enzymes, and application are also discussed. Finally, potential routes for bioengineering enzymes to enable or enhance PFAS remediation are considered as well as the future outlook for computational exploration of enzymatic in situ bioremediation routes for these highly persistent and globally distributed contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Marciesky
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Diana S Aga
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260, United States
| | - Ian M Bradley
- Department of Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14228, United States
- Research and Education in Energy, Environmental and Water (RENEW) Institute, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14260, United States
| | - Nirupam Aich
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska─Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0531, United States
| | - Carla Ng
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, United States
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25
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Gui W, Guo H, Wang C, Li M, Jin Y, Zhang K, Dai J, Zhao Y. Comparative developmental toxicities of zebrafish towards structurally diverse per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 902:166569. [PMID: 37633367 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
Structurally diverse per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are increasingly detected in ecosystems and humans. Therefore, the clarification of their ecological and health risks is urgently required. In the present study, the toxicity of a series of PFASs, including PFOS, PFBS, Nafion BP1, Nafion BP2, F53B, OBS, PFOA, PFUnDA, PFO5DoDA, HFPO-TA was investigated. Similarities and differences in the developmental toxicity potentials were revealed. Our results demonstrated that PFUnDA exhibited the highest toxicity with the lowest EC50 value of 4.36 mg/L (for morphological abnormality); this was followed by F53B (5.58 mg/L), PFOS (6.15 mg/L), and OBS (10.65 mg/L). Positive correlations with volatility/solubility and chemotypes related to specific biological activity, including the bioconcentration factor (LogBCF), and negative correlations with lipid solubility and carbon chain component-related chemotypes, including the number of carbon and fluorine atoms, provided a reasonable explanation in the view of molecular structures. Furthermore, comparative transcriptome analysis provided molecular evidence for the relationship between PFASs exposure and malformations. Common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in spine curve development, pericardial edema, and cell/organism growth-related pathways presented common targets, leading to toxic effects. Therefore, the present results provide novel insights into the potential environmental risks of structurally diverse PFASs and contribute to the selection of safer PFAS replacements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanying Gui
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hua Guo
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Congcong Wang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Minjia Li
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yuanxiang Jin
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jiayin Dai
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yanbin Zhao
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China.
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26
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Vatankhah H, Anderson RH, Ghosh R, Willey J, Leeson A. A review of innovative approaches for onsite management of PFAS-impacted investigation derived waste. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 247:120769. [PMID: 37931356 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
The historic use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) has led to widespread detection of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) in groundwater, soils, sediments, drinking water, wastewater, and receiving aquatic systems throughout the United States (U.S.). Prior to any remediation activities, in order to identify the PFAS-impacted source zones and select the optimum management approach, extensive site investigations need to be conducted. These site investigations have resulted in the generation of considerable amount of investigation-derived waste (IDW) which predominantly consists of well purging water and drill fluid, equipment washing residue, soil, drill cuttings, and residues from the destruction of asphalt and concrete surfaces. IDW is often impacted by varying levels of PFAS which poses a substantial challenge concerning disposal to prevent potential mobilization of PFAS, logistical complexities, and increasing requirement for storage as a result of accumulation of the associated wastes. The distinct features of IDW involve the intermittent generation of waste, substantial volume of waste produced, and the critical demand for onsite management. This article critically focuses on innovative technologies and approaches employed for onsite treatment and management of PFAS-impacted IDW. The overall objective of this study centers on developing and deploying end-of-life treatment technology systems capable of facilitating unrestricted disposal, discharge, and/or IDW reuse on-site, thereby reducing spatial footprints and mobilization time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hooman Vatankhah
- Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program and the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program, Arlington, VA, USA; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, USA; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA.
| | | | | | | | - Andrea Leeson
- Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program and the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program, Arlington, VA, USA
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27
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Liu G, Usman M, Luo T, Biard PF, Lin K, Greenwell HC, Hanna K. Retention and transport of PFOA and its fluorinated substitute, GenX, through water-saturated soil columns. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 337:122530. [PMID: 37690470 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoro-2-propoxypropanoic acid (GenX) has emerged as a substitute for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) especially since PFOA was listed among the persistent organic pollutants (POPs) by the Stockholm Convention in 2019. However, limited knowledge exists regarding the behavior and mobility of GenX in natural soils hindering the prediction of its environmental fate. This study investigated the mobility and retention of GenX and PFOA in soils under batch and water-saturated flow-through conditions. Batch experiments revealed that GenX has a lower binding affinity to soil than longer-chained PFOA, potentially threatening groundwater resources. Unlike metal-oxides/minerals (ferrihydrite, gibbsite and manganese dioxide), biochar (BC) and activated carbon (AC) amendments significantly enhanced the sorption of both GenX and PFOA in soil. Sorption data on minerals and carbonaceous materials implied that for shorter-chained GenX, the predominant mode of sorption was through electrostatic (ionic) interactions, while for longer-chained PFOA, hydrophobic interactions became progressively more important with increasing chain length. The dynamic flow experiments demonstrated that these soil amendments enhanced the retention of both compounds, thereby decreasing their mobility. Simultaneous injection of both compounds into columns pre-loaded with either PFOA or GenX increased their retardation. GenX sorption was more affected by pre-sorbed PFOA compared to the minimal impact of pre-loaded GenX on PFOA sorption. A newly developed reactive transport model, which incorporates a two-site sorption model and accounts for kinetic-limited processes, accurately predicted the sorption and transport of both compounds in single and binary contamination systems. These findings have important implications for predicting and assessing the fate and mobility of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soils and groundwaters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanhong Liu
- Université de Rennes, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Rennes, CNRS, ISCR-UMR 6226, F-35000, Rennes, France; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Muhammad Usman
- Université de Rennes, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Rennes, CNRS, ISCR-UMR 6226, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Tao Luo
- Université de Rennes, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Rennes, CNRS, ISCR-UMR 6226, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Pierre-François Biard
- Université de Rennes, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Rennes, CNRS, ISCR-UMR 6226, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Kuangfei Lin
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - H Chris Greenwell
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Mountjoy Site, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Khalil Hanna
- Université de Rennes, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Rennes, CNRS, ISCR-UMR 6226, F-35000, Rennes, France; Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Mountjoy Site, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK.
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28
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Biondo O, Tomei G, Saleem M, Sretenović GB, Magarotto M, Marotta E, Paradisi C. Products, reactive species and mechanisms of PFOA degradation in a self-pulsing discharge (SPD) plasma reactor. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 341:139972. [PMID: 37640214 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Non-thermal plasma is a promising tool for novel technologies to treat water contaminated by recalcitrant pollutants. We report here on products, reactive species and mechanisms of the efficient degradation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) achieved with a self-pulsing discharge developed previously in our lab. Air or argon were used as plasma feed gas, ultrapure or tap water as aqueous medium. Identified organic intermediate products arise from chain-shortening and defluorination reactions, the latter achieving not only C-F to C-H exchange (hydro-de-fluorination), as reported in the literature, but also C-F to C-OH exchange (hydroxy-de-fluorination). In contrast with chain-shortening, yielding lower homologues of PFOA via selective cleavage of the C-C bond at the carboxylate group, defluorination occurs at various sites of the alkyl chain giving mixtures of different isomeric products. Plasma generated reactive species were investigated under all experimental conditions tested, using specific chemical probes and optical emission spectroscopy. Cross-analysis of the results revealed a striking direct correlation of energy efficiency for PFOA degradation and for production of plasma electrons. In contrast, no correlation was observed for emission bands of either Ar+ or OH radical. These results indicate a prevalent role of plasma electrons in initiating PFOA degradation using self-pulsing discharge plasma above the liquid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Biondo
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Giulia Tomei
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Mubbshir Saleem
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Goran B Sretenović
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131, Padova, Italy; University of Belgrade, Faculty of Physics, PO Box 44, 11001, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Mirko Magarotto
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Via Venezia 1, 35131, Padova, Italy; Department of Information Engineering, University of Padova, via Gradenigo 6/b, 35135, Padova, Italy
| | - Ester Marotta
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131, Padova, Italy.
| | - Cristina Paradisi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131, Padova, Italy
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29
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Ganbat N, Hamdi FM, Ibrar I, Altaee A, Alsaka L, Samal AK, Zhou J, Hawari AH. Iron slag permeable reactive barrier for PFOA removal by the electrokinetic process. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 460:132360. [PMID: 37657326 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
The efficacy of the Standalone Electrokinetic (EK) process in soil PFAS removal is negligible, primarily due to the intersecting mechanisms of electromigration and electroosmosis transportation. Consequently, the redistribution of PFAS across the soil matrix occurs, hampering effective remediation efforts. Permeable reactive barrier (PRB) has been used to capture contaminants and extract them at the end of the EK process. This study conducted laboratory-scale tests to evaluate the feasibility of the iron slag PRB enhanced-EK process in conjunction with Sodium Cholate (NaC) biosurfactant as a cost-effective and sustainable method for removing PFOA from the soil. A 2 cm iron slag-based PRB with a pH of 9.5, obtained from the steel-making industry, was strategically embedded in the middle of the EK reactors to capture PFOA within the soil. The main component of the slag, iron oxide, exhibited significant adsorption capacity for PFOA contamination. The laboratory-scale tests were conducted over two weeks, revealing a PFOA removal rate of more than 79% in the slag/activated carbon PRB-EK test with NaC enhancement and 70% PFOA removal in the slag/activated carbon PRB-EK without NaC. By extending the duration of the slag/AC PRB-EK test with NaC enhancement to three weeks, the PFOA removal rate increased to 94.09%, with the slag/AC PRB capturing over 87% of the initial PFOA concentration of 10 mg/L. The specific energy required for soil decontamination by the EK process was determined to be 0.15 kWh/kg. The outcomes of this study confirm the feasibility of utilizing iron slag waste in the EK process to capture PFOA contaminants, offering a sustainable approach to soil decontamination. Combining iron slag PRB and NaC biosurfactant provides a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for efficient PFOA removal from soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namuun Ganbat
- Centre for Green Technology, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
| | - Faris M Hamdi
- Centre for Green Technology, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
| | - Ibrar Ibrar
- Centre for Green Technology, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
| | - Ali Altaee
- Centre for Green Technology, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Australia.
| | - Lilyan Alsaka
- Centre for Green Technology, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
| | - Akshaya K Samal
- Centre for Nano and Material Sciences, Jain University, Ramanagara, Bangalore 562 112, Karnataka, India
| | - John Zhou
- Centre for Green Technology, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
| | - Alaa H Hawari
- Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, PO Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
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30
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Niarchos G, Georgii L, Ahrens L, Kleja DB, Fagerlund F. A systematic study of the competitive sorption of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on colloidal activated carbon. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 264:115408. [PMID: 37666203 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Treatment of environmental media contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is crucial to mitigate mounting health risks associated with exposure. Colloidal activated carbon (CAC) has shown promise in treating contaminated soils, but understanding the interaction among PFAS during sorption is necessary for optimal remediation. This study investigated the extent to which PFAS of varying chain lengths and functional groups compete for sorption to CAC. Batch tests were conducted with natural soil and spiked water, using CAC at 0.2% w/w to remove seven PFAS with individual starting concentrations up to 0.05 mmol L-1. PFAS sorption to CAC was evaluated in three systems: a composite mixture of all studied compounds, a binary-solute system, and a single-solute system. The sorption experiments exhibited strong PFAS affinity to CAC, with removal rates between 41% and 100%, and solid/liquid partition coefficients (Kd) between 10 and 104 L kg-1. Differences were noticed among the various spiking mixtures, based on perfluorocarbon chain length, functional group, and the starting PFAS concentrations. Competition effects were detected when PFAS were in a multi-solute system, with an average 10% drop in removal, which can evidently become more relevant at higher concentrations, due to the observed non-linearity of the sorption process. The PFAS most vulnerable to competition effects in multi-solute systems were the short-chain perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS), with an up to 25% reduction in removal. In bi-solute systems, perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA) dominated over its ionisable counterparts, i.e. perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), indicating the importance of hydrophobic effects or layer formation in the sorption process. These results underscore the importance of considering competition in PFAS sorption processes when designing and implementing remediation techniques for PFAS-contaminated media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Niarchos
- Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, P.O. Box 256, SE-751 05 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Linnea Georgii
- Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, P.O. Box 256, SE-751 05 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lutz Ahrens
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7050, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Dan Berggren Kleja
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P. O. Box 7090, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Fritjof Fagerlund
- Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, P.O. Box 256, SE-751 05 Uppsala, Sweden
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31
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Misra S, Tenjimbayashi M, Weng W, Mitra SK, Naito M. Bioinspired Scalable Lubricated Bicontinuous Porous Composites with Self-Recoverability and Exceptional Outdoor Durability. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023. [PMID: 37481765 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c03128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Lubricant-impregnated surfaces (LIS) are promising as efficient liquid-repellent surfaces, which comprise a surface lubricant layer stabilized by base solid structures. However, the lubricant layer is susceptible to depletion upon exposure to degrading stimuli, leading to the loss of functionality. Lubricant depletion becomes even more pronounced in exposed outdoor conditions, restricting LIS to short-term lab-scale applications. Thus, the development of scalable and long-term stable LIS suitable for practical outdoor applications remains challenging. In this work, we designed "Lubricated Bicontinuous porous Composites" (LuBiCs) by infusing a silicone oil lubricant into a bicontinuous porous composite matrix of tetrapod-shaped zinc oxide microfillers and poly(dimethylsiloxane). LuBiCs are prepared in the meter scale by a facile drop-casting inspired wet process. The bicontinuous porous feature of the LuBiCs enables capillarity-driven spontaneous lubricant transport throughout the surface without any external driving force. Consequently, the LuBiCs can regain liquid-repellent function upon lubricant depletion via capillary replenishment from a small, connected lubricant reservoir, making them tolerant to lubricant-degrading stimuli (e.g., rain shower, surface wiping, and shearing). As a proof-of-concept, we show that the large-scale "LuBiC roof" retains slippery behavior even after more than 9 months of outdoor exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirshendu Misra
- Micro & Nano-Scale Transport Laboratory, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Mizuki Tenjimbayashi
- International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan
| | - Wei Weng
- Research and Services Division of Materials Data and Integrated System (MaDIS), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan
| | - Sushanta K Mitra
- Micro & Nano-Scale Transport Laboratory, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Masanobu Naito
- Research and Services Division of Materials Data and Integrated System (MaDIS), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan
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32
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Drenning P, Volchko Y, Ahrens L, Rosén L, Söderqvist T, Norrman J. Comparison of PFAS soil remediation alternatives at a civilian airport using cost-benefit analysis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 882:163664. [PMID: 37088381 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Contamination of soil and water systems by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) due to uncontrolled use of aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) at firefighting training sites at civilian and military airports is a universal issue and can lead to significant human health and environmental impacts. Remediation of these sites is often complex but necessary to alleviate the PFAS burden and minimise the risks of exposure by eliminating the hotspot/source from which the PFAS spreads. This study presents a probabilistic cost-benefit analysis (CBA) for evaluating PFAS remediation alternatives, which includes monetisation of both direct costs and benefits as well as externalities. The method is applied for a case study to compare five remediation alternatives for managing PFAS contaminated soil at Stockholm Arlanda Airport in Sweden. The social profitability, or the net present value (NPV), of each remediation alternative was calculated in comparison to two reference alternatives - 'total excavation' of the site (Alt 0) or 'do nothing'. Sensitivity analyses and model scenarios were tested to account for uncertainties, including small or large PFAS spreading and simulating different values for the magnitude of annual avoided cost of inaction (i.e., aggregate benefit) from PFAS remediation. In comparison to total excavation, four of the five studied remediation alternatives resulted in a positive mean NPV. Excavation and stabilization/solidification of the hotspot on-site combined with stabilization using activated carbon for the rest of site (Alt 2) had the highest NPV for both spreading scenarios, i.e., Alt 2 was the most socially profitable alternative. Simulations of the annual avoided cost of inaction enabled estimation of the breakeven point at which a remediation alternative becomes socially profitable (NPV > 0) compared to 'do nothing'. Alt 2 had the lowest breakeven point: 7.5 and 5.75 millions of SEK/year for large and small spreading, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Drenning
- Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-41296 Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Y Volchko
- Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - L Ahrens
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - L Rosén
- Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - T Söderqvist
- Holmboe & Skarp AB, Norr Källstavägen 9, SE-14896 Sorunda, Sweden
| | - J Norrman
- Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
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33
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Scearce AE, Goossen CP, Schattman RE, Mallory EB, MaCrae JD. Linking drivers of plant per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) uptake to agricultural land management decisions. Biointerphases 2023; 18:040801. [PMID: 37410498 DOI: 10.1116/6.0002772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Widespread contamination of the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) in agricultural areas is largely attributed to the application of sewage sludge in which the PFAS can be concentrated. This creates a pathway for these contaminants to enter the food chain and, by extension, causes human health and economic concerns. One barrier to managing land with PFAS contamination is the variation in reported plant uptake levels across studies. A review of the literature suggests that the variation in plant uptake is influenced by a host of factors including the composition of PFAS chemicals, soil conditions, and plant physiology. Factors include (1) the chemical components of the PFAS such as the end group and chain length; (2) drivers of soil sorption such as the presence of soil organic matter (SOM), multivalent cation concentration, pH, soil type, and micropore volume; and (3) crop physiological features such as fine root area, percentage of mature roots, and leaf blade area. The wide range of driving factors highlights a need for research to elucidate these mechanisms through additional experiments as well as collect more data to support refined models capable of predicting PFAS uptake in a range of cropping systems. A conceptual framework presented here links drivers of plant PFAS uptake found in the literature to phytomanagement approaches such as modified agriculture or phytoremediation to provide decision support to land managers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex E Scearce
- School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469
| | - Caleb P Goossen
- Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, Unity, Maine 04988
| | | | - Ellen B Mallory
- School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469
- University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Orono, Maine 04469
| | - Jean D MaCrae
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469
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34
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Fournie T, Rashwan TL, Switzer C, Gerhard JI. Smouldering to treat PFAS in sewage sludge. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 164:219-227. [PMID: 37084670 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants are accumulation points for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and are threfore important facilities for PFAS treatment. This study explored using smouldering combustion to treat PFAS in sewage sludge. Base case experiments at the laboratory scale (LAB) used dried sludge mixed with sand. High moisture content (MC) LAB tests, 75% MC sludge by mass, explored impacts of MC on treatment and supplemented with granular activated carbon (GAC) to achieve sufficient temperatures for thermal destruction of PFAS. Additional LAB tests explored using calcium oxide (CaO) to support fluorine mineralization. Further tests performed at an oil-drum scale (DRUM) assessed scale on PFAS removal. Pre-treatment sludge and post-treatment ash samples from all tests were analyzed for 12 PFAS (2C-8C). Additional emissions samples were collected from all LAB tests and analyzed for 12 PFAS and hydrogen fluoride. Smouldering removed all monitored PFAS from DRUM tests, and 4-8 carbon chain length PFAS from LAB tests. For base case tests, PFOS and PFOA were completely removed from sludge; however, high contents in the emissions (79-94% of total PFAS by mass) showed volatilization without degradation. Smouldering high MC sludge at ∼ 900 °C (30 g GAC/kg sand) improved PFAS degradation compared to treatment below 800 °C (<20 g GAC/kg sand). Addition of CaO before smouldering reduced PFAS content in emissions by 97-99% by mass; with minimal PFAS retained in the ash and minimal hydrofluoric acid (HF) production, as the fluorine from the PFAS was likely mineralized in the ash. Co-smouldering with CaO had dual benefits of removing PFAS while minimizing other hazardous emission by-products.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Fournie
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Western University, N6A 5B9 London, ON, Canada.
| | - T L Rashwan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Western University, N6A 5B9 London, ON, Canada; School of Engineering & Innovation, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK(1).
| | - C Switzer
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Strathclyde, G1 1XJ Glasgow, UK.
| | - J I Gerhard
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Western University, N6A 5B9 London, ON, Canada
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35
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Mohona TM, Ye Z, Dai N, Nalam PC. Adsorption behavior of long-chain perfluoroalkyl substances on hydrophobic surface: A combined molecular characterization and simulation study. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 239:120074. [PMID: 37207455 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Hydrophobic interaction is a prevalent sorption mechanism of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in natural and engineered environments. In this study, we combined quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D), atomic force microscope (AFM) with force mapping, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to probe the molecular behavior of PFAS at the hydrophobic interface. On a CH3-terminated self-assembled monolayer (SAM), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) showed ∼2-fold higher adsorption than perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) that has the same fluorocarbon tail length but a different head group. Kinetic modeling using the linearized Avrami model suggests that the PFNA/PFOS-surface interaction mechanisms can evolve over time. This is confirmed by AFM force-distance measurements, which shows that while the adsorbed PFNA/PFOS molecules mostly lay flat, a portion of them formed aggregates/hierarchical structures of 1-10 nm in size after lateral diffusion on surface. PFOS showed a higher affinity to aggregate than PFNA. Association with air nanobubbles is observed for PFOS but not PFNA. MD simulations further showed that PFNA has a greater tendency than PFOS to have its tail inserted into the hydrophobic SAM, which can enhance adsorption but limit lateral diffusion, consistent with the relative behavior of PFNA/PFOS in QCM and AFM experiments. This integrative QCM-AFM-MD study reveals that the interfacial behavior of PFAS molecules can be heterogeneous even on a relatively homogeneous surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tashfia M Mohona
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA; Department of Materials Design and Innovation, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Zhijiang Ye
- Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - Ning Dai
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
| | - Prathima C Nalam
- Department of Materials Design and Innovation, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
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36
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Hu Y, Zhan Y, Wei C, Chen F, Cheng J, Shen Y, Zhou Z, Wang L, Liang Y. Hydrochar coupled with iodide for efficient photodegradation of perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid under ultraviolet light. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 868:161621. [PMID: 36649771 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) are typical emerging persistent organic pollutants that are raising concerns regarding their environmental persistence. The photodegradation of these chemicals in water can be promoted by generating hydrated electrons (eaq-). The present work demonstrates a highly efficient process combining ultraviolet (UV) radiation, hydrochar (H-BC) and KI that is capable of decomposing PFOA and PFOS. After 60 min of photolysis using this technique, 99.5 % and 94.1 % of the initial amounts of PFOA and PFOS in aqueous solution were degraded, respectively, with corresponding defluorination percentages of 87.8 % and 71.7 %, respectively. These degradation values were higher than the sum of those obtained using UV radiation with only H-BC or KI, implying a synergistic effect from the combination of H-BC and KI. This effect can be attributed to the unique structure and numerous oxygen-containing functional groups of the H-BC. This material was able to absorb PFOA and PFOS, reduce iodide oxidation products back to I-, act as an electron shuttle and shorten the diffusion distance to the target substrate. These factors all increased the probability of reactions between the contaminants and eaq-. Analyses by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization/tandem mass spectrometry showed that short-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids with less than seven carbons were the primary degradation intermediates, suggesting that the photodegradation proceeded stepwise. These results confirmed the cooperative effect of the H-BC and iodide, leading to effective eaq- generation. This work is expected to facilitate the development of new strategies for the treatment of water systems contaminated with PFOA and PFOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuning Hu
- Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Yuhang Zhan
- Wuhan City College, Wuhan, PR China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Cuiyun Wei
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Fengjie Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Jing Cheng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Yunxiang Shen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Zhen Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan, PR China.
| | - Ling Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Yong Liang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan, PR China
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Abou-Khalil C, Kewalramani J, Zhang Z, Sarkar D, Abrams S, Boufadel MC. Effect of clay content on the mobilization efficiency of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from soils by electrokinetics and hydraulic flushing. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 322:121160. [PMID: 36716947 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The need for the efficient remediation of soils impacted by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is substantially growing because of the notable upsurge in societal and regulatory awareness of this class of chemicals. To remediate PFAS-contaminated soils using mobilization approaches, the choice of appropriate techniques highly depends on the soil's composition, particularly the clay content, which significantly affects the soil's permeability. Here, we investigated the PFAS mobilization efficiency from soils with different clay contents by using two techniques: electrokinetic (EK) remediation and hydraulic flushing. Artificial kaolinite was added to a loamy sand soil to prepare four soil blends with clay contents of 5, 25, 50, and 75%, each contaminated with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfulorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOA) at 10,000 μg/kg. EK remediation was conducted by applying a low voltage (30 V) with a current of 100 mA, and hydraulic flushing was carried out by applying a hydraulic gradient (HG) with a slope of 6.7%. Results show that, with a 14-day treatment duration, the EK-mobilization efficiency was enhanced substantially with the increase of clay content (removal of PFOS increased from 20% at 5% clay to 80% at 75% clay), most likely due to the increase of electroosmotic flow due to the higher content of particles having a zeta potential (i.e., clay). For HG, increasing the clay content significantly suppressed the mobilization of PFAS (removal of PFOS decreased from 40% at 5% clay to 10% at 75% clay) due to a notable decrease in the soil's permeability. Based on the results, applying hydraulic flushing and washing techniques for mobilizing PFAS would be appropriate when treating permeable soils with a maximum clay content of about 25%; otherwise, other suitable mobilization techniques such as EKs should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charbel Abou-Khalil
- Center for Natural Resources, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - Jitendra Kewalramani
- Center for Natural Resources, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - Zhiming Zhang
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA
| | - Dibyendu Sarkar
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA
| | - Stewart Abrams
- Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc., 300 Kimball Dr., Parsippany, NJ 07054, USA
| | - Michel C Boufadel
- Center for Natural Resources, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA.
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38
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McCleaf P, Stefansson W, Ahrens L. Drinking water nanofiltration with concentrate foam fractionation-A novel approach for removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). WATER RESEARCH 2023; 232:119688. [PMID: 36764110 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.119688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are recognized as persistent pollutants that have been found in drinking water sources on a global scale. Semi-permeable membrane treatment processes such as reverse osmosis and nanofiltration (NF) have been shown effective at removing PFAS, however, disposal of PFAS laden concentrate is problematic. Without treatment of the concentrate, PFAS is released into the environment. The present work examined a novel PFAS removal scheme for drinking water using NF filtration with treatment of the resulting NF concentrate via foam fractionation (FF) with and without co-surfactants. The NF-pilot removed 98% of PFAS from AFFF contaminated groundwater producing permeate with 1.4 ng L-1 total PFAS. Using FF resulted in ∑PFAS removal efficiency of 90% from the NF concentrate and with improved removal of 94% with addition of cationic co-surfactant. The resulting foamate composed approximately 2% of the NF feedwater volume and contained greater than 3000 ng L-1 PFAS or 41 times greater than the NF feedwater. Addition of the cationic co-surfactant to the FF process resulted in increased removal efficiency of the shorter chain PFAS, specifically 37% for PFPeA, 9% for PFHxA, and 34% for PFBS thus attaining 59%, 99% and 96% removal efficiency, respectively. PFOA, PFPeS, PFHxS, PFOS each attained 99% FF removal with or without co-surfactant addition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip McCleaf
- Uppsala Water and Waste Ltd., P.O. Box 1444, SE-751 44 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - William Stefansson
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P. O. Box 7050, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lutz Ahrens
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P. O. Box 7050, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
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Krahn KM, Cornelissen G, Castro G, Arp HPH, Asimakopoulos AG, Wolf R, Holmstad R, Zimmerman AR, Sørmo E. Sewage sludge biochars as effective PFAS-sorbents. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 445:130449. [PMID: 36459882 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The use of sewage sludge to produce biochar-based sorbents for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) removal from water and soil may be an economically and environmentally sustainable waste management option. This study compared the sorption of six perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) by two sewage sludge biochars (SSBCs) and one wood chip biochar (WCBC), dry pyrolyzed at 700 °C. Batch sorption tests were conducted by adding individual PFCAs and a PFCA-mixture to pure biochars and mixtures of biochar and a sandy soil (1.3% TOC). PFAS-sorption to the SSBCs exhibited log-linear biochar-water distribution coefficients (log Kd), comparable to those previously reported for commercial activated carbons (e.g., 5.73 ± 0.02 for perfluorooctanoic acid at 1 µg/L). The strong sorption of PFCAs was attributed to the SSBCs relatively high pore volumes in the pore size range that can accommodate these compounds. Sorption was attenuated by the presence of soil (by factors 3-10), by the presence of a mixture of PFCAs (by factors of 6-532) and by both together (by factors of 8-6581), indicating strongly competitive sorption between PFCA-congeners, and less severe sorption attenuation by soil organic matter. These findings could enable sustainable value chains for SSBs in soil remediation and water filtration solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katinka M Krahn
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), 0484 Oslo, Norway; Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), 1430 Ås, Norway; Lindum AS, 3036 Drammen, Norway
| | - Gerard Cornelissen
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), 0484 Oslo, Norway; Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), 1430 Ås, Norway
| | - Gabriela Castro
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7024 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Hans Peter H Arp
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), 0484 Oslo, Norway; Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7024 Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Raoul Wolf
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), 0484 Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - Erlend Sørmo
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), 0484 Oslo, Norway; Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), 1430 Ås, Norway
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40
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Grimison C, Knight ER, Nguyen TMH, Nagle N, Kabiri S, Bräunig J, Navarro DA, Kookana RS, Higgins CP, McLaughlin MJ, Mueller JF. The efficacy of soil washing for the remediation of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the field. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 445:130441. [PMID: 36462244 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This paper aims to describe the performance of a soil washing plant (SWP) for remediating a per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs)-contaminated soil with a high clay content (61%). The SWP used both physical and chemical processes; fractionation of the soil particles by size and partitioning of PFASs into the aqueous phase to remove PFASs from the soil. Contaminated water was treated in series with granulated activated carbon (GAC) and ion-exchange resin and reused within the SWP. Approximately 2200 t (dry weight) of PFAS-contaminated soil was treated in 25 batches of 90 t each, with a throughput of approximately 11 t soil/hr. Efficiency of the SWP was measured by observed decreases in total and leachable concentrations of PFASs in the soil. Average removal efficiencies (RE) were up to 97.1% for perfluorocarboxylic acids and 94.9% for perfluorosulfonic acids. REs varied among different PFASs depending on their chemistry (functional head group, carbon chain length) and were independent of the total PFAS concentrations in each soil batch. Mass balance analysis found approximately 90% of the PFAS mass in the soil was transferred to the wash solution and > 99.9% of the PFAS mass in the wash solution was transferred onto the GAC without any breakthrough.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Grimison
- Ventia Services Pty Limited, Level 8, 80 Pacific Highway, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Emma R Knight
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Thi Minh Hong Nguyen
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nathan Nagle
- Ventia Services Pty Limited, Level 8, 80 Pacific Highway, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Shervin Kabiri
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1 Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jennifer Bräunig
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
| | - Divina A Navarro
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), PMB 2 Land and Water, Waite Campus, South Australia, Australia
| | - Rai S Kookana
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), PMB 2 Land and Water, Waite Campus, South Australia, Australia
| | - Christopher P Higgins
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, United States
| | - Michael J McLaughlin
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1 Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jochen F Mueller
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
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Marquínez-Marquínez AN, Loor-Molina NS, Quiroz-Fernández LS, Maddela NR, Luque R, Rodríguez-Díaz JM. Recent advances in the remediation of perfluoroalkylated and polyfluoroalkylated contaminated sites. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 219:115152. [PMID: 36572331 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are compounds used since 1940 in various formulations in the industrial and consumer sectors due to their high chemical and thermal stability. In recent years, PFASs have caused global concern due to their presence in different water and soil matrices, which threatens the environment and human health. These compounds have been reported to be linked to the development of serious human diseases, including but not limited to cancer. For this reason, PFASs have been considered as persistent organic compounds (COPs) and contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). Therefore, this work aims to present the advances in remediation of PFASs-contaminated soil and water by addressing the current literature. The performance and characteristics of each technique were addressed deeply in this work. The reviewed literature found that PFASs elimination studies in soil and water were carried out at a laboratory and pilot-scale in some cases. It was found that ball milling, chemical oxidation and thermal desorption are the most efficient techniques for the removal of PFASs in soils, however, phyto-microbial remediation is under study, which claims to be a promising technique. For the remediation of PFASs-contaminated water, the processes of electrocoagulation, membrane filtration, ozofractionation, catalysis, oxidation reactions - reduction, thermolysis and destructive treatments with plasma have presented the best results. It is noteworthy that hybrid treatments have also proved to be efficient techniques in the removal of these contaminants from soil and water matrices. Therefore, the improvisation and implication of existing techniques on a field-scale are greatly warranted to corroborate the yields obtained on a pilot- and laboratory-scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Noe Marquínez-Marquínez
- Departamento de Procesos Químicos, Facultad de Ciencias Matemáticas, Físicas y Químicas, Universidad Técnica de Manabí, Portoviejo, Ecuador; Laboratorio de Análisis Químicos y Biotecnológicos, Instituto de Investigación, Universidad Técnica de Manabí, S/N, Avenida Urbina y Che Guevara, Portoviejo, 130104, Ecuador.
| | - Nikolt Stephanie Loor-Molina
- Departamento de Procesos Químicos, Facultad de Ciencias Matemáticas, Físicas y Químicas, Universidad Técnica de Manabí, Portoviejo, Ecuador; Laboratorio de Análisis Químicos y Biotecnológicos, Instituto de Investigación, Universidad Técnica de Manabí, S/N, Avenida Urbina y Che Guevara, Portoviejo, 130104, Ecuador.
| | | | - Naga Raju Maddela
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad Técnica de Manabí, Portoviejo, 130105, Ecuador.
| | - Rafael Luque
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de Cordoba, Edificio Marie Curie (C-3), Ctra Nnal IV-A, Km 396, E14014, Cordoba, Spain; Universidad ECOTEC, Km. 13.5 Samborondón, Samborondón, EC092302, Ecuador
| | - Joan Manuel Rodríguez-Díaz
- Departamento de Procesos Químicos, Facultad de Ciencias Matemáticas, Físicas y Químicas, Universidad Técnica de Manabí, Portoviejo, Ecuador; Laboratorio de Análisis Químicos y Biotecnológicos, Instituto de Investigación, Universidad Técnica de Manabí, S/N, Avenida Urbina y Che Guevara, Portoviejo, 130104, Ecuador.
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Urugo MM, Teka TA, Berihune RA, Teferi SL, Garbaba CA, Adebo JA, Woldemariam HW, Astatkie T. Novel non-thermal food processing techniques and their mechanism of action in mycotoxins decontamination of foods. INNOV FOOD SCI EMERG 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ifset.2023.103312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
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43
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Pinkard BR, Austin C, Purohit AL, Li J, Novosselov IV. Destruction of PFAS in AFFF-impacted fire training pit water, with a continuous hydrothermal alkaline treatment reactor. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 314:137681. [PMID: 36584826 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
As regulations are being established to limit the levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water and wastewater, effective treatment technologies are needed to remove or destroy PFAS in contaminated liquid matrices. Many military installations and airports have fire training ponds (FTPs) where PFAS-containing firefighting foams are discharged during training drills. FTP water disposal is expensive and challenging due to the high PFAS levels. Hydrothermal alkaline treatment (HALT) has previously been shown to destroy a wide range of PFAS compounds with a high degree of destruction and defluorination. In this study, we investigate the performance of a continuous flow HALT reactor for destroying PFAS in contaminated FTP water samples. Processing with 5 M-NaOH and 1.6 min of continuous processing results in >99% total PFAS destruction, and 10 min processing time yields >99% destruction of every measured PFAS species. Operating with 0.1 M-NaOH or 1 M-NaOH shows little effect on the destruction of measured perfluorosulfonic acids, while all measured perfluorocarboxylic acids and fluorotelomer sulfonates are reduced to levels below the method detection limits. Continuous HALT processing with sufficient NaOH loading appears to destroy parent PFAS compounds significantly faster than batch HALT processing, a positive indicator for scaling up HALT technology for practical applications in environmental site remediation activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian R Pinkard
- Aquagga, Inc., Tacoma, WA, 98402, USA; University of Washington, Mechanical Engineering Department, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
| | - Conrad Austin
- University of Washington, Mechanical Engineering Department, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
| | - Anmol L Purohit
- University of Washington, Mechanical Engineering Department, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Jianna Li
- University of Washington, Mechanical Engineering Department, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA; Key Laboratory of Thermo-Fluid Science and Engineering of MOE, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Igor V Novosselov
- University of Washington, Mechanical Engineering Department, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
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Kavusi E, Shahi Khalaf Ansar B, Ebrahimi S, Sharma R, Ghoreishi SS, Nobaharan K, Abdoli S, Dehghanian Z, Asgari Lajayer B, Senapathi V, Price GW, Astatkie T. Critical review on phytoremediation of polyfluoroalkyl substances from environmental matrices: Need for global concern. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 217:114844. [PMID: 36403653 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of emerging organic contaminants that are impervious to standard physicochemical treatments. The widespread use of PFAS poses serious environmental issues. PFAS pollution of soils and water has become a significant issue due to the harmful effects of these chemicals both on the environment and public health. Owing to their complex chemical structures and interaction with soil and water, PFAS are difficult to remove from the environment. Traditional soil remediation procedures have not been successful in reducing or removing them from the environment. Therefore, this review focuses on new phytoremediation techniques for PFAS contamination of soils and water. The bioaccumulation and dispersion of PFAS inside plant compartments has shown great potential for phytoremediation, which is a promising and unique technology that is realistic, cost-effective, and may be employed as a wide scale in situ remediation strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaheh Kavusi
- Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Behnaz Shahi Khalaf Ansar
- Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Samira Ebrahimi
- Department of Plant Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ritika Sharma
- Department of Botany, Central University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Seyede Shideh Ghoreishi
- Department of Plant Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Sima Abdoli
- Department of Soil Science and Engineering, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Zahra Dehghanian
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Behnam Asgari Lajayer
- Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
| | | | - G W Price
- Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, B2N 5E3, Canada
| | - Tess Astatkie
- Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, B2N 5E3, Canada
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Zhang J, Gao L, Bergmann D, Bulatovic T, Surapaneni A, Gray S. Review of influence of critical operation conditions on by-product/intermediate formation during thermal destruction of PFAS in solid/biosolids. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 854:158796. [PMID: 36115408 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of synthetic organofluorine compounds. Over 4700 PFAS compounds have been produced and used in our daily life since the 1940s. PFAS have received considerable interest because of their toxicity, environmental persistence, bioaccumulation and wide existence in the environment. Various treatment methods have been developed to overcome these issues. Thermal treatment such as combustion and pyrolysis/gasification have been employed to treat PFAS contaminated solids and soils. However, short-chain PFAS and/or volatile organic fluorine is produced and emitted via exhaust gas during the thermal treatment. Combustion can achieve complete mineralisation of PFAS at large scale operation using temperatures >1000 °C. Pyrolysis has been used in treatment of biosolids and has demonstrated that it could remove PFAS completely from the generated biochar by evaporation and degradation. Although pyrolysis partially degrades PFAS to short-chain fluorine containing organics in the syngas, it could not efficiently mineralise PFAS. Combustion of PFAS containing syngas at 1000 °C can achieve complete mineralisation of PFAS. Furthermore, the by-product of mineralisation, HF, should also be monitored due to its low regulated atmospheric discharge values. Alkali scrubbing is normally required to lower the HF concentration in the exhaust gas to acceptable discharge concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua Zhang
- Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 8001, Australia.
| | - Li Gao
- Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 8001, Australia; South East Water Corporation, PO Box 2268, Seaford, Victoria 3198, Australia
| | - David Bergmann
- South East Water Corporation, PO Box 2268, Seaford, Victoria 3198, Australia
| | - Tamara Bulatovic
- South East Water Corporation, PO Box 2268, Seaford, Victoria 3198, Australia
| | - Aravind Surapaneni
- South East Water Corporation, PO Box 2268, Seaford, Victoria 3198, Australia
| | - Stephen Gray
- Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 8001, Australia
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Sun L, Zhang P, Liu F, Ju Q, Xu J. Molecular and genetic analyses revealed the phytotoxicity of perfluorobutane sulfonate. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 170:107646. [PMID: 36410239 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) has oily and hydrophobic characteristics similar to those of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), which is an environmental organic pollutant and has gradually become the main substitute for PFOS in industry. Several studies have revealed the potential toxicity of PFBS in animals. PFBS can be taken up and accumulate in plants; however, whether and how PFBS affects plant growth remain largely unclear. A low concentration of PFBS did not affect plant growth, indicating that it had higher environmental safety than other perfluorinated compounds; however, a high concentration of PFBS (>1 mM) markedly inhibited primary root growth in Arabidopsis thaliana. Subsequently, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying plant growth mediated by high concentrations of PFBS. First, a genome-wide transcriptomic analysis revealed that PFBS altered the expression of genes associated with phytohormone signaling pathways. Combining physio-biochemical and genetic analyses, we next demonstrated that PFBS reduced the contents of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA), and disrupted the two signaling pathways in plants, finally inhibiting root growth. Moreover, a high concentration of PFBS also inhibited photosynthesis by comprehensively repressing the expression of genes related to the Calvin cycle and the photosynthetic apparatus. Such an understanding is helpful for elucidating the phytotoxicity of PFBS and provides a new strategy for toxicology research on organic pollutants in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangliang Sun
- College of Horticulture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China
| | - Ping Zhang
- College of Horticulture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China
| | - Fei Liu
- College of Horticulture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China
| | - Qiong Ju
- College of Horticulture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China
| | - Jin Xu
- College of Horticulture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China.
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Jenness GR, Koval AM, Etz BD, Shukla MK. Atomistic insights into the hydrodefluorination of PFAS using silylium catalysts. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2022; 24:2085-2099. [PMID: 36165287 DOI: 10.1039/d2em00291d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Fluorochemicals are a persistent environmental contaminant that require specialized techniques for degradation and capture. In particular, recent attention on per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has led to numerous explorations of different techniques for degrading the super-strong C-F bonds found in these fluorochemicals. In this study, we investigated the hydrodefluorination mechanism using silylium-carborane salts for the degradation of PFAS at the density functional theory (DFT) level. We find that the degradation process involves both a cationic silylium (Et3Si+) and a hydridic silylium (Et3SiH) to facilitate the defluorination and hydride-addition events. Additionally, the role of carborane ([HCB11H5F6]-) is to force unoccupied anti-bonding orbitals to be partially occupied, weakening the C-F bond. We also show that changing the substituents on carborane from fluorine to other halogens weakens the C-F bond even further, with iodic carborane ([HCB11H5I6]-) having the greatest weakening effect. Moreover, our calculations reveal why the C-F bonds are resistant to degradation, and how the silylium-carborane chemistry is able to chemically transform these bonds into C-H bonds. We believe that our results are further applicable to other halocarbons, and can be used to treat either our existing stocks of these chemicals or to treat concentrated solutions following filtration and capture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glen R Jenness
- Environmental Laboratory, US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg 39180, Mississippi, USA.
| | - Ashlyn M Koval
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), 1299 Bethel Valley Rd, Oak Ridge 37830, Tennessee, USA
| | - Brian D Etz
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), 1299 Bethel Valley Rd, Oak Ridge 37830, Tennessee, USA
| | - Manoj K Shukla
- Environmental Laboratory, US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg 39180, Mississippi, USA.
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48
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Sörengård M, Travar I, Kleja D, Ahrens L. Fly ash-based waste for ex-situ landfill stabilization of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS)-contaminated soil. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL ADVANCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ceja.2022.100396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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49
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Masud MAA, Kim DG, Shin WS. Degradation of phenol using Fe(II)-activated CaO 2: effect of ball-milled activated carbon (AC BM) addition. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 214:113882. [PMID: 35931187 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In-situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) based on peroxide activation is one of the most promising technologies for removing organic contaminants from natural groundwater (NGW). However, use of the most common form of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is limited owing to its significantly rapid reaction rate and heat generation. Therefore, in the present study, the activation of calcium peroxide (CaO2), a slow H2O2 releasing agent, by Fe(II) was proposed (CaO2/Fe(II)), and the phenol degradation mechanisms and feasibility of NGW remediation were investigated. The optimum molar ratio of [phenol]/[CaO2]/[Fe(II)] (phenol = 0.5 mM) was 1/10/10, resulting in 87.0-92.5% phenol removal within 120 min under a broad initial pH range of 3-9. HCO3-, PO43-, and humic acid significantly inhibited degradation, whereas the effects of Cl-, NO3-, and SO42- were negligible. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were identified based on the results of phenol degradation in the presence of scavengers and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy, which demonstrated that 1O2 played the dominant role, supported by •OH, in CaO2/Fe(II). Phenol removal in NGW (67.81%) was less than that in distilled and deionized water (DIW, 92.5%) at a [phenol]/[CaO2]/[Fe(II)] ratio of 1/10/10. However, phenol removal was significantly improved (∼100%) by increasing the CaO2 and Fe(II) doses to 1/20/20-40. Furthermore, when 125-250 mg L-1 of ball-milled activated carbon (ACBM) was added (CaO2/Fe(II)-ACBM), phenol removal was enhanced from 67.81% to 90.94-100% in the NGW. CaO2/Fe(II)-ACBM exhibited higher total organic carbon (TOC) removal than CaO2/Fe(II). In addition, no notable by-products were detected using CaO2/Fe(II)-ACBM, whereas the polymerisation products of hydroxylated and/or ring-cleaved compounds, that is, aconitic acid, gallocatechin, and 10-hydroxyaloin, were found in the reaction with CaO2/Fe(II). These results strongly suggest that CaO2/Fe(II)-ACBM is highly promising for groundwater remediation, minimizing degradation byproducts and the adverse effects caused by the NGW components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Abdullah Al Masud
- School of Architecture, Civil, Environmental and Energy Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Do Gun Kim
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Jeollanam-do, 57922, Republic of Korea.
| | - Won Sik Shin
- School of Architecture, Civil, Environmental and Energy Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea.
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50
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Sörengård M, Bergström S, McCleaf P, Wiberg K, Ahrens L. Long-distance transport of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a Swedish drinking water aquifer. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 311:119981. [PMID: 35988673 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS)-containing aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) at firefighting training sites (FFTS) has been linked to PFAS contamination of drinking water. This study investigated PFAS transport and distribution in an urban groundwater aquifer used for drinking water production that has been affected by PFAS-containing AFFF. Soil, sediment, surface water and drinking water were sampled. In soil (n = 12) at a FFTS with high perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) content (87% of ∑PFAS), the ∑PFAS concentration (n = 26) ranged from below detection limit to 560 ng g-1 dry weight. In groundwater (n = 28), the ∑PFAS concentration near a military airbase FFTS reached 1000 ng L-1. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified the military FFTS as the main source of PFAS contamination in drinking water wellfields >10 km down-gradient. Groundwater samples taken close to the military FFTS site showed no ∑PFAS concentration change between 2013 and 2021, while a location further down-gradient showed a transitory 99.6% decrease. Correlation analysis on PFAS composition profile indicated that this decrease was likely caused by dilution from an adjacent conflating aquifer. ∑PFAS concentration reached 15 ng L-1 (PFOS 47% and PFHxS 41% of ∑PFAS) in surface river water (n = 6) and ranged between 1 ng L-1 and 8 ng L-1 (PFHxS 73% and PFBS 17% of ∑PFAS) in drinking water (n = 4). Drinking water had lower PFAS concentrations than the wellfields due to PFAS removal at the water treatment plant. This demonstrates the importance of monitoring PFAS concentrations throughout a groundwater aquifer, to better understand variations in transport from contamination sources and resulting impacts on PFAS concentrations in drinking water extraction areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattias Sörengård
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7050, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sofia Bergström
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7050, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Philip McCleaf
- Uppsala Water and Waste Ltd., P.O. Box 1444, SE-751 44, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karin Wiberg
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7050, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lutz Ahrens
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7050, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
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