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Griffin AM, Bellona C, Strathmann TJ. Rejection of PFAS and priority co-contaminants in semiconductor fabrication wastewater by nanofiltration membranes. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 262:122111. [PMID: 39089122 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.122111] [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: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/03/2024]
Abstract
Use of high-pressure membranes is an effective means for removal of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that is less sensitive than adsorption processes to variable water quality and specific PFAS structure. This study evaluated the use of nanofiltration (NF) membranes for the removal of PFAS and industry relevant co-contaminants in semiconductor fabrication (fab) wastewater. Initial experiments using a flat sheet filtration cell determined that the NF90 (tight NF) membrane provided superior performance compared to the NF270 (loose NF) membrane, with NF90 rejection values exceeding 97 % for all PFAS evaluated, including the ultrashort trifluoromethane sulfonic acid (TFMS). Cationic fab co-contaminants diaryliodonium (DIA), triphenylsulfonium (TPS), and tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) were not as highly rejected as anionic PFAS likely due to electrostatic effects. A spiral wound NF90 module was then used in a pilot system to treat a lab solution containing PFAS and co-contaminants and fab wastewater effluent. Treatment of the fab wastewater, containing high concentrations of perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs), including trifluoroacetic acid (TFA: 96,413 ng/L), perfluoropropanoic acid (PFPrA: 11,796 ng/L), and perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA: 504 ng/L), resulted in ≥92 % rejection of all PFAS while achieving 90 % water recovery in a semi-batch configuration. These findings demonstrate nanofiltration as a promising technology option for incorporation in treatment trains targeting PFAS removal from wastewater matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aron M Griffin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA
| | - Christopher Bellona
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA
| | - Timothy J Strathmann
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA.
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2
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Ren Z, Zhang R, Xu X, Li Y, Wang N, Leiviskä T. Sorption/desorption and degradation of long- and short-chain PFAS by anion exchange resin and UV/sulfite system. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 361:124847. [PMID: 39216671 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2024] [Revised: 08/26/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
A combined sorption/desorption and UV/sulfite degradation process was investigated for achieving efficient elimination of PFAS from water. Two gel-type resins, Purolite A532E and A600, and one macroporous resin, Purolite A860, were firstly tested for the sorption of individual PFPrA, PFHxA, PFOA, PFOS, and GenX at different concentrations. Sorption data and density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that electrostatic interactions predominated for short-chain PFAS sorption and hydrophobic interactions played a more significant role for long-chain PFAS than for short-chain PFAS. A600 and A860 were selected for desorption tests with 0.025% NaOH, 5% NaCl, and 5% NH4Cl solution with or without 20% ethanol (EtOH) due to their high sorption capacity for all target PFAS. The mixture of 5% NH4Cl and 20% EtOH as the desorption solution typically showed the highest desorption efficiency. PFOS was the most resistant for desorption but its desorption could be enhanced by stronger mixing conditions (in 5% NaCl + 20% EtOH). Direct degradation of studied PFAS in the desorption solution (0.025% NaOH, 5% NaCl, and 5% NH4Cl) by UV/sulfite achieved 97.6-100% degradation and 46.6-86.1% defluorination. EtOH hindered degradation and thus should be separated from the water before UV/sulfite degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongfei Ren
- Chemical Process Engineering, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4300, FIN-90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Ruichi Zhang
- Chemical Process Engineering, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4300, FIN-90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Xing Xu
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, PR China
| | - Yanwei Li
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, PR China
| | - Ningru Wang
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, PR China
| | - Tiina Leiviskä
- Chemical Process Engineering, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4300, FIN-90014, Oulu, Finland.
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3
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Liu B, Liu YL, Sun M. Remove legacy perfluoroalkyl acids and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl ether acids by single-use and regenerable anion exchange resins: Rapid small-scale column tests and model fits. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 257:121661. [PMID: 38677109 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121661] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Rapid small-scale column tests (RSSCT) are used to study the removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for drinking water treatment by ion exchange. Breakthroughs of 15 emerging per- and perfluoroalkyl ether acids and six legacy perfluoroalkyl acid analogs are studied using a single-use PFAS-selective anion exchange resin (AER1) and a regenerable, generic anion exchange resin (AER2). The Bohart-Adams model was used to describe and predict breakthrough, with the modeled results reasonably aligned with RSSCT results in most cases, enabling shorter RSSCT duration for future applications. AER1 exhibited high uptake capacity with no breakthrough for 11 of the 21 tested PFAS during the 144,175 BV continuous operation, allowing compliance with the new National Primary Drinking Water Regulation in many application scenarios. AER2 exhibited much faster breakthroughs for most PFAS and is not a promising option for drinking water treatment. However, the summed PFAS capacity via model fit and total PFAS adsorbed via measurement were only <0.01 % of both resin capacities at full breakthrough, suggesting PFAS could only occupy a tiny portion of the ion exchange sites even for the PFAS-selective AER1. Ether group insertion in the PFAS group leads to later breakthrough, and linear isomers were better captured by the resins than the branched isomers. Overall, PFAS uptake capacity increases and kinetics decrease when the PFAS molecular volume increases. Regeneration using 10 % NaCl solutions partially released PFAS from AER2 but not from AER1, with more short-chain PFAS released than long-chain ones. Ether group insertion decreased the PFAS recoveries during the regeneration of AER2. The regenerated resins showed much faster breakthroughs than the pristine resins, making them unfavorable for drinking water treatment applications. Adsorption displacement of short-chain PFAS by long-chain PFAS was observed in pristine AER1, and post-regeneration leaching occurred for both resins, both phenomena making the resins a possible PFAS source in long-term use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingchuan Liu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA.
| | - Yen-Ling Liu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
| | - Mei Sun
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
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4
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Pannu MW, Huang A, Plumlee MH. Variable PFAS removal by adsorbent media with sufficient prediction of breakthrough despite reduced contact time at pilot scale. WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH : A RESEARCH PUBLICATION OF THE WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION 2024; 96:e11035. [PMID: 38761092 DOI: 10.1002/wer.11035] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
One alternative adsorbent (AA) and five ion exchange (IX) resins were tested for the removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from groundwater in pilot-scale columns for up to 19 months using empty bed contact times (EBCTs) representative of full-scale treatment. For the six detected PFAS in the pilot feed water, the long-chain PFAS (perfluorooctanoic acid [PFOA], perfluorooctanesulfonic acid [PFOS], and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid [PFHxS]) were well removed with only PFOA, which is a perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid (PFCA) eventually breaking through as the media became exhausted. Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), a short-chain perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA), was also well removed, whereas short-chain PFCAs (perfluoropentanoic acid [PFPeA] and perfluorobutanoic acid [PFBA]) were not removed (i.e., immediate breakthrough). Overall, IX and AA demonstrated superior removal of PFSAs compared to PFCAs (i.e., later breakthrough of PFSAs translating to longer media life). Media life varied, ranging from 6 to 15 months before adsorbents reached a significant PFOA breakthrough. The performance of the two adsorbents piloted at shorter EBCT reasonably predicted the longer (representative) pilot EBCT results (within ±20-30%) for the same adsorbents following data scaling. This suggests that pilot-scale testing may be conducted at a faster pace and therefore more economically. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Long-chain PFAS (PFOA, PFOS, and PFHxS) were well removed by five ion exchange and one alternative adsorbent tested herein. One short-chain PFAS (PFBS) was well removed with no removal of two other short-chain PFAS (PFBA and PFPeA). Performance of the two adsorbents piloted at shorter EBCT reasonably predicted the longer (representative) pilot EBCT results for the same adsorbents following data scaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manmeet W Pannu
- Research and Development Department, Orange County Water District, Anaheim, California, USA
| | - Andrew Huang
- Research and Development Department, Orange County Water District, Fountain Valley, California, USA
| | - Megan H Plumlee
- Research and Development Department, Orange County Water District, Fountain Valley, California, USA
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5
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Amador CK, Vyas S, Strathmann TJ. Kinetic Model for Predicting Perfluoroalkyl Acid Degradation During UV-Sulfite Treatment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:6425-6434. [PMID: 38554136 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c10584] [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: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
Hydrated electron (eaq-) treatment processes show great potential in remediating recalcitrant water contaminants, including perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). However, treatment efficacy depends upon many factors relating to source water composition, UV light source characteristics, and contaminant reactivity. Here, we provide critical insights into the complex roles of solution parameters on contaminant abatement through application of a UV-sulfite kinetic model that incorporates first-principles information on eaq- photogeneration and reactivity. The model accurately predicts decay profiles of short-chain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) during UV-sulfite treatment and facilitates quantitative interpretation of the effects of changing solution composition on PFAS degradation rates. Model results also confirm that the enhanced degradation of PFAAs observed under highly alkaline pH conditions results from changes in speciation of nontarget eaq- scavengers. Reverse application of the model to UV-sulfite data collected for longer chain PFAAs enabled estimation of bimolecular rate constants (k2, M-1 s-1), providing an alternative to laser flash photolysis (LFP) measurements that are not feasible due to the water solubility limitations of these compounds. The proposed model links the disparate means of investigating eaq- processes, namely, UV photolysis and LFP, and provides a framework to estimate UV-sulfite treatment efficacy of PFAS in diverse water sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille K Amador
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Shubham Vyas
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Timothy J Strathmann
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
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6
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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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7
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Tolaymat T, Robey N, Krause M, Larson J, Weitz K, Parvathikar S, Phelps L, Linak W, Burden S, Speth T, Krug J. A critical review of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) landfill disposal in the United States. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167185. [PMID: 37734620 PMCID: PMC10842600 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Landfills manage materials containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from municipal solid waste (MSW) and other waste streams. This manuscript summarizes state and federal initiatives and critically reviews peer-reviewed literature to define best practices for managing these wastes and identify data gaps to guide future research. The objective is to inform stakeholders about waste-derived PFAS disposed of in landfills, PFAS emissions, and the potential for related environmental impacts. Furthermore, this document highlights data gaps and uncertainties concerning the fate of PFAS during landfill disposal. Most studies on this topic measured PFAS in liquid landfill effluent (leachate); comparatively fewer have attempted to estimate PFAS loading in landfills or other effluent streams such as landfill gas (LFG). In all media, the reported total PFAS heavily depends on waste types and the number of PFAS included in the analytical method. Early studies which only measured a small number of PFAS, predominantly perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), likely report a significant underestimation of total PFAS. Major findings include relationships between PFAS effluent and landfill conditions - biodegradable waste increases PFAS transformation and leaching. Based on the results of multiple studies, it is estimated that 84% of PFAS loading to MSW landfills (7.2 T total) remains in the waste mass, while 5% leaves via LFG and 11% via leachate on an annual basis. The environmental impact of landfill-derived PFAS has been well-documented. Additional research is needed on PFAS in landfilled construction and demolition debris, hazardous, and industrial waste in the US.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thabet Tolaymat
- The Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Management, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - Nicole Robey
- Innovative Technical Solutions, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Max Krause
- The Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Management, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Judd Larson
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Keith Weitz
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | | | - Lara Phelps
- The Center for Environmental Measurements and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - William Linak
- The Center for Environmental Measurements and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Susan Burden
- Office of Science Advisor, Policy and Engagement, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Tom Speth
- The Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Management, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jonathan Krug
- The Center for Environmental Measurements and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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8
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Lin ZW, Shapiro EF, Barajas-Rodriguez FJ, Gaisin A, Ateia M, Currie J, Helbling DE, Gwinn R, Packman AI, Dichtel WR. Trace Organic Contaminant Removal from Municipal Wastewater by Styrenic β-Cyclodextrin Polymers. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:19624-19636. [PMID: 37934073 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04233] [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: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) present major removal challenges for wastewater treatment. TrOCs, such as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are associated with chronic toxicity at ng L-1 exposure levels and should be removed from wastewater to enable safe reuse and release of treated effluents. Established adsorbents, such as granular activated carbon (GAC), exhibit variable TrOC removal and fouling by wastewater constituents. These shortcomings motivate the development of selective novel adsorbents that also maintain robust performance in wastewater. Cross-linked β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) polymers are promising adsorbents with demonstrated TrOC removal efficacy. Here, we report a simplified and potentially scalable synthesis of a porous polymer composed of styrene-linked β-CD and cationic ammonium groups. Batch adsorption experiments demonstrate that the polymer is a selective adsorbent exhibiting complete removal for six out of 13 contaminants with less adsorption inhibition than GAC in wastewater. The polymer also exhibits faster adsorption kinetics than GAC and ion exchange (IX) resin, higher adsorption affinity for PFAS than GAC, and is regenerable by solvent wash. Rapid small-scale column tests show that the polymer exhibits later breakthrough times compared to GAC and IX resin. These results demonstrate the potential for β-CD polymers to remediate TrOCs from complex water matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Wei Lin
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Emma F Shapiro
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | | | - Arsen Gaisin
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Mohamed Ateia
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | | | - Damian E Helbling
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Rosa Gwinn
- AECOM, Dallas, Texas 75240, United States
| | - Aaron I Packman
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - William R Dichtel
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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9
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Khan Khanzada A, Al-Hazmi HE, Śniatała B, Muringayil Joseph T, Majtacz J, Abdulrahman SAM, Albaseer SS, Kurniawan TA, Rahimi-Ahar Z, Habibzadeh S, Mąkinia J. Hydrochar-nanoparticle integration for arsenic removal from wastewater: Challenges, possible solutions, and future horizon. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 238:117164. [PMID: 37722579 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117164] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic (As) contamination poses a significant threat to human health, ecosystems, and agriculture, with levels ranging from 12 to 75% attributed to mine waste and stream sediments. This naturally element is abundant in Earth's crust and gets released into the environment through mining and rock processing, causing ≈363 million people to depend on As-contaminated groundwater. To combat this issue, introducing a sustainable hydrochar system has achieved a remarkable removal efficiency of over 92% for arsenic through adsorption. This comprehensive review presents an overview of As contamination in the environment, with a specific focus on its impact on drinking water and wastewater. It delves into the far-reaching effects of As on human health, ecosystems, aquatic systems, and agriculture, while also exploring the effectiveness of existing As treatment systems. Additionally, the study examines the potential of hydrochar as an efficient adsorbent for As removal from water/wastewater, along with other relevant adsorbents and biomass-based preparations of hydrochar. Notably, the fusion of hydrochar with nanoparticle-centric approaches presents a highly promising and environmentally friendly solution for achieving the removal of As from wastewater, exceeding >99% efficiency. This innovative approach holds immense potential for advancing the realms of green chemistry and environmental restoration. Various challenges associated with As contamination and treatment are highlighted, and proposed solutions are discussed. The review emphasizes the urgent need to advance treatment technologies, improve monitoring methods, and enhance regulatory frameworks. Looking outlook, the article underscores the importance of fostering research efforts, raising public awareness, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to address this critical environmental issue. Such efforts are vital for UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially clean water and sanitation (Goal 6) and climate action (Goal 13), crucial for global sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aisha Khan Khanzada
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology, Gdansk, 80-233, Poland
| | - Hussein E Al-Hazmi
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology, Gdansk, 80-233, Poland.
| | - Bogna Śniatała
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology, Gdansk, 80-233, Poland
| | - Tomy Muringayil Joseph
- Department of Polymer Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Joanna Majtacz
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology, Gdansk, 80-233, Poland
| | - Sameer A M Abdulrahman
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Education and Sciences-Rada'a, Albaydha University, Albaydha, Yemen
| | - Saeed S Albaseer
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology & Environmental Toxicology, Biologicum, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | | | - Zohreh Rahimi-Ahar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Velayat University, Iranshahr, Iran
| | - Sajjad Habibzadeh
- Surface Reaction and Advanced Energy Materials Laboratory, Chemical Engineering Department, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, 1599637111, Iran
| | - Jacek Mąkinia
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology, Gdansk, 80-233, Poland
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10
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Haupert LM, Redding A, Gray JM, Civardi J, Datsov B, Sanan TT, Mills MA, Speth TF, Burkhardt JB. Impact of phosphate addition on PFAS treatment performance for drinking water. AWWA WATER SCIENCE 2023; 5:10.1002/aws2.1361. [PMID: 38152622 PMCID: PMC10750846 DOI: 10.1002/aws2.1361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Adding new unit operations to drinking water treatment systems requires consideration of not only efficacy for its design purpose but also costs, water quality characteristics, impact on overall regulatory compliance, and impact of other treatment unit operations. Here, pilot study results for ion exchange (IX) and granular activated carbon (GAC) are presented for a utility with both per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and volatile organic contaminant removal needs. Specifically, the impact of upstream air stripping and phosphate addition on PFAS treatment performance was evaluated. Modeling was used to fit the IX and GAC pilot data and predict performance under different scenarios. GAC performance was generally consistent for treating water before or after the air stripper, but the addition of phosphate prior to air-stripping resulted in a loss of 15%-25% capacity for some PFAS on IX media, demonstrating the need to consider the entire treatment train before implementing PFAS removal unit operations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Levi M. Haupert
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Adam Redding
- Calgon Carbon Corporation, Drinking Water Solutions, Moon Township, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | - Boris Datsov
- ORAU Student Services Contractor, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Toby T. Sanan
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Marc A. Mills
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Thomas F. Speth
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Jonathan B. Burkhardt
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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11
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Xiao F, Challa Sasi P, Alinezhad A, Sun R, Abdulmalik Ali M. Thermal Phase Transition and Rapid Degradation of Forever Chemicals (PFAS) in Spent Media Using Induction Heating. ACS ES&T ENGINEERING 2023; 3:1370-1380. [PMID: 37705671 PMCID: PMC10497035 DOI: 10.1021/acsestengg.3c00114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we have developed an innovative thermal degradation strategy for treating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS)-containing solid materials. Our strategy satisfies three criteria: the ability to achieve near-complete degradation of PFASs within a short timescale, nonselectivity, and low energy cost. In our method, a metallic reactor containing a PFAS-laden sample was subjected to electromagnetic induction that prompted a rapid temperature rise of the reactor via the Joule heating effect. We demonstrated that subjecting PFASs (0.001-12 μmol) to induction heating for a brief duration (e.g., <40 s) resulted in substantial degradation (>90%) of these compounds, including recalcitrant short-chain PFASs and perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids. This finding prompted us to conduct a detailed study of the thermal phase transitions of PFASs using thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). We identified at least two endothermic DSC peaks for anionic, cationic, and zwitterionic PFASs, signifying the melting and evaporation of the melted PFASs. Melting and evaporation points of many PFASs were reported for the first time. Our data suggest that the rate-limiting step in PFAS thermal degradation is linked with phase transitions (e.g., evaporation) occurring on different time scales. When PFASs are rapidly heated to temperatures similar to those produced during induction heating, the evaporation of melted PFAS slows down, allowing for the degradation of the melted PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Xiao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
| | - Pavankumar Challa Sasi
- Department of Civil
Engineering, University of North Dakota, 243 Centennial Drive Stop 8115, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202, United States
- EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031, United States
| | - Ali Alinezhad
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
| | - Runze Sun
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
| | - Mansurat Abdulmalik Ali
- Department of Civil
Engineering, University of North Dakota, 243 Centennial Drive Stop 8115, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202, United States
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12
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Ellis AC, Boyer TH, Fang Y, Liu CJ, Strathmann TJ. Life cycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis of anion exchange and granular activated carbon systems for remediation of groundwater contaminated by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). WATER RESEARCH 2023; 243:120324. [PMID: 37451124 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120324] [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: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Anion exchange resin (AER) and granular activated carbon (GAC) have emerged as prominent technologies for treatment of waters contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). This study compares the life cycle environmental impacts and life cycle costs of remediating PFAS-contaminated groundwater with these competing technologies, using field pilot data to inform model inputs. Comparative analysis indicates that AER systems employing single-use "PFAS-selective" resins have lower environmental impacts and costs than systems using regenerable resins or GAC adsorbents, supporting its use in future remediation efforts. Use of GAC operated as a single-use adsorbent led to the highest emissions as well as the highest treatment costs, with thermally-reactivated GAC proving to be less impactful than regenerable AER treatment. Sensitivity analyses highlighted the dominance of media usage rate (MUR), which is highly dependent on the selected PFAS treatment goals, to determine environmental impacts and costs over a 30-year system life cycle. Selection of very stringent changeout criteria (e.g., detection of any PFASs in effluent) significantly reduces the advantages of single-use resins. For regenerable AER, environmental impacts were dominated by management of the PFAS-contaminated brine/co-solvent waste stream used to regenerate the adsorbent, as well as the cosolvent content of the regenerant mixture and the cosolvent recovery efficiency achieved via on-site distillation. High impacts estimated for GAC adsorption, the result of high MUR relative to ion exchange media, can be significantly reduced if spent adsorbents are reused after thermal reactivation, but impacts are still greater than those predicted for single-use ion exchange systems. Findings are expected to hold across a range of diverse sites, including drinking water systems treating more dilute sources of PFAS contamination, as PFAS breakthrough was not found to be highly sensitive to sourcewater PFAS concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anderson C Ellis
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, United States
| | - Treavor H Boyer
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment (SSEBE), Arizona State University (ASU), Tempe, AZ 85287, United States
| | - Yida Fang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, United States; CDM Smith, Bellevue, WA 98807, United Stats
| | - Charlie J Liu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, United States; Kennedy Jenks Consultants, San Francisco, CA 94118, United States
| | - Timothy J Strathmann
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, United States.
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13
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Cai HY, Wu QY, Ouyang WY, Hu HY, Wang WL. Efficient removal of electroneutral carbonyls by combined vacuum-UV oxidation and anion-exchange resin adsorption: mechanism, model simulation, and optimization. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 243:120435. [PMID: 37536248 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120435] [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: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Electroneutral carbonyls (ENCs) with low molecular weights (e.g., aldehydes and ketones) are recalcitrant to single water treatment process to achieve ultralow concentration. Residual ENCs are present in reverse osmosis permeate and pose risks to human health during potable use or industrial application in manufacturing processes. Herein, a combined vacuum-UV (VUV) oxidation and anion-exchange resin (AER) adsorption method was developed to treat the ENCs and reduce total organic carbon (TOC) to an ultralow concentration (< 5 μg/L) with high efficiency and at low cost. VUV-AER was 2.1-2.4 times more efficient than VUV alone for the removal of TOC. VUV oxidized the ENCs to electronegative carboxylic acids, which were adsorbed by the AER through electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding. When the VUV fluence was lower than 643 mJ cm-2, the AER could not achieve ultralow TOC removal of ENCs. The treat capacity of 1500-2900 valid bed volume (BVs) was achieved after increasing the VUV fluence to 1929 mJ cm-2. The AER could more efficiently adsorb carboxylic acids that contained more carboxylic groups or shorter carbon chain. Acetate was identified as the primary breakthrough product at relatively low VUV fluence, and oxalate was the main byproduct at relatively high VUV fluence. A mathematical model to predict TOC breakthrough was developed considering the VUV-oxidation kinetics and the AER breakthrough curve. The model was used to optimize the method to maximize TOC removal and minimize energy consumption. These results imply that VUV-AER is technically feasible and economically applicable to eliminate recalcitrant ENCs to ultralow concentration for the production of water requires high quality (e.g., potable water or electronic-grade ultrapure water).
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Ying Cai
- Key Laboratory of Microorganism Application and Risk Control of Shenzhen, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Urban Water Recycling and Environmental Safety, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China; Shenzhen Environmental Science and New Energy Technology Engineering Laboratory, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
| | - Qian-Yuan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Microorganism Application and Risk Control of Shenzhen, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Urban Water Recycling and Environmental Safety, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Wan-Yue Ouyang
- Key Laboratory of Microorganism Application and Risk Control of Shenzhen, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Urban Water Recycling and Environmental Safety, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Hong-Ying Hu
- Key Laboratory of Microorganism Application and Risk Control of Shenzhen, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Urban Water Recycling and Environmental Safety, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China; Shenzhen Environmental Science and New Energy Technology Engineering Laboratory, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Shenzhen 518055, PR China; Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control State Key Joint Laboratory, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Microorganism Application and Risk Control (SMARC), School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Room 524, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Wen-Long Wang
- Key Laboratory of Microorganism Application and Risk Control of Shenzhen, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Urban Water Recycling and Environmental Safety, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China.
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14
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Tajdini B, Vatankhah H, Murray CC, Liethen A, Bellona C. Impact of effluent organic matter on perfluoroalkyl acid removal from wastewater effluent by granular activated carbon and alternative adsorbents. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 241:120105. [PMID: 37270948 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120105] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Occurrence of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in wastewater effluent coupled with increasingly stringent regulations has increased the need for more effective sorption-based PFAA treatment approaches. This study investigated the impact of ozone (O3)- biologically active filtration (BAF) as integral components of non-reverse osmosis (RO)-based potable reuse treatment trains and as a potential pretreatment option to improve adsorptive PFAA removal from wastewater effluent by nonselective (e.g., granular activated carbon (GAC) and selective (e.g., anionic exchange resins (AER) and surface-modified clay (SMC)) adsorbents. For nonselective GAC, O3 and BAF resulted in similar PFAA removal improvements, while BAF alone performed better than O3 for AER and SMC. O3-BAF in tandem resulted in the highest PFAA removal performance improvement among pretreatments investigated for selective and nonselective adsorbents. Side by side evaluation of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) breakthrough curves and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) for each pretreatment scenario suggested that despite the higher affinity of selective adsorbents towards PFAAs, the competition between PFAA and effluent organic matter (EfOM) (molecular weights (MWs): 100-1000 Da) negatively impacts the performance of these adsorbents. The SEC results also demonstrated that transformation of hydrophobic EfOM to more hydrophilic molecules during O3 and biotransformation of EfOM during BAF were the dominant mechanisms responsible for alleviating the competition between PFAA and EfOM, resulting in PFAA removal improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahareh Tajdini
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA
| | - Hooman Vatankhah
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - Conner C Murray
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA; Hazen and Sawyer, Lakewood, CO, USA
| | - Alexander Liethen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA
| | - Christopher Bellona
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA.
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15
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Shi Y, Mu H, You J, Han C, Cheng H, Wang J, Hu H, Ren H. Confined water-encapsulated activated carbon for capturing short-chain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances from drinking water. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2219179120. [PMID: 37364117 PMCID: PMC10318985 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2219179120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The global ecological crisis of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in drinking water has gradually shifted from long-chain to short-chain PFASs; however, the widespread established PFAS adsorption technology cannot cope with the impact of such hydrophilic pollutants given the inherent defects of solid-liquid mass transfer. Herein, we describe a reagent-free and low-cost strategy to reduce the energy state of short-chain PFASs in hydrophobic nanopores by employing an in situ constructed confined water structure in activated carbon (AC). Through direct (driving force) and indirect (assisted slip) effects, the confined water introduced a dual-drive mode in the confined water-encapsulated activated carbon (CW-AC) and completely eliminated the mass transfer barrier (3.27 to 5.66 kcal/mol), which caused the CW-AC to exhibit the highest adsorption capacity for various short-chain PFASs (C-F number: 3-6) among parent AC and other adsorbents reported. Meanwhile, benefiting from the chain length- and functional group-dependent confined water-binding pattern, the affinity of the CW-AC surpassed the traditional hydrophobicity dominance and shifted toward hydrophilic short-chain PFASs that easily escaped treatment. Importantly, the ability of CW-AC functionality to directly transfer to existing adsorption devices was verified, which could treat 21,000 bed volumes of environment-related high-load (~350 ng/L short-chain PFAS each) real drinking water to below the World Health Organization's standard. Overall, our results provide a green and cost-effective in situ upgrade scheme for existing adsorption devices to address the short-chain PFAS crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanji Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Hongxin Mu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Jiaqian You
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Chenglong Han
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Huazai Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Jinfeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Haidong Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Hongqiang Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing210023, Jiangsu, PR China
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16
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Alinezhad A, Shao H, Litvanova K, Sun R, Kubatova A, Zhang W, Li Y, Xiao F. Mechanistic Investigations of Thermal Decomposition of Perfluoroalkyl Ether Carboxylic Acids and Short-Chain Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylic Acids. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:8796-8807. [PMID: 37195265 PMCID: PMC10269594 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c00294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the thermal decomposition mechanisms of perfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acids (PFECAs) and short-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) that have been manufactured as replacements for phased-out per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). C-C, C-F, C-O, O-H, and C═C bond dissociation energies were calculated at the M06-2X/Def2-TZVP level of theory. The α-C and carboxyl-C bond dissociation energy of PFECAs declines with increasing chain length and the attachment of an electron-withdrawing trifluoromethyl (-CF3) group to the α-C. Experimental and computational results show that the thermal transformation of hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid to trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) occurs due to the preferential cleavage of the C-O ether bond close to the carboxyl group. This pathway produces precursors of perfluoropropionic acid (PFPeA) and TFA and is supplemented by a minor pathway (CF3CF2CF2OCFCF3COOH → CF3CF2CF2· + ·OCFCF3COOH) through which perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) is formed. The weakest C-C bond in PFPeA and PFBA is the one connecting the α-C and the β-C. The results support (1) the C-C scission in the perfluorinated backbone as an effective PFCA thermal decomposition mechanism and (2) the thermal recombination of radicals through which intermediates are formed. Additionally, we detected a few novel thermal decomposition products of studied PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Alinezhad
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
| | - Heng Shao
- Key
Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences of Ministry of Education,
State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People’s Republic of China
| | - Katerina Litvanova
- Department
of Chemistry, The University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202, United States
| | - Runze Sun
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
| | - Alena Kubatova
- Department
of Chemistry, The University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202, United States
| | - Wen Zhang
- John
A. Reif, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey 07102, United States
| | - Yang Li
- Key
Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences of Ministry of Education,
State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People’s Republic of China
| | - Feng Xiao
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
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17
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Murray CC, Safulko A, Vatankhah H, Liu CJ, Tajdini B, Marshall RE, Bellona C. PFAS adsorbent selection: The role of adsorbent use rate, water quality, and cost. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 454:131481. [PMID: 37146339 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) contamination in aqueous matrices has intensified the search for PFAS adsorbents with elevated capacity, selectivity, and cost effectiveness. A novel surface modified organoclay (SMC) adsorbent was evaluated for PFAS removal performance in parallel with granular activated carbon (GAC) and ion exchange resin (IX) for the treatment of five distinct PFAS impaired waters including groundwater, landfill leachate, membrane concentrate and wastewater effluent. Rapid small scale column tests (RSSCTs) and breakthrough modeling were coupled to provide insight on adsorbent performance and cost for multiple PFAS and water types. IX exhibited the best performance with respect to adsorbent use rates in treatment of all tested waters. IX was nearly four times more effective than GAC and two times more effective than SMC in the treatment of PFOA from water types excluding groundwater. Employed modeling strengthened the comparison of adsorbent performance and water quality to infer adsorption feasibility. Further, evaluation of adsorption was extended beyond PFAS breakthrough with the inclusion of unit adsorbent cost as a decision metric influencing adsorbent selection. An analysis of levelized media cost indicated treatment of landfill leachate and membrane concentrate was at least three times more expensive than groundwaters or wastewaters evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conner C Murray
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1500 Illinois St, Golden, CO 80401, USA; Hazen and Sawyer, Lakewood, CO 80228, USA
| | - Andrew Safulko
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1500 Illinois St, Golden, CO 80401, USA; Brown and Caldwell, Lakewood, CO 80401, USA
| | - Hooman Vatankhah
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1500 Illinois St, Golden, CO 80401, USA
| | - Charlie J Liu
- Kennedy Jenks Consultants, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA
| | - Bahareh Tajdini
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1500 Illinois St, Golden, CO 80401, USA
| | | | - Christopher Bellona
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1500 Illinois St, Golden, CO 80401, USA.
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18
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Ismail UM, Elnakar H, Khan MF. Sources, Fate, and Detection of Dust-Associated Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): A Review. TOXICS 2023; 11:335. [PMID: 37112562 PMCID: PMC10146191 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11040335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The occurrence of sand and dust storms (SDSs) is essential for the geochemical cycling of nutrients; however, it is considered a meteorological hazard common to arid regions because of the adverse impacts that SDSs brings with them. One common implication of SDSs is the transport and disposition of aerosols coated with anthropogenic contaminants. Studies have reported the presence of such contaminants in desert dust; however, similar findings related to ubiquitous emerging contaminants, such as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), have been relatively scarce in the literature. This article reviews and identifies the potential sources of dust-associated PFAS that can accumulate and spread across SDS-prone regions. Furthermore, PFAS exposure routes and their toxicity through bioaccumulation in rodents and mammals are discussed. The major challenge when dealing with emerging contaminants is their quantification and analysis from different environmental media, and these PFAS include known and unknown precursors that need to be quantified. Consequently, a review of various analytical methods capable of detecting different PFAS compounds embedded in various matrices is provided. This review will provide researchers with valuable information relevant to the presence, toxicity, and quantification of dust-associated PFAS to develop appropriate mitigation measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Usman M. Ismail
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - Haitham Elnakar
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Construction and Building Materials, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Faizan Khan
- Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, Drinking Water and Wastewater, Regulatory Assurance Division, Government of Alberta, 2938 11 St. NE, Calgary, AB T2E 7L7, Canada
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