The Removal of Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances from Water: A Review on Destructive and Non-Destructive Methods

PFAS, or per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, are a broad group of man-made organic compounds that are very persistent, mobile, and tend to bioaccumulate. Their removal from different environmental media is becoming increasingly important because they are associated with a multitude of (eco)toxicol...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Separations 2024-04, Vol.11 (4), p.122
Main Authors: Malouchi, Natalia, Chatzimichailidou, Stella, Tolkou, Athanasia K., Kyzas, George Z., Calgaro, Loris, Marcomini, Antonio, Katsoyiannis, Ioannis A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acids
Adsorption
Ammonium perfluorooctanoate
Bioaccumulation
Carbon
Cholesterol
Classification
Drinking water
Fluorine
Food contamination & poisoning
Liver cancer
Metabolic disorders
Nondestructive testing
Organic compounds
Perfluoroalkyl & polyfluoroalkyl substances
PFAS
PFOA
PFOS
Polymers
Separation
Surface water
Thyroid gland
Water
Water pollution
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Summary:PFAS, or per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, are a broad group of man-made organic compounds that are very persistent, mobile, and tend to bioaccumulate. Their removal from different environmental media is becoming increasingly important because they are associated with a multitude of (eco)toxicological effects on both humans and the environment. PFAS are detected in wastewater, groundwater, drinking water, and surface water, with the subcategories of PFOS and PFOA being the most detected. These organic compounds are divided into polymeric and non-polymeric groups. Non-polymeric PFAS are of great research interest due to their frequent detection in the environment. Numerous methods have been applied for the removal of PFAS and are divided into destructive and non-destructive (separation) techniques. Given the strength of the C–F bond, the destruction of PFAS is challenging, while for most of the separation techniques, the management of isolated PFAS requires further consideration. Most of the techniques have been applied to small-scale applications and show some limitations for larger applications, even though they are promising. Adsorption is an environmentally sustainable, economical, and high-performance technique that is applied to remove several classes of emerging pollutants from water. In this review, the use of various types of adsorbents for PFAS removal from water is reported, as well as the expected adsorption mechanisms. There are several technologies being considered and developed to manage PFAS; however, they are still in the experimental stage, with each showing its appeal for potential larger applications.
ISSN:2297-8739
2297-8739
DOI:10.3390/separations11040122